Charities

CASY provides direct placement assistance for all active duty transitioning military members, National Guard, Reserves, and Veterans from all branches and service eras.  CASY, in partnership with MSCCN, operates as an employment partner under MOUs with all branches of the Armed Forces, including the U.S. Coast Guard, and the most recent MOU with the Army National Guard. Our state-of-the-art technology, built-in collaboration with IBM, provides real-time, verifiable tracking, numbers, and outcome reports to our employment partners, military services, and donors.

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How Charities Can Benefit from Accepting Cryptocurrency Donations

Cryptocurrency has taken the financial world by storm. The rise of digital currencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and others has opened up new opportunities for investment and financial growth. And charities are beginning to benefit from accepting cryptocurrency donations.


In this article, we’ll explain cryptocurrency and how it works before giving an overview of why charities should accept cryptocurrency donations. We’ll explore how to effectively find savvy cryptocurrency donors before exploring tips on how to make the most out of your cryptocurrency donations once you’ve received them.


Understanding Cryptocurrency

Before delving into why charities should accept cryptocurrency donations, it’s vital to understand what cryptocurrency is and how it works.
Cryptocurrencies use cryptography technology for security reasons. Unlike traditional currencies issued by central authorities like governments or banks, cryptocurrencies operate independently of financial institutions and governments as they are decentralized currency systems.
Users buy and sell cryptocurrencies using online platforms known as exchanges which allow trading with other cryptocurrencies or fiat currencies such as USD, GBP, among others.


Why Should Charities Accept Cryptocurrency Donations?

Now that we’ve gone through a basic understanding of cryptocurrency, let’s look at why charities can benefit from accepting them:

  • New Funding Source: By accepting contributions in virtual currency, a non-profit organization can enter a rapidly growing market (considered miracle investing) and attract advocates who might be hesitant about contributing their own money or contributing more than their average donation amount.
  • Speed & Security: Transactions can be processed fast with very low fees attracting donors who want to support charitable endeavors but don’t want high transaction costs involved.
  • Transparency & Security Concerns: Donor activity tracking becomes easier utilizing blockchain technology that provides transparency, enabling donors to have clear information about where their funds go post-donation, thus building trust between organizations.
  • Tax Benefits: As property donations, charities can enjoy tax-deductible donations that provide fantastic opportunities for tax savings.


Finding Savvy Cryptocurrency Donors: How to Find Them

Now you know the benefits of accepting cryptocurrencies, it’s time to get this revolutionary ball rolling. Let’s look at how your charity can find savvy cryptocurrency donors

  1. Use Social Media Platforms
    You can use social media platforms for outreach and engagement with potential backers who share a similar passion or holding of digital assets. You can share updates about your charitable activities, like news relating to crypto donations or posts discussing blockchain technology, which is where most cryptocurrency coin development takes place.
  2. Attend Cryptocurrency Events
    Attending events held within the industry, known as developers meet-ups, hackathons, and industry summits, among others is key to finding savvy investors and potential donors with interests in relevant causes aligning with your organization’s.
  3. Partner With Cryptocurrency Companies
    Partner with organizations involved in corporate social responsibility programs that could be looking towards charitable contributions sponsorship furthering any particular cause you may support. By partnering up, charities have access to an entire network of supporters built around cryptocurrency companies thus attracting new donors supporting the company-aligned causes.
  4. Accept Multiple Cryptocurrencies
    Accepting several digital currencies opens opportunities for all kinds of donors to invest by providing options tailored according to their preferences ensuring the extension prompt provision for continual support from multiple crypto resources enabling sustainable funding sources.
  5. Provide Clear Donation Instructions
    Providing clear instructions on how people can donate cryptocurrencies to your organization. Offer detailed instruction about setting up wallets and take your donors through the donation process.
  6. Display Your Crypto Donation Button Prominently
    Make it obvious that you accept crypto donations on your website with a distinctive button taking you to the processing page. When you sign up to the GiveSafely Donation Platform, you will recieve a button programmed to take donors directly to your page on the Givesafely.io website. Be sure to display this button prominently to help donors become aware that your organization accepts crypto and helping them navigate to a safe, secure donation platform.


