It is unscrupulous and borders on stealing. the whole point of the program was to spur small business and the economy. Instead yeshivas and Tzedakas classed themselves as small businesses so that they would qualify when you “purchased” and item from them.
I disagree.
I think the point was to get people to use their American Express cards. And for people to think that American Express was a “good” company.
Besides, it really doesn’t make a difference what the point was. They said we would get a statement balance if we swiped the card at a classified small business. We did so, and got the statement balance. We have no obligation to try to fit into their intentions.