SmileAssociate turns everyday shopping into a year-round fundraising opportunity at no extra cost for all American Legion Auxiliary entities. 

How? Through a unique link, donations can be generated 24/7 while shopping on Amazon. 

That unique — and shareable — link is found in the ALA SmileAssociate directory. Find the ALA department, district, unit, and/or ALA Girls State program that needs support, and share it!

Before all the shopping and fundraising fun can begin, make sure to enroll and complete the secure ACH authorization form to receive your quarterly donations. 


Now, real talk: How much does your ALA entity get? 

On average, SmileAssociate earns approximately 3% back from Amazon purchases, though that percentage can be higher for certain luxury and digital items. SmileAssociate then shares that commission 50/50 with the American Legion Auxiliary. 

From the Auxiliary’s portion, 5% supports the Spirit of Youth Scholarship Fund at ALA National Headquarters, while the remaining 95% is distributed directly to participating ALA entities based on purchases generated through their unique links.

To give you a better idea of how donations work, from a $300 SmileAssociate commission, the ALA entity receives approximately $142.50.

Payments are made quarterly via ACH and include full summary reporting for transparency. 

Once your ALA entity is all set up and good to go, it’s time to get started! 

Helpful hints: Make SmileAssociate work for you

Treat it like a fundraiser

• Include SmileAssociate in your annual fundraising plans.
• Assign someone to coordinate promotion and reminders.
• Establish realistic participation goals.

Promote beyond your membership

• Share your link with the entire American Legion Family, family members, friends, coworkers, and community supporters.

Think beyond personal shopping

• Encourage supporters to use their Amazon Business accounts.
• Consider purchases for events, programs, office supplies, and everyday organizational needs.

Make your link easy to find

• Add it to newsletters, websites, social media, email signatures, and meeting materials.
• Use QR codes at events and gatherings.

Promote consistently

• Share monthly reminders and increase promotion around major shopping holidays.
• Highlight how SmileAssociate funds support your entity’s veteran service-related programs and activities.

Still have questions? Need answers for others?

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a minimum amount required for disbursement?

• No! There is no minimum spending threshold for receiving a quarterly payment.

Can supporters use personal and Amazon Business accounts?

• Yes! Both can be used to generate commissions on eligible purchases.

Do shoppers need a separate account or app?

• No. Supporters use their existing Amazon accounts and begin shopping through the entity’s unique SmileAssociate link.

Do shoppers pay anything extra?

• No. There is no additional cost to shoppers.

Do supporters need to find our entity every time they shop?

• No. They can bookmark and reuse their entity’s unique shopping link. The only way to generate donations is through your custom link, so it’s smart to find ways for it to be accessible for supporters. 

Can we share our link with the entire American Legion Family?

• Absolutely! Encourage Legionnaires, Sons, Riders, family members, friends, and community supporters to participate.

When will our entity receive its funds?

• Distributions are made quarterly via ACH, which includes the full summary reporting. 

Though SmileAssociate won’t take the place of traditional fundraising, it’s an easy and passive way to raise financial support to carry out your ALA entity’s good deeds. 

The more consistently and regularly the link is used, the more donations raised and the greater your impact can be. 

For any questions or additional support, contact ALA National Headquarters’ Development Division at development@ALAforVeterans.org or (317) 569-4537.  

Find your ALA entity, save your unique shopping link, and start sharing it today!