Making the Most Out of Cryptocurrency Donations

Here are tips on how charitable organizations can maximize cryptocurrency donations received:

  1. Use a Cryptocurrency Payment Processor
    One way to streamline the cumbersome management process is by using a cryptocurrency payment processor like BitPay, Coinbase Commerce, and CoinPayments among many others enabling ease in donation processing and converting cryptocurrencies to fiat currencies within no time.
  2. Be Transparent
    To ensure principle/ value perception remains intact with donors clear as natural crystal communication regarding how your organization utilizes donated funds plays an integral part in maintaining donor trust while building more transparency into decision-making processes associated with resource allocation towards specific projects or actions.
  3. Educate Donors
    It’s vital to educate donors on the importance of their contribution and giving insight into various accomplishments relating to completed fundraising projects associated with The Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance. Insight into these mission achievements raises more awareness, further motivating contributors to give back and contribute even more generously incentivized through knowledge—raising the stakes!
  4. Consider Holding Cryptocurrency
    Holding onto cryptocurrencies is also essential as they are prone to fixed supply events hence multiplying value that appreciates averagely over some time providing sustainable long term benefits despite fluctuations accruing from intermediate market speculation.


Conclusion

Cryptocurrencies represent new opportunities for charitable fundraising grounds opening up access points via alternative resources while tapping greater audiences passionate about areas aligned with charities’ causes leading out in sustainable funding sources for future endeavors.


FAQs

  1. What exactly is a cryptocurrency payment processor?
    A crypto payment processor service aimed at businesses or brands seeking an effective/efficient route towards accepting digital currency payments. These processors enable multiple forms of cryptocurrencies passed between peers among blockchain technologies minimizing traditional financial intermediaries.
  2. Are cryptocurrency donations tax-deductible?
    As introduced earlier, generally accepted based on tax laws governing countries where contributions under property donations translate to appropriate deductions hence gaining additional incentives related to taxation savings.
  3. Is accepting cryptocurrency safe?
    It’s important to acknowledge the significance of using a secure wallet to store, manage donations while researching banks or financial institutions offering integrated crypto platforms alongside payment processors.

Unlock the Power of Crypto Donations: Transform Your Community Today!

Have you ever thought about using your digital assets to make a difference in your community? Cryptocurrency, while still relatively new, is taking over as an innovative way to fund local projects and address community issues. Nonprofits, schools, and grassroots organizations are beginning to embrace cryptocurrency donations for their initiatives due to its benefits.

The staggering transparency and security of blockchain technology behind cryptocurrencies ensure safe transactions that cannot be tampered with — making it perfect for donating funds securely. Additionally, crypto-giving’s borderless transactions mean anyone worldwide can donate or receive funds without limitations. The smalls fees associated with crypto payments encourage more spending on the causes one cares about compared to paying within traditional payment methods.

You’re probably wondering what successful community initiatives have leveraged cryptocurrency donations successfully?

Crypto for Meals initiative is among many success stories where volunteers use crypto-donations (funded through meal deliveries) towards senior citizens’ meals and individuals living with disabilities. This program has ignited support from not only members of this particular locality but also local businesses accepting cryptocurrency payments.

Another nonprofit in California partnered with GiveSafely.io donation platform that met BBB Wise Giving Alliance standards; they used Bitcoin denomination received from low-income families and corporate donors towards building energy-efficient homes at affordable rates – bridging gaps between housing disparities across the state.

With these inspiring examples above of Crypto donations impact on local communities indicates how beautiful our world gets when we hold hands together- experiencing change sustainably by harnessing untapped kindness comes naturally when we give back collectively.

