10 Best Charity Affiliate Programs: Turn Passion Into Purpose

Understanding Charity Affiliate Programs

The model of a charity affiliate program is similar to that of other affiliate marketing programs. In exchange for commissions, the nonprofit promotes the business to its supporters.

What distinguishes charity affiliate programs is that the businesses that offer them are motivated to help a good cause. They understand that the commissions their affiliates receive will be used to further the affiliate’s mission and that you will be marketing your nonprofit’s efforts as you promote their business.

Assume you create a social media post to promote an upcoming 10K race fundraiser. You recommend that participants bring a tumbler and a sunblock in the caption and include a link to the business’ website alongside those product mentions. When your supporters click on the link to purchase those items, a portion of their total sales is donated to your nonprofit.

What Are The Benefits Of Charity Affiliate Marketing For Nonprofits?

By participating in an affiliate marketing program, your nonprofit will receive unrestricted revenue year-round to help cover essential, but often underfunded budgeting needs such as operating expenses. Charity affiliate marketing can also help you in a variety of other ways, such as:

• Making new business connections to expand your impact and lay the groundwork for potential future sponsorships.
• Diversifying your revenue streams is simple and comes at no extra cost.
• Raising awareness of your cause among your company’s current customers.

Affiliate marketing can be a highly beneficial component of your nonprofit’s fundraising strategy. However, before you begin affiliate marketing, research to identify the best type of charity affiliate program for your organization.

Top 10 Non-Profit And Charity Affiliate Programs

Omaze

Omaze is a charitable giving platform that incentivizes charities by providing exclusive merchandise and once-in-a-lifetime experiences.

Many of those experiences are backed up by celebrity endorsements. For example, it is currently running a donations sweepstakes in which the winner will be invited to a family dinner with the Jonas Brothers. It may sound strange, but it falls into the “once in a lifetime” category.

Suppose you want to avoid dining with the Jonases. In that case, you can donate to win a 1968 Mercedes-Benz 280SL Pagoda, a multimillion-dollar Miami mansion, a $40,000 curated trip to Japan, and much more.

Omaze experiences raise funds for Charities Aid Foundation America, which distributes donations to charities and nonprofits. To date, it has raised more than $150 million for 350 charities worldwide.

You can earn up to 12% per transaction and a $10 bonus for your first “sale” through the Omaze affiliate program.

• URL: https://partners.accelerationpartners.com/affiliate-programs/omaze
• Commission rate: Up to 12%
• Cookie duration: 7 days

DonorSnap

DonorSnap is a donor management platform that combines CRM, email marketing, and donor retention. Nonprofits can also accept donations via debit cards, credit cards, and bank payments.

According to DonorSnap’s data, the average nonprofit organization that signs up for the service sees a 41% increase in donations in the first year, including a 233% increase in #GivingTuesday donations.

DonorSnap costs between $39 and $199 per month, depending on the number of contacts in the organization. A $200 setup fee is also charged, which includes private training and four hours of charity data conversion time.

The DonorSnap affiliate program has the potential to be one of the highest-paying of any nonprofit program I’ve reviewed, with affiliate marketers earning $200 for each user who converts to a customer after completing a free 30-day trial. It also has a 60-day referral window as a bonus.

There is only one minor drawback: DonorSnap’s affiliate program is only available to affiliates in the United States and Canada. If you live somewhere else, it’s not for you.

• URL: https://donorsnap.com/affiliates/
• Commission rate: $200
• Cookie duration: 60 days

Fundraising.com

Every year, Fundraising.com assists tens of thousands of nonprofit organizations in raising millions of dollars in charitable giving.

It began in the 1990s as the aptly named “Lollipop Company,” selling gourmet lollipops to nonprofits in exchange for donations. Since then, its product line has significantly expanded to include year-round and seasonal items such as cookie dough, chocolate, and scratchcards.

You have two options for monetization through the Fundraising.com affiliate program:

1. Persuading buyers of nonprofit organization cookies and lollipops to contribute to their fundraising efforts
2. directing them to Fundraising.com to launch their online donation platform

Whatever path you choose, you’ll earn a 10% commission on each sale. You’ll also get $3 for every referral who requests a free fundraising guide.

• URL: https://www.fundraising.com/partners/affiliate-program
• Commission rate: 10% per sale
• Cookie duration: Unknown

CARE International

CARE International is a worldwide movement of 21 nonprofit organizations to end global poverty.

It worked in 104 countries with over 10,000 local employees in 2020 alone, implementing over 1,300 poverty-fighting development and humanitarian aid projects.

These initiatives directly reached over 92 million people, with an additional 430 million benefiting indirectly.

Where does CARE International’s affiliate marketing program fit into such a vast network? It is your responsibility to assist the charity in raising funds through donations. You will receive a 6.4% cut of the total amount for each donation you generate.

• URL: https://www.flexoffers.com/affiliate-programs/care-de-affiliate-program/
• Commission rate: 6.4%
• Cookie duration: 30 days

ShopRaise

ShopRaise is a browser extension and app that allows users to earn money for their favorite charitable causes by shopping at major retailers such as Macy’s, Office Depot, and Walmart.

Users can support 500,000+ schools, teams, clubs, charities, and faith-based organizations while shopping from nearly 1,000 brands, with each purchase earning up to 10% for the customer’s chosen cause.

ShopRaise’s affiliate program can be found on the Rakuten Linkshare affiliate network. It has a 30-day cookie period and pays a flat $2 commission to each referred customer who signs up and verifies their email address with a partner brand through the ShopRaise app.

ShopRaise is looking to partner with various affiliates, including email marketers, social media users, coupon sites, and website owners. It is especially keen on collaborating with affiliates in the education, parenting, non-profit, fundraising, and children’s sports sectors.

