Walmart streamlines offerings for non-profits

Walmart Inc. is enhancing its Walmart Business and Spark Good platforms to make them easier for local organizations to use.

Following is a brief look at changes Walmart is enacting on each platform:

Walmart Business

The discounter’s Walmart Business program, originally launched as an e-commerce site with an assortment of more than 100,000 products curated for organizational shoppers in January 2023, is simplifying tax-exempt purchasing for eligible organizations. 

Now, eligible organizations can apply for tax-exempt purchasing on Walmart Business and once approved, shop tax-exempt products both on the Walmart Business site and in-store. 

Using the Walmart Business app, organizations can apply their tax-exempt status to in-store purchases within the app’s interface. The feature extends to all users on a multi-user organizational account. In addition, incorporating in-store purchasing into the Walmart Business app allows organizations to see all purchases, both in-store and online, in their account.

Walmart Spark Good

In late 2022, Walmart launched Spark Good, an online program designed to streamline the process of making donations to charitable non-profits. 

Part of the retailer’s Walmart Foundation non-profit initiative, which together with Walmart donated more than $1.5 billion in cash and in-kind to support programs in fiscal year 2022, Spark Good allows approved non-profits to apply local grants as well as participate in a few other fundraising efforts.

New enhancements to Spark Good include:

• One online entry point on the Walmart site and a new partnership with workplace giving/volunteering platform Deed allows organizations to get verified and engage with the company’s charitable programs.
• A new Spark Good Associate platform allows nonprofits to post volunteer opportunities and more for Walmart and Sam’s Club associates.
• A new Spark Good Local Grants application developed by Walmart is designed to provide a more user-friendly experience for organizations applying for funding from Walmart and Sam’s Clubs and distribution centers.

"We continue to work to reduce hassle and increase support for local organizations," said Ashley Hubka, senior VP & GM of Walmart Business and Julie Gehrki, VP, philanthropy, Walmart and Walmart Foundation. "Whether it’s making shopping easier and more affordable, supporting local organizations with grants or helping them connect to new supporters, our goal is to continue to innovate, so organizations can focus on making a difference in their communities."

Based in Bentonville, Ark., Walmart Inc. operates more than 10,500 stores and numerous e-commerce websites in 19 countries.