Ready to start giving back locally today utilizing cryptographic currencies? See below steps:

Choose a cause you care about because charity begins at home!
Make sure the organization receiving donation meets BBB Wise Giving Alliance standards
Set up your wallet if don’t already have one.
Donate now in few simple clicks OR utilize trustworthy platforms like GiveSafely.io
Keep track of your donation for easy reference come tax season

As you make a difference within your locality using crypto, do not shy from encouraging others to get involved. Educating and sharing with family, friends, neighbors will go an extra mile in more substantial contributions.

Cryptocurrency adoption continues to burgeon. The ability to use cryptocurrency towards community projects grows alongside it; thus, significant initiatives ranging from environ-mental protection causes like planting trees or oceans cleanups can change our world sustainably if we pooled resources through cryptos. You never know: what started as a small project may grow into something that changes the course of lives globally.

Remember always that charity begins at home – leverage the power of protecting communities by supporting local projects today utilizing cryptographic currencies!

An AI Assistant made some contribution to this article.

Elizabeth Mong

Elizabeth is consulting pro-bono for the GiveSafely.io cryptocurrency donation platform, which is offered by the Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance. As a board member of BBB WGA, she is closely involved with this project and is passionate about the impact it can have on the world.

Good news: crypto donations are making it easier than to donate directly to a cause you care about. Digital currencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum have introduced an innovative style of philanthropy. In this blog post, we will delve into what cryptocurrency is and how it’s changing the world of charitable giving.

What is Cryptocurrency?

To understand cryptocurrency, think of it as virtual money. Unlike traditional money, cryptocurrencies aren’t controlled by any central authority such as banks or credit card companies. This means they can be transferred from one person to another without any middle-men.

The Role of Crypto in Philanthropy

One unique feature that makes cryptocurrencies attractive for charitable giving is their ability to streamline the donation process and provide greater transparency while reducing overhead costs. These benefits make donating with cryptocurrencies faster, more accessible and efficient.

Advantages of Crypto Donations

  • Instant Access: Traditional forms of donation can take days or even weeks to complete due to cumbersome processes — involving intermediaries like banks — whereas cryptocurrency donations can be made instantly from anywhere in the world at any time.
  • Transparency & Traceability: Blockchain technology creates public records that record every transaction made with cryptocurrencies – providing an easy way for donors to track their donations, ensuring contributions reach intended recipients.
  • Tax Benefits: Cryptocurrency donations often have significant tax advantages compared with other types of charitable gifts because many countries (including the US) treat them as property donations subject only to capital gains tax.

Real-World Examples

Crypto-Philanthropy has captured mainstream attention in recent times through efforts by individuals and organizations alike. A typical example is Vitalik Buterin – co-founder Ethereum – who recently donated over $1 billion worth of cryptocurrency towards India’s COVID crisis relief fund on behalf of his organization!

Grassroots Initiatives are also playing a significant role alongside high-profile philanthropists; Bitcoin-supporting nonprofit BitGive uses its platform GiveTrack to enable donors to track the progress of various humanitarian projects aimed at developing countries, including clean water, building schools and more, in real-time.

The Future of Charitable Giving

As cryptocurrencies continue their eventual takeover of traditional money they will find a unique place for themselves regarding charitable giving. Crypto donations offer unparalleled benefits: speed, accessibility, transparency, and tax advantages. With BBW Wise Giving Alliance-accredited charities now accepting digital currencies through GiveSafely.io–an innovative platform that makes crypto-philanthropy secure & transparent–we can anticipate an exceptional shift toward this new form of giving.

Conclusion

In conclusion, as cryptocurrency continues to disrupt traditional models around us in virtually every aspect; from shopping online to purchasing your morning cup of coffee – it is unsurprising that its influence extends to philanthropy too. Today’s world allows you the freedom to donate instantly from your smartphone without interference in what could possibly be seen as the most efficient form of transaction yet!So what are you waiting for? Use Crypto on GiveSafely.io to donate to BBB Wise Giving Alliance accredited charities today and make a meaningful impact – right here – right now!