• URL: https://shopraise.com/affiliates
• Commission rate: $2
• Cookie duration: 30 days

Plan International

Plan International is one of the world’s largest international development nonprofit organizations, collaborating with millions of people worldwide to achieve its mission of eradicating poverty.

Founded in the United Kingdom in 1937 to assist children affected by the Spanish Civil War, it is now active in 75 countries and aims to improve the lives of 100 million girls over the next five years.

Earn a 4% commission on confirmed net sales for permanent donations and sponsorships and a 7% commission on confirmed net sales for individual donations.

• URL: https://plan-international.org/how-we-work/partnerships/
• Commission rate: 4% – 7%
• Cookie duration: 30 days

GreaterGood

GreaterGood aims to raise funds for charitable causes by encouraging online purchases of one-of-a-kind gifts and artisanal products.

In its two decades of operation, it has raised more than $70 million in charitable donations for various projects ranging from people and pets to the environment. It has also paid out more than $50 million to artisans.

GreaterGood, while undeniably doing fantastic work, has one of the least generous nonprofit and charity affiliate programs we’ve seen, with a commission rate of only 2%.

However, the average order value is more than $40, and with repeat customers accounting for 55% of all businesses, there’s a good chance of earning multiple commissions from the same referral. You’ll also have access to a personal affiliate manager.

• URL: https://greatergood.com/clicktogive/ggc/affiliates
• Commission rate: 2% per sale
• Cookie duration: 45 days

Better World Books

Better World Books is where socially conscious readers go instead of Amazon. The website is committed to affordability, offering free shipping worldwide. How? Because, unlike most online used bookstores, it stocks all of its books.

Better World has donated over 31 million books, raised over $32 million for libraries and literacy programs, and recycled or reused over 300,000,000 books.

With an average order value of $26 and commission rates ranging from 5 to 8% depending on performance, you’ll need to drive significant traffic to earn a living through the Better World affiliate program.

However, with unlimited referrals and a 45-day cookie duration, there’s plenty of opportunity to drive multiple sales – and earn multiple commissions – from each customer.

• URL: https://www.betterworldbooks.com/go/affiliate
• Commission rate: 5% – 8% per sale
• Cookie duration: 45 days

Brides Against Breast Cancer

Brides Against Breast Cancer (BABC) began as a charitable organization in the 1990s. As the name implies, it was founded to raise funds for the fight against breast cancer and has carried on that mission to this day.

Rather than soliciting charitable contributions, BABC raises funds by selling donated, low-cost wedding gowns. Over the years, it has donated millions of dollars to cancer-related charities, with an average order value of $650.

As an affiliate, you are responsible for promoting those dresses and raising awareness of BABC’s mission. You will receive a 10% commission on each sale you generate through the nonprofit organization’s referral program.

You’ll also have access to regular newsletters with updates, competitions, and sales opportunities, as well as all the text links, logos, and banners you could ever need.

• URL: https://www.bridesagainstbreastcancer.org/become-a-brides-against-breast-cancer-affiliate/
• Commission rate: 10% per sale
• Cookie duration: 30 days

The Linux Foundation

This one is unique. Unlike most affiliate programs on this list, The Linux Foundation is a global organization that trains the next generation of Linux developers.

With the rapid adoption of Linux technologies, there is plenty of demand, so it’s no surprise that many leading technology companies support non-profit organizations.

The Linux Foundation has contributed over one billion lines of code supporting mission-critical operations and ground-breaking innovations.

Although the foundation is a non-profit organization, its training courses and certifications are costly. A foundation-level system administrator certificate, for example, costs $250.

You will promote those courses and certifications through The Linux Foundation Affiliate Program. You’ll get a 20% commission on each sale you drive within the 60-day referral window.

How to Choose the Right Affiliate Program for Your Charity

Selecting the ideal affiliate program to associate with as a nonprofit organization can significantly impact your fundraising. With so many choices, picking the most suitable one for your charity can be difficult. 

Commission Structure

When selecting an affiliate program, it is vital to consider its commission rates. Various affiliate programs offer various commission rates, so pick a program that offers a marketable commission rate that matches your fundraising goals. Remember that higher commission rates only sometimes translate into more revenue. Look for programs with fair and reasonable commission rates.

Compatibility

Ensure that the affiliate program you selected is compatible with the values and mission of your charity. Partnering with an affiliate program incompatible with your charity’s values can harm your organization’s reputation and credibility. Select a program consistent with your mission and values and that you are proud to promote.

Reputation

It is critical to select an affiliate program with a good reputation. Conduct research and read reviews from other nonprofits or affiliates previously working with the program. Look for programs with a history of timely payouts and excellent customer service.

Choosing the best affiliate program for your charity necessitates careful thought about commission rates, product offerings, ease of use, reputation, and compatibility. By considering these factors, you can choose the best affiliate program to help you meet your fundraising goals while remaining true to the values and mission of your charity.

The Bottomline: Are Charity Affiliate Programs For You?

Charity affiliate programs can help your nonprofit generate significant, ongoing revenue through commissions while expanding your network as you collaborate with other organizations dedicated to charitable causes. Traditional affiliate programs have advantages, but only some are appropriate for some nonprofits.

Even the best charity affiliate programs are unlikely to make you a millionaire. However, as you can see from this list, there is still much money to make here. Furthermore, your affiliate activity will benefit some genuinely great causes, which cannot be said for all affiliate niches.

Of course, working with charities does not make creating a high-converting affiliate website any easier. Before earning a commission, you must conduct keyword research, create great content, and build an audience.