Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about our platform and shopping with a purpose. Still have questions? Reach out to us anytime at smile@smileassociate.com and we'll get right back to you.

The Basics

  • SmileAssociate helps nonprofits generate unrestricted funding by turning everyday Amazon shopping into ongoing support for their mission. Supporters use a nonprofit’s unique SmileAssociate link before shopping on Amazon. When eligible purchases are made, Amazon pays SmileAssociate a commission, and a portion of that commission is donated to the nonprofit.

  • SmileAssociate is not a one-time campaign or ask. It is a long-term fundraising layer that works in the background of everyday life. Supporters are not asked to give more money or change what they buy. They simply start their Amazon shopping through a link connected to your organization.

  • SmileAssociate is an authorized participant in the Amazon Associates Program. Amazon provides the tools that allow us to create unique shopping links for each nonprofit. SmileAssociate is an independent program and is not run by Amazon.

  • AmazonSmile was a program run by Amazon that ended in 2023. SmileAssociate continues the familiar “shop-for-a-cause” concept using Amazon-approved tools, with added flexibility, clearer reporting, and a simpler experience for supporters.

  • There is no cost to a nonprofit to join our platform or for a supporter to shop for a cause. SmileAssociate covers platform and overhead costs through a small percentage of the commission we earn from Amazon.

SmileAssociate Fit

  • SmileAssociate works best for organizations with an engaged community of supporters, members, staff, or volunteers who already shop online. Size and mission do not matter as much as the ability to communicate a simple habit: click the link before shopping.

  • No. SmileAssociate is designed to complement your existing fundraising. It does not replace donations, events, or grants. It provides an additional, low-effort revenue stream built on everyday behavior.

  • Yes. Some organizations start with a pilot to test adoption. However, the strongest results come when SmileAssociate is treated as long-term infrastructure rather than a short-term experiment.

  • Yes. Supporters in 30+ countries can use the same SmileAssociate link to shop on their local Amazon site. International donations are routed appropriately. This is powered by Amazon OneLink.

How it Works

  • Supporters click your organization’s SmileAssociate link before shopping on Amazon. They then shop exactly as they normally would. No additional steps are required.

  • No. Prices remain the same. The donation comes from the commission paid by Amazon, not from the shopper.

  • No. Supporters shop on Amazon.com (or their local Amazon site) with the same account, settings, payment methods, and privacy controls they already use.

  • Yes. Amazon Business accounts qualify, and eligible purchases made through Business accounts can generate donations.

  • Amazon determines which product categories are eligible for commissions. Purchases in non-commissionable categories do not generate donations. Items such as gift cards are typically excluded.

  • SmileAssociate pays via Automated Clearing House (ACH) or by check processed by our payment partner.

Requirements

  • No. SmileAssociate is free for nonprofits and supporters.

  • Most organizations are set up within one business day.

  • You receive a custom SmileAssociate landing page, a unique Amazon shopping link, a QR code, an app-style shortcut that supporters can save on their devices, and quarterly boilerplate social media and newsletter text.

  • SmileAssociate works best when organizations consistently remind supporters to use the link. Promotion can be simple: email mentions, website placement, social posts, staff and board participation, and seasonal reminders.

  • You do. SmileAssociate provides tools and guidance, but you control how and when you promote it to your community. There is no requirement for promotion activity.

Donations and Reporting

  • Amazon pays SmileAssociate a commission for eligible purchases. SmileAssociate donates a portion of those proceeds to participating nonprofits as corporate donations.

  • No. Donations are unrestricted unless otherwise specified.

  • Donations are made quarterly.

  • You receive clear summary reporting and link-level performance reporting showing activity tied to your unique SmileAssociate link.

  • Yes. Each organization signs a standard Donation Agreement that outlines transparency, reporting, and donation cadence.

Privacy, Data and Trust

  • No. SmileAssociate does not receive or manage personal customer data. Amazon’s privacy, security, and account settings remain unchanged.

  • No. SmileAssociate does not integrate with nonprofit CRMs. Because we do not collect personal data, CRM integration is not on our roadmap.

  • No. Reporting is aggregated. Individual shopper identities are not shared.

  • ReelMedia Holdings is the legacy parent company of SmileAssociate. We rebranded as SmileAssociate in 2025. We are in the process of converting all professional branding and legacy collateral to SmileAssociate.

After Onboarding

  • SmileAssociate provides ongoing support, reporting, guidance, and promotional thought-starters to help you optimize usage over time. Your relationship manager is available for questions and brainstorming at any point.

  • Yes. Many organizations coordinate their campaigns to emphasize SmileAssociate during high-shopping periods while still keeping it available year-round.

  • Success is driven by consistent use over time. SmileAssociate is most effective when it becomes a habit for supporters rather than a one-time push.

  • Yes. Participation is flexible.

Technical Questions and Common Issues

  • Supporters must use the designated link to ensure purchases are attributed to your organization. Utilizing reminders and saved shortcuts can help reinforce this habit. By leadings by example, board members and staff play a critical role in driving this behavior change throughout the community.

  • Once a supporter clicks your SmileAssociate link, Amazon tracks eligible purchases made during that shopping session. The unique link’s encoding may stay active up to 24 hours, but using the unique link every time you shop helps reinforce the behavior.

  • Yes. SmileAssociate links work across devices, including mobile browsers, tablets, and desktop computers.

  • Yes. Supporters can bookmark the link, save it to their home screen, or use the provided app shortcut for quick access.

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    Visit your nonprofit’s unique link. Click “Download App.” Click “Install.” Your browser will load instructions you should follow based on your phone and browser. You can find more instructions in the video at this link.

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  • If the shopping session ends or cookies expire, purchases made later may not be attributed. Encouraging supporters to click the link right before shopping helps avoid this issue.

  • Yes. If an item is returned or an order is canceled, the associated commission will be reversed by Amazon and will not generate a donation. However, SmileAssociate times its payments to ensure that this is never an issue for nonprofits.

  • No.

  • No. The purchase of gift cards is not eligible. Using gift cards to purchase other goods generates a commission.

  • Qualifying purchases typically appear in reporting after Amazon confirms and finalizes the transaction.

  • Activity can vary based on shopping seasons, supporter behavior, product eligibility, returns, and overall Amazon purchasing trends. We also notice a consistent correlation behind campaigns or promotions by the nonprofit and purchasing behavior.

  • If you have questions about reporting or activity, SmileAssociate support can review link-level data and help troubleshoot. Email: Smile@SmileAssociate.com