An AI Assistant made some contribution to this article.

Elizabeth Mong

Elizabeth is consulting pro-bono for the GiveSafely.io cryptocurrency donation platform, which is offered by the Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance. As a board member of BBB WGA, she is closely involved with this project and is passionate about the impact it can have on the world.

The Power of Crypto Donations: Choosing the Right Charity Matters

Cryptocurrency has revolutionized the way we donate money to charitable causes. Gone are the days of writing a check or making a cash donation, as crypto provides a secure, fast, and efficient way to support organizations in need.

However, simply donating your crypto is not enough. Choosing the right charity that aligns with your values and makes an impactful difference in the world is essential. Here’s why:

Not All Charities Are Created Equal

Just because an organization has a website and claims to be doing good work doesn’t mean they actually are. Unfortunately, some charities have been caught up in scandal or misuse of funds.

That’s why it’s essential to do research on any charity you plan on giving crypto donations to. Look for organizations that are transparent about where their funds go, what they’re doing with them, and how they’re making tangible change in their field.

BBB Wise Giving Alliance: A Trustworthy Resource

The Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance is a fantastic resource when researching charities for potential donations. This nonprofit evaluates hundreds of charities based on 20 standards focused on accountability, effectiveness and transparency. You can use this valuable tool to vet organizations before deciding which ones you want to support.

GiveSafely.io: Making Crypto Donations Safe & Easy

Another helpful resource is GiveSafely.io – a platform designed specifically for secure cryptocurrency donations. This platform connects you directly with verified non-profits that meet BBB Wise Giving Alliance standards. In addition to providing peace-of-mind through transparent financial reporting and data sharing tools between donors and nonprofits so there was never any doubt about where donated funds end up along the way
GiveSafely.io also offers automatic tax receipt generation so donors know exactly how much (including taxes) can be deducted during tax season without any additional administrative work needed
This type of comprehensive reporting is invaluable to those looking to make a smart, responsible cryptocurrency donation.

The Impact of Your Crypto Donations

In addition to researching charities, it’s also essential to understand how your donations can make an impact. With crypto donations, you have the power to contribute significant amounts quickly and without the high fees charged by some traditional payment methods (e.g., credit cards or bank transfers).

For example, you can donate fractions of a bitcoin or ethereum that can potentially grow in value over time as the cryptocurrency market evolves. This means your donation could end up having even more impact than if you were donating a fixed amount at face value.

Moreover, many organizations leverage blockchain technology that empowers donors with direct insight into where their contributions go and what tangible impacts they are making on-field while simultaneously ensuring that financial data is transparently published for anyone who requires real-time updates on how funds are managed.

These perks are just few reasons why cryptocurrency donorship enables far reaching positive outcomes beyond mere aid distribution metrics and into areas such as: community building towards common goal(s), social cohesion, scientific research and development support etc

The Importance of Choosing the Right Charity

Ultimately, choosing the right charity is critical because it maximizes your contribution’s potential impact. When you feel confident in your chosen recipient’s work ethics and mission statement then sharing whatever capacity makes sense for them becomes easier – so always refer back to BBB Wise Giving Alliance evaluations which serve as insightful criterion checklists

If you’re unsure about where to start looking for reputable charities, seek out recommendations from trusted sources within communities relevant according to donor interest like cryptocurrency forums or invest in time learning more about specific fields which reflect one’s passions so they can find ideal match(es) based on mutual goals aligned shared vision.

In Summary

Donating crypto can be a powerful way to support charitable causes. Still there exist risk s of misuse unless effective mechanisms exist alongside choosing appropriate organisations with track records have accountability such as BBB Wise Giving Alliance certified non-profits that are also registered and verified by platforms like GiveSafely.io. When practiced with care, donating crypto can have a long-lasting impact on those receiving the aid needed to create positive ripple effects, so aim to be mindful of ethical considerations when supporting philanthropic causes.

