Amazon, our employees, and the nonprofit community together donated $9 million total to select nonprofits working to improve the lives of our most vulnerable community members in the Seattle and Arlington, VA, regions.
The 20 selected nonprofits were a huge contributor to the success of the campaign—many exceeding their goals to attract new donors and donations. Our partners at some of the nonprofits shared what the donation means for their efforts:
"To continue filling critical gaps in our community for families and young people in particular, all of us must work together. We applaud Amazon for matching their employees' investments in our mission to maximize impact for our neighbors experiencing homelessness," said Caroline Jones, president and CEO at Doorways. "Doorways is grateful to the many Amazonians who have stepped up in support of our cause through financial gifts and volunteering thus far, and we look forward to building on this partnership moving forward."
“Amazon’s support will contribute to our ability to build 750 affordable homes in the next three years in four amenity-rich neighborhoods," said Susan Boyd, CEO at Bellwether Housing. "These buildings will house people who cannot afford market rate rents—people who care for our children and elderly, families exiting homelessness, independent seniors, immigrants seeking opportunity, preschool teachers and social workers, and young people just starting out. Thank you Amazon for helping to cultivate a more vibrant and equitable community."
"Mil gracias to all the generous Amazon employees who showed that they care about housing and homelessness in our community, especially as it relates to our young children, youth and families. The matching campaign funds have provided a much needed extra boost to El Centro de la Raza (The Center for People of All Races) for our expansion into South King County where there is a dire lack of culturally integrative services and where 56% of the Latinx community in King County call home," said Estela Ortega, executive director at El Centro de la Raza. "We look forward to staying engaged with our Amazon employee familia and the important work we have ahead of us in 2020."
Many cities in the U.S., including our two headquarter regions of Seattle and Arlington, VA, continue to face challenges with housing affordability and homelessness. In order to help address these challenges, Amazon announced in June an $8 million total donation—$5 million to Plymouth Housing in Seattle and $3 million to the Arlington Community Foundation in Arlington—as well as a $5 million total match on employee donations made to 20 select nonprofits addressing housing and homelessness. Combined, this new $13 million commitment will help create more housing options for families, veterans, and people experiencing homelessness in our two headquarter regions and is in addition to the more than $130 million invested in our existing partnerships with Mary’s Place and FareStart in Seattle.
Housing and homelessness is a focus area for Amazon and we know it’s important to our employees, too. We chose 20 organizations to receive a match donation as a way to hone our impact and join with our employees in a new way. The organizations were chosen based on existing employee involvement and proven results. Amazon matched dollar-for-dollar any employee donation—there is no limit on the match amount for any one donation or any one organization—made to the select nonprofits, up to $5 million.
We invite you to join us in supporting front line organizations making a difference, or learn more about the impact this donation has on our communities.
Seattle area nonprofits are #1-10 Greater Washington D.C. area nonprofits are #11-20

Learn more about each of these nonprofits:

Accelerator YMCA
Accelerator Y, the social services division of the YMCA of Greater Seattle, is dedicated to supporting youth and young adults who have been impacted by homelessness, foster care, juvenile justice, mental health, and other systems.
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Bellwether Housing
Bellwether Housing creates stable communities and access to opportunity by creating homes for people with limited incomes near job centers, transit, and services.
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Compass Housing Alliance
Compass Housing Alliance develops and provides emergency services, affordable housing, and one-on-one supports to individuals and families experiencing homelessness and housing instability in the greater Puget Sound region.
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El Centro de La Raza
El Centro de la Raza builds unity across all racial and economic sectors; organizes, empowers, and defends our most vulnerable and marginalized populations to bring justice, dignity, equality, and freedom to all the peoples of the world.
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FareStart
FareStart provides a community that transforms lives by empowering adults and young people experiencing poverty and homelessness to achieve self-sufficiency through life skills, job training and employment in the foodservice industry.
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Hopelink
Hopelink serves homeless and low-income families, children, seniors and people with disabilities in King and Snohomish counties; providing stability and helping people gain the skills and knowledge they need to exit poverty for good.
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Mary's Place
Mary’s Place believes that no child should sleep outside. They provide safe, inclusive shelter and services that support women, children and families on their journey out of homelessness.
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Plymouth Housing
Plymouth Housing ends chronic homelessness by providing “Housing First” apartments with attached support services. Plymouth’s residents are single adults who have experienced long-term homelessness and live with challenges such as disabilities, behavioral health conditions, PTSD, and more. A safe, supportive home becomes the basis for transforming lives.
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Wellspring Family Services
Wellspring Family Services ends the cycle of family homelessness by connecting families experiencing homelessness to the services needed to regain and maintain stability. Our wrap-around services include: eviction prevention, housing location, trauma-informed early learning program, and a free store to help meet basic needs.
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YouthCare
YouthCare works to end youth homelessness and to ensure that young people are valued for who they are and empowered to achieve their potential. YouthCare envisions a community where no young person experiences homelessness, all young people have the opportunity to thrive, and the systems that oppress them are dismantled.
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AHC Inc. (AHC)
AHC Inc. develops affordable housing and helps communities thrive in the Northern Virginia, Washington DC and Baltimore region. We provide a wide array of educational programs and social services in our community centers to help residents build more stable and successful lives. #Housing+Education=Success
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Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing (APAH)
APAH believes in the transformative power of home. We own 1,600 quality, affordable apartment homes for our low-income neighbors, with 900 more on the way. APAH’s innovative programs and partnerships provide residents with services like tutoring and financial counseling that help our region’s most vulnerable not just survive, but thrive.
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A-SPAN
A-SPAN’s vision is to end homelessness in Arlington County. A-SPAN’s mission is to secure permanent housing and provide life-sustaining services for Arlington’s most vulnerable individuals through outreach and relationships built on trust and respect.
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Community Lodgings
Community Lodgings lifts families from homelessness and instability to independence and self-sufficiency by providing housing and education programs in the Arlandria-Chirilagua neighborhood of Alexandria.
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Carpenter's Shelter
Carpenter’s Shelter supports people experiencing homelessness to achieve sustainable independence through shelter, guidance, education, and advocacy.
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Cornerstones
Cornerstones is a nonprofit organization serving Fairfax County that promotes self-sufficiency by providing support and advocacy for those in need of food, shelter, affordable housing, quality childcare, and other human services.
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Doorways
Doorways creates pathways out of homelessness, domestic violence and sexual assault that lead to safe, stable and empowered lives for survivors, families,and youth. Our response includes a 24-hour hotline, emergency shelter, supportive housing, and comprehensive services that build on client’s needs and strengths.
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Facets
FACETS provides programs and services that address homelessness, poverty, and hunger for individuals and families, changing the future for children through education, and permanent supportive housing for those most vulnerable in Fairfax County.
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Friendship Place
Friendship Place is a leader in the Washington, DC region -- developing solutions to homelessness with demonstrable results and a lasting impact. Utilizing innovative, customized, person-focused programs, Friendship Place empowers participants to rebuild their lives, find homes, get jobs, and reconnect with friends, family, and community.
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Wesley Housing Development Corporation
Wesley Housing’s mission lies in their commitment to combine affordable housing with family programs and supportive services to foster positive development and self-sufficiency for all adults, children, and families.
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