Funding a Nonprofit Music Organization

Future public education will require involvement and collaboration among various local, civic, private and nonprofit entities, a concept I like to refer to as ‘community entrepreneurship.’ ~ Donald Bren

Running a nonprofit, such as a community band, can be a very challenging project in today’s world. For example in big cities like Seattle, finding a practice venue that doesn’t require a million dollar insurance in addition to paying for the space at an hourly rate is just part of the story. So a big part of a running a successful program is funding the program.

We have found that for concerts, rather than charging an entrance fee, we get more participation with a “suggested” ticket fee. We also run a bake sale that brings in a significant return on investment. But that isn’t enough to support the band. So there are two programs I’d like to suggest.

First there is the Amazon Smile program where a percentage of what you purchase can go to a charity of your choice. Today, for example, they are gifting registered charities 5% of eligible purchases. Normally, it .5% of purchases.

For the community band my wife and I play in, Amazon has contributed over $200 for each of us over the 3 years we have been participating. My mom contributes too, to there is more money that goes to our favorite charity.

What is AmazonSmile?

AmazonSmile is a simple and automatic way for you to support your favorite charitable organization every time you shop, at no cost to you. When you shop at smile.amazon.com, you’ll find the exact same low prices, vast selection and convenient shopping experience as Amazon.com, with the added bonus that Amazon will donate a portion of the purchase price to your favorite charitable organization. You can choose from nearly one million organizations to support.

How do I shop at AmazonSmile?

To shop at AmazonSmile simply go to smile.amazon.com from the web browser on your computer or mobile device. You may also want to add a bookmark to smile.amazon.com to make it even easier to return and start your shopping at AmazonSmile.

Which products on AmazonSmile are eligible for charitable donations?

Tens of millions of products on AmazonSmile are eligible for donations. You will see eligible products marked “Eligible for AmazonSmile donation” on their product detail pages. Recurring Subscribe-and-Save purchases and subscription renewals are not currently eligible.

Can I use my existing Amazon.com account on AmazonSmile?

Yes, you use the same account on Amazon.com and AmazonSmile. Your shopping cart, Wish List, wedding or baby registry, and other account settings are also the same.

How do I select a charitable organization to support when shopping on AmazonSmile?

On your first visit to AmazonSmile (smile.amazon.com), you need to select a charitable organization to receive donations from eligible purchases before you begin shopping. We will remember your selection, and then every eligible purchase you make at smile.amazon.com will result in a donation.

Another very successful program that I just learned about is the Fred Meyer Community Rewards program. By aligning your Fred Meyer Rewards Card with your favorite charity, you can directly help keep that program going. Fred Meyer donates money to nonprofits in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington, based on customers who link their Rewards card to one nonprofit. You’ll continue to earn your personal rewards points when you link your card.