An AI Assistant made some contribution to this article.

Elizabeth Mong

Elizabeth is consulting pro-bono for the GiveSafely.io cryptocurrency donation platform, which is offered by the Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance. As a board member of BBB WGA, she is closely involved with this project and is passionate about the impact it can have on the world.

Giving a Digital Hand: How Crypto Donations Are Leveling the Financial Playing Field

The world we live in is not always fair. Regardless of where you come from or who you are, financial inclusivity is out of reach for some people due to lack of resources, living in remote locations, and insufficient identification documents. Enter cryptocurrencies – the exciting new digital currency that has provided an alternative to traditional banking systems.

Crypto donations have been making great strides towards building better financial inclusion opportunities for everyone. By donating cryptocurrency to charities through platforms like Givesafely.io, individuals across the globe can contribute to philanthropic causes and help empower marginalized communities by breaking down barriers created by centralized banking.

With all this being said, there may be questions that come up about cryptocurrency donation such as “how reliable is the platform?” or “what kind of impact does my donation make?”. Hold your horses because we will answer every one of these questions and much more! In this article, we will discuss how crypto donations work and their potential benefits in leveling up financial inclusion while using clear language even a 13-year-old could understand!

How Crypto Donations Break Down Barriers To Financial Services

Traditional banking systems may appear restrictive at times as they can create obstacles for certain segments of society who don’t fit into their designated parameters. That being said, decentralized cryptocurrencies offer hope by providing an alternative approach utilizing blockchain technology without depending on any central authority.

When donors contribute crypto assets to charity organizations working towards social change around the world through platforms like givesafely.io -they become part of a movement that empowers charities worldwide with greater autonomy over funds available which makes them able to serve different segments that might otherwise be overlooked.

Your Go-To Platform For A Trustworthy Cryptocurrency Donation Experience

Givesafely.io provides an innovative solution by creating a secure platform designed specifically for cryptocurrency-based donations while also ensuring that recipients receive accreditation from BBB Wise Giving Alliance signifying that they satisfy the highest ethical standards of accountability, governance, and transparency. This creates an environment for donors to confidently donate crypto assets without fear of fraud or scams.

Actualizing Crypto Philanthropy With Real Examples

Think that cryptocurrency donations are a mere myth? Well then think again! Consider this scenario: a small non-profit organization that seeks to provide remote villages in developing countries with healthcare services and education can only rely on traditional banking systems at an exorbitant cost or none at all due to their location by road. However, the same nonprofit can skip all saving just Bitcoin fees costs using blockchain technology, hence enabling them to transfer digital cash directly to impacted communities almost instantly.

This means we can reach out virtually anywhere in the world where people are struggling with financial access like never before through innovations such as cryptocurrency donations — something not-so-distant-future generations will be thankful for!

Join The Revolution: Charity Cryptocurrency Donations Are More Inclusive

In conclusion, donating cryptocurrencies towards charitable causes is an innovative approach that has the potential of providing financial solutions and closing gaps between different societies around us while simultaneously providing greater autonomy and sustainability for charities. With Givesafely.io as one’s platform of choice – this vision becomes even more attainable since it caters effectively to donor security requirements without compromising their donation amount.

Through philanthropic initiatives supported by technologically-advanced payment networks provided by cryptocurrencies – individuals everywhere join together toward creating social change today rather than years later thanks in no small part due to everyone who utilizes platforms like givesafely.io!

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Share on Email donor concerns about data security and privacy when giving

In recognition of Data Privacy Day, a BBB Wise Giving Alliance poll asked over 2,000 Americans about data privacy and donations. We wanted to know how much donors cared about the safety of their personal information overall, as well as how much they thought about data and privacy when donating to charities. (GiveSafely.io is a program of the BBB Wise Giving Alliance).

