While going through AmEx shop Small comments I came across the fact that quiet a few donations count as valid transactions and trigger the $10 cashback.
This means we end up paying:
| Tax Bracket | Out of Pocket |
|---|---|
| 0 – $18,200 | $10.00 |
| $18,201 – $37,000 | $5.80 |
| $37,001 – $80,000 | $3.10 |
| $80,001 – $180,000 | $2.20 |
| $180,001 and over | $0.60 |
*2% Medicare Levy included in calculation.
I personally have 3 AmEx cards and have used around 5 transactions on each. I am planning on using the remaining tranasctions towards the end of the month to donate to various charitable organisations.
In the past we have had quiet a few discussions on merits of donating and the amount of money which actually ends up being used for the stated purpose. Based on data published it seems to me that ~30% of the amount donated ends up in the right hands and ~70% ends up being administrative and operational cost. In my case I end being out of pocket by $3.10 but ~$6 ends up in the right hands which makes it a no-brainer for me.
In my research I have come across the following charities that accept AmEx and are listed on shop small website:
| Charity | Verified 2014 | Verified 2015 |
|---|---|---|
| RSPCA | Yes | Yes |
| Police Citizens Youth Club | No | No |
| Care Flight | Yes | Yes |
| McGrath Foundation | Yes | No |
| National Breast Cancer Foundation | Yes | Yes |
| Heart Foundation | Yes | Yes |
| Prostate Cancer | No | No |
| Cerebral Palsy | Yes | Yes |
| Westmead Children's Hospital | No | Yes |
| Beyond Blue | Yes | Yes |
| Shake It Up | Yes | Yes |
| Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children | Yes | Yes |
| Cottage By The Sea | No | Yes |
| Royal Flying Doctor Service* | No | Yes |
*RFDS - VIC and WA don't accept Amex as a payment method
Edit: The table above now includes organisations as reported by other users
I would love to hear if you have found any other organisations that are a part of AmEx shop small promo, or if you have had success with the above organisations. My aim in starting this thread is to compile a list of organisations and donate to worthwhile causes(subjective) and also encourage others to do the same.
Good idea!