Giving by Proxy. Simple. Powerful.
The Altruistic Referral Program - T.A.R.P.
Everyday choices can create extraordinary change. Whether you’ve been touched by a charitable organization, believe in the power of generosity, or miss the ease of Amazon Smile—T.A.R.P. makes giving by proxy effortless again
The Amazon Smile Story
For ten years, AmazonSmile allowed shoppers to support their favorite nonprofits effortlessly. Each purchase generated a donation of 0.5% — that’s just five cents for every $10 spent — directed to the charitable organization of the shopper’s choice.
Over the course of the program, (ten years) more than $446 million was distributed to nonprofits across the United States. This steady stream of support became a valuable resource for thousands of organizations.
In 2023, however, AmazonSmile was discontinued. Amazon explained that donations were being “spread too thin,” as over one million nonprofits were selected by consumers. While that meant broad participation, it also resulted in a vast number of very small donations — and ultimately, the program came to an end.
Our Story
Like millions of others, my wife Barbara and I were proud users of AmazonSmile. In 2022, our purchases generated just a $10 donation to the nonprofit we had chosen. Since we were the only supporters of that organization that small amount — in some ways, seemed to confirm Amazon’s reasoning for ending the program.
But as the late Paul Harvey would say, we soon learned “the rest of the story.”
The Rest of the Story
This was never just about the small donations our purchases produced. It’s about the much bigger picture.
Not all donations were small. In fact, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the ASPCA each received an average of $1.5 million every year for ten years through AmazonSmile. St. Jude and the ASPCA were not the only ones — many other nonprofits lost significant, reliable funding when the program ended.
That loss left a hole in the charitable economy that needs to be filled. This initiative is about righting that ship — restoring the support nonprofits counted on, and building a program that can do even more.
Can every purchase you make help support the charitable economy?
Yes - through a Grant Credits / Reward Points program with real, sustainable, recurring value.
T.A.R.P. provides the mechanism - nonprofits mobilize the consumer - consumer demand attracts merchants - the results: impact commerce on a whole new level.
The Plan
The Altruistic Referral Program (T.A.R.P.) is a marketing company operating a multi-merchant shopping platform inspired by the proven success of AmazonSmile — designed to extend its core insight into everyday commerce.
AmazonSmile demonstrated that consumers want their purchases to create impact. Its limitation was scope: a single retail ecosystem.
T.A.R.P. expands that insight across thousands of merchants, millions of transactions, and multiple pathways through which communities can support the nonprofits they value most.
T.A.R.P.’s user-acquisition strategy is simple: allocate 90% of merchant-paid marketing commissions to participating nonprofits.
By operating across a broader commercial ecosystem, the potential funding capacity for each nonprofit is significantly greater than what AmazonSmile was structurally able to deliver.
What Inspired T.A.R.P.?
American businesses invest approximately $484 billion annually in marketing to influence consumer purchasing behavior.
T.A.R.P. was built on a straightforward premise: when impact-driven consumers consolidate their spending behavior, businesses will recognize T.A.R.P. as a legitimate marketing channel — worthy of directing a portion of their existing marketing budgets.
If just 0.5% of annual U.S. business marketing spend flowed through the T.A.R.P. platform, that would represent $2.42 billion redirected into the nonprofit ecosystem — not from new donations, but from dollars already allocated to customer acquisition.
Is That Realistic?
Yes.
The infrastructure exists.
The marketing budgets already exist.
The only variable is consumer coordination.
When aligned consumer behavior shifts, marketing allocation follows.
That is how attainable $2.42 billion truly is.
A Call to Action...
“Giving is A Matter of
Principle”
/Principle/-a kind of rule, belief, or idea that guides us
These statistics make one thing clear: to stay relevant, merchants must direct a portion of their marketing budgets toward programs that matter to impact-driven consumers. The purpose of this initiative is to give those consumers a simple, everyday platform - and meaningful voice - in how merchants allocate their marketing spend going forward.
The Principle Behind It All
Whether funds flow to the charitable economy through out-of-pocket generosity or through commissions generated by everyday shopping, the purpose is the same: supporting the causes that make a difference is a matter of principle.
A Personal Message...
I’ve spent nearly 40 years as a PGA Golf Professional — not in tech or finance, but in the company of people. During that time, I’ve helped run countless charitable golf events. What has always struck me is the extraordinary devotion to doing good shown by everyone involved — players, organizers, volunteers, and supporters.
And this isn’t unique to my experience.
Across the country, PGA Professional–managed facilities host tens of thousands of charitable events each year, supported by millions of generous people. Day after day, year after year, we witness how willingly communities rally around the causes they care about most.
That gives me tremendous confidence in what we’re building.
There are millions of people ready to embrace an initiative that allows them to support nonprofits in a simple, everyday way.
The goal is simple:
to help caring, compassionate people do even more caring, compassionate things.
Good ideas — especially good ideas that do good — have a way of traveling fast.
This is a stand for possibility.
A commitment to principle.
And the start of something we believe can change the charitable landscape in a meaningful way.
Optimistically,
Bob Flynt
PGA Life Member
Contact T.A.R.P.
Have questions? Want to get involved?
We’d love to hear from you!!
Want to do more to help T.A.R.P. grow? Reach out to your favorite retailers.
Let them know you’d love the chance to support the T.A.R.P. initiative every time you shop with them.
You Should Also - Advise Your Local Businesses!
A statistical fact – businesses that support charitable initiatives do better than those that don’t.