61% of all respondents rated their concerns about the Safety of Personal Information 7-10 on a 10-point scale

The poll found that overall concern about the safety of personal information ranked high across generations. 61% of all respondents rated their concern between 7-10 on a 10-point scale, compared to 51% of Generation Z, 59% of Millennials, 60% of Gen X, 70% of Baby Boomers, and 59% of Matures.

94% of Millennials indicated that data and privacy considerations had been either ‘somewhat’ or ‘very’ important to them when giving to charity

Beyond their general levels of concern about privacy and security, we wanted to know whether donors thought about these issues when giving to charities.

When asked about their giving experiences, Millennials stood out, with 94% of them indicating that data and privacy considerations had been either ‘somewhat’ or ‘very’ important (30% and 64% respectively), compared to 68% overall.

Indeed, the percent of Millennials responding that data and privacy concerns were ‘somewhat’ or ‘very’ important was markedly higher than Gen Z’s (51%), GenX’s (60%), Boomers (70%) and Matures (59%).

Charities can rise to address these challenges with innovations in privacy, technology and engagement

When I asked Art Taylor, the President & CEO of BBB Wise Giving Alliance about our findings, and how charities might incorporate them into their practices, he shared:

The last year has been particularly hard for the charity sector as operating models and traditional fundraising methods have been tested to the limits. Now is a time for thinking about how to combine innovations in privacy, technology and digital currencies with online engagement to rethink how charities interact with potential donors and can receive payments in a secure and more equal setting”.

Targeted to Millennials, BBB Wise Giving launched GiveSafely.io to meet both donor and charity needs. In addition to listing only trusted charities (that meet all 20 BBB Standards for Charity Accountability) and using blockchain encryption to protect donors and enable cryptocurrency donations, GiveSafely.io, provides charities with a means to go even beyond protecting donor data. It rewards donors who share their personal data with GivingPoints that can be redeemed for charity experiences.

As we mark Data Privacy Day, we note that a focus on privacy and donor safety might well become a growing trend in the charity sector and other industries. Increasingly people may start to see their personal data in the same light as property and expect it to be respected as such. GiveSafely.io provides a template for charities and industry in general to interact online with their donors and clients.

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For some time, the charitable sector has faced a number of challenges and hurdles to its long-term future and success. One of those recognized challenges has been developing the ability to attract and retain younger donors. Enter COVID-19 and the strain on organizations and their donors has become more pronounced. Even prior to the pandemic, the sector had been experiencing a gradual decrease in the number of individual donors and an overall decrease in individual giving. There also exists a gap between how much donors want to trust charities before giving and how much charities are actually trusted. The sector needs new relevant ways to attract and engage younger donors: models that meet these donors where they are, earn their trust, and meet their privacy and security preferences.

The Charitable Sector: A Decrease in Individual Giving, a Trust Gap, and COVID-19

GivingUSA’s 2019 Report outlines that over the last 40 years the charitable sector has seen giving by individuals decline as a percentage of inflation-adjusted total giving. It has dropped from 83 percent during the five-year period beginning in 1979 to 70 percent during the five-year period beginning in 2014. The financial crash, stagnant or falling disposable incomes and lower levels of job security has had the knock-on effect of charities becoming ever more dependent on older donors and large corporations. Changes to the tax law and the standard deduction has removed some tax incentives for medium-sized donors and could potentially reduce individual giving.

Findings from our 2019 Donor Trust Report series show that while 69.8% of respondents rated the importance of trusting a charity before giving as 9 or 10 (Essential) on a 10-point scale, only 19.0% of respondents say they highly trust charities. This is despite the sector being the most trusted institutional sector: donors trust charities more than the government (79%-21%), the media (78%-22%), business (68%-32%), banks (68%-32%) and organized religion (65%-35%).

In 2020, COVID-19 has upended traditional charity fundraising models. A survey of our accredited charities (who meet all 20 BBB Standards for Charity Accountability) taken a few weeks in to the pandemic (March 2020) showed that 80.5% of the charities anticipated lower than expected revenue in 2020, and 60.9% anticipated that they will be unable to host some fundraising events. Only 19.6% reported that they were likely to lose less than 10% of their budgeted revenue. 61.2% of charities surveyed are very concerned about the impact of COVID-19 on the charitable sector. It is worth noting that the surveyed charities may be larger and sturdier than the sector as a whole and, since March, we imagine that charities’ projections may have only gotten even more dire.

Meeting Millennials and Generation Z Donors on Their Terms

GivingUSA’s 2019 Report outlines that over the last 40 years the charitable sector has seen giving by individuals decline as a percentage of inflation-adjusted total giving. It has dropped from 83 percent during the five-year period beginning in 1979 to 70 percent during the five-year period beginning in 2014. The financial crash, stagnant or falling disposable incomes and lower levels of job security has had the knock-on effect of charities becoming ever more dependent on older donors and large corporations. Changes to the tax law and the standard deduction has removed some tax incentives for medium-sized donors and could potentially reduce individual giving.

Findings from our 2019 Donor Trust Report series show that while 69.8% of respondents rated the importance of trusting a charity before giving as 9 or 10 (Essential) on a 10-point scale, only 19.0% of respondents say they highly trust charities. This is despite the sector being the most trusted institutional sector: donors trust charities more than the government (79%-21%), the media (78%-22%), business (68%-32%), banks (68%-32%) and organized religion (65%-35%).

In 2020, COVID-19 has upended traditional charity fundraising models. A survey of our accredited charities (who meet all 20 BBB Standards for Charity Accountability) taken a few weeks in to the pandemic (March 2020) showed that 80.5% of the charities anticipated lower than expected revenue in 2020, and 60.9% anticipated that they will be unable to host some fundraising events. Only 19.6% reported that they were likely to lose less than 10% of their budgeted revenue. 61.2% of charities surveyed are very concerned about the impact of COVID-19 on the charitable sector. It is worth noting that the surveyed charities may be larger and sturdier than the sector as a whole and, since March, we imagine that charities’ projections may have only gotten even more dire.

A Time to Take Action: GiveSafely.io as a Tool for Charities

Donors want to give to trusted charities but some also worry about their personal information being hacked, stolen, misused and improperly monetized. On the other side, charities have been searching for new ways to make up for decreases in the number of people donating. While younger donors express a willingness to be approached, charities still search for the right ways to connect with them. The COVID-19 pandemic has upended many charities’ traditional outreach methods and charities are being challenged to move engagement online.

Responding to these challenges, BBB Wise Giving Alliance launched its GiveSafely.io donation platform on July 4th. Targeted at younger and tech-savvy donors, GiveSafely.io uses blockchain technology (Ardor) to arrange peer-to-peer relationships where donations and data flow directly from donors to the intended charities while securing donor information. All charities on the platform are trustworthy: they meet the 20 BBB Standards of Charity Accountability. There is no intermediary: GiveSafely.io has no access to the donations or data, and will receive no transaction fees. There is no cost for charities to participate.

To promote and deepen donor-charity engagement, and acknowledge the growing awareness that personal data is someone’s property and should be valued as such, when a donor gives and shares their data, they are rewarded with GivingPoints. GivingPoints are redeemable for online experiences with any of the participating charities. The 15-30 minute reward experiences are designed to connect the donor more intimately to the charity’s mission in a conversational, low-pressure format. They include offers like interactive video chats about ethics in the charitable sector, surprises while working in the field at a particular charity, career advice for entering the charitable sector, and AMAA (Ask Me Almost Anything) conversations with charities’ leadership or staff members. All BBB WGA Accredited Charities are eligible to participate. Trusted charities involved with the launch include: Save the Children, Easterseals, Humane Society, Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, Population Media Center, RedRover, Wild Animal Sanctuary, Cure Alzheimer’s Fund and World Emergency Relief. This list will expand in the weeks ahead.
The charity sector in the USA has for some time been facing considerable challenges related to an ageing donor base, reliance on larger corporations and declining allegiance to established institutions. Today’s youth are demonstrating an increasingly proactive approach to how institutions act on their behalf and shape the society they are living in. GiveSafely.io was designed to embrace these values and perspectives ensuring people are engaged and feel included when making a donation. When people feel they are on equal terms, informed about where their money is going and how it is being spent and that their personal data is secure, participation and donations from Millennials and Generation Z will finally reflect the activism and expressed wishes of this already very influential demographic.
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The Coronavirus pandemic has challenged and upended many preconceived ideas about how traditional industries and business models should operate. What seemed inconceivable a year ago is now commonplace and in years to come people might look back at the pandemic as a once in a century occurrence that acted as a catalyst for technological change.

The charity sector like all others has to constantly evolve and meet the challenges that new generations of donors and causes bring. Traditional fundraising models and management techniques cannot be relied on to maintain revenue streams that enable operations to continue. The way in which charities interact and communicate with their donor base that spans different generations, racial demographics and socio-economic circumstances has to reflect the times they are in.

New technologies can help bridge those gaps and create a path to new donors as well as eliminate many of the problems related to allocation of limited resources. Having advised a number of blue-chip Financial Services companies I was always struck by how convoluted and inefficient their underlying IT systems and infrastructure was. The fact that bank transfers could take up to three working days and clearing houses needed to guarantee trades between separate institutions cried out for technological solutions to improve existing systems. Bitcoin’s emergence as a decentralised alternative financial ecosystem free from central bank interference and governments showed that value can be transferred across borders in minutes not days and unleashed a whole raft of opportunities in how traditional financial services operate and business models are conceptualised.    

The Charity sector like Financial Services has begun to look at Bitcoin, its underlying Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) and how it can be applied to its existing donation models. Since I founded my Public Relations consultancy in 2015 I have noticed how public perceptions towards Bitcoin and blockchain have evolved from being a scam, fad, speculative mania and potential asset class. Irrespective of your views on Bitcoin’s value as an asset class it’s hard to ignore the potential application of blockchain technology to the charity sector to solve problems related to duplication of resources, accountability and logistics. Digital tokens representing value can be sent via mobile phones directly to people anywhere in the world eliminating the need for intermediaries. Registering goods on an immutable ledger automatically creates transparency regarding their provenance and allocation, something charities should aspire towards. It’s also hard to ignore the potential to disintermediate expensive service providers and well paid managers involved in aid agency distribution, people are often unaware that when they donate a dollar only 30 cents goes to their intended recipient. One charity platform I have advised, PolloPollo tackles this problem head on by enabling donors to send money directly to merchants in Venezuela who can pass on goods directly to people who have requested them online. The platform bypasses the current blockade the country is suffering at its borders, corrupt officials and enables donations to be made directly over the Directed Acyclic Graph to technologically literate merchants who can pass on goods to people who have requested them but lack the means to pay.

Blockchain application isn’t just reserved for online donations, GiveSafely.io has demonstrated how charities can use Ardor’s blockchain encryption technology to empower potential donors so that they can be rewarded for their personal data with merchandise or experiences. It taps into real concerns people (particularly the young) have regarding their personal data and its potential use. It also creates a new more equal terms of engagement between charities to reward donors with GivingPoints to be redeemed for personal data that might create a template for other philanthropic organizations reviewing their operating models.

Blockchain may still be synonymous with Bitcoin and rising asset values, however its potential application to the charity sector is clear to be seen, whether it be for reducing duplication of resources, increasing transparency or building a new path to engage with potential younger donors, charities would do well to recognise the potential application to their existing operating models. For organizations to thrive and remain relevant they have to keep innovating, evolving and adapting to the times the people they seek to serve are living in, blockchain technology is still in its infancy, however it’s hard to envisage it not being a part of the solution to creating more accountable and transparent charities.