With Covid cases continuing to rise at lightning speed in Europe, if there’s one thing we can be certain of from 2022, it’s that this pandemic is far from behind us. The year is unlikely to be a smooth ride for fundraising, with limitations on events and reduced face-to-face interaction looking set to continue, and economic pressures only increasing the need for charitable services.

But it’s not all doom and gloom. Fundraisers are all too used to working in a climate of perpetual change – developing new skills and, as our recent Nonprofit Pulse report shows, focusing on strengthening and deepening their supporter relationships.

With two years’ experience of the pandemic under their belt, agility has become second nature for many, bolstering resilience and massively accelerating innovation and digital transformation across the sector. We’ve seen some incredible examples of digital fundraising and storytelling, ranging from live broadcasting on social channels to gaming events, brand-jacking, and nonprofits making great use of TikTok.

As time moves on, the pendulum is shifting towards a more hybrid world, with the sector working hard to build on their digital offering, while reintroducing and reshaping fundraising activities and services in the physical world.

Predictions for the year ahead

With this in mind, we ask eight fundraising experts to share their predictions for 2022. Spanning a range of topics, digital channels are of course front of mind within the group, with exciting opportunities for further innovation and supporter engagement cited. Still, the question remains over how to build and strengthen the most committed supporter relationships in this hybrid space.

Recognising that different people, different demographics want different things from the organisations they engage with, those relationships and supporter insight will surely be even more important as nonprofits seek to draw supporters closer to the organisation and inspire them to become part of their community and movement for change. Similarly, relationships with government and other funding bodies will be key.

Legacies are predicted to flourish in the coming years with the Baby Boomer generation, but acquisition of individual and committed givers through more traditional channels is becoming increasingly costly, particularly in the current climate. The challenge is whether – in a crowded digital space – social marketing tools, online and email will be sufficient to plug that gap and recruit new regular givers to the cause.

Nonprofits are becoming bolder in their communications, using social channels more widely to share behind the scenes stories of their work. But in today’s ‘cancel culture’, where loyalty and trust are hard won and easily lost, managing risk and reputation is a critical factor.

When it comes to the profession itself, there’s greater understanding that fundraising really isn’t easy and of the need for skilled professionals to do the job. This makes it all the more important that fundraisers are paid properly for their work and inspired to progress. And yet, with nonprofits facing increasing financial pressures, will the sector be able to stem the tide of good people leaving the profession?

Building on the digital advances and agility shown in recent times, 2022 brings an opportunity for further innovation and growth. But if the sector is to achieve its potential with fundraising and in creating the most engaging and nurturing supporter experiences, renewed focus on the workforce will surely be vital.

Charlotte Rydh: Drawing supporters in to join our movement, not just fund it

Charlotte Rydh, Give Sweden / EFA

It’s always hard to think about fundraising trends at a European level as there are so many cultures and nations at play, but there are several common threads. Of course, there’s been huge re-adjustment in the way nonprofits work after the chaos of Covid. The pandemic isn’t behind us, but we’ve become more accustomed to working through change, to being agile and constantly reviewing how we do things, and to combining digital with traditional fundraising activities. We’re all still finding our way with this new hybrid environment, but what I see is a welcome shift in drawing supporters closer to the cause and encouraging them to get more involved. Increasingly, nonprofits aren’t simply asking supporters for help, but inviting them to join their movement – and I think that’s really exciting. The challenge for us now is how best the sector can channel that, what can we offer supporters and how does this sit with the equally important need for funds.

Charlotte is general secretary of Giva Sverige (Give Sweden) and president of EFA.

John Baguley: Building trust, respect and returns from digital

John Baguley, International Fundraising Consultancy

Trust has always been key. As Covid keeps major donors away from charities and projects, we’ll see those touchpoints that confirm the bona fides (trustworthiness) of charities replaced by the personal relationship between the wealthy and major donor fundraisers. But the danger is that we’re losing a constant stream of excellent fundraisers. We need to pay them better, give them more respect and improve their career path – above all listen to those exit interviews!

When it comes to digital, research into returns from social media marketing will be crucial. The percentage returns will lessen and the blunt messaging instruments will need constant refining. New opportunities are emerging all the time. Profitable and fun, I’d expect to see non-fungible tokens (NFTs) starting to take their place in the fundraising mix with charities accepting cryptocurrencies to pay for the donated art. Who will be the first out of the block on this?

John is executive chair of the International Fundraising Consultancy   

Michelle Chambers: Greater focus on the desires and needs of different demographics

Michelle Chambers, THINK Consulting Solutions

This year it will be increasingly important to develop an understanding of how different demographics want to engage with and support your cause. For the first time, we are seeing a move to a wider demographic spread amongst supporter bases, with all age groups giving voice, money and time, and a particular set of trends for giving amongst Millennials and Gen Z. Understanding what these different audiences want, using research rather than supposition, is key and 2022 will see more and more charities expanding their knowledge base in this way. There is much freely available research and insight for broad demographic trends, which should be supplemented with bespoke intelligence gathering. This needs to be underpinned by robust systems for storing, retrieving and analysing data to drive insight and inform business decisions.

Michelle is managing director of THINK Consulting Solutions

Elly Lont: A step closer to normalising legacy giving

Elly Lont, Greenpeace-NL / legacygiving.eu

In the last years, many organisations saw an increase in legacy income, not caused by Covid-19 only. For the following years, an increase of visible legacy fundraising campaigns will shift the public awareness about legacy giving more. Combined with altering social conventions, a shift from the Silent Generation to the more unconventional and idealistic Baby Boomers, where more and more people do not only want to leave to their loved ones but also to their ideals, make the coming years promising and exciting.

We are not there yet, but 2022 will bring us steps further in making ‘leaving a gift in your will’ a social norm. More and more organisations worldwide see and seize the beautiful opportunities of legacy fundraising. This will provide charities significant financial resources to make this world a better place – the reason why we, as fundraisers, do what we do.

Elly is senior fundraiser at Greenpeace-NL and co-founder of legacygiving.eu

Nana Crawford: More of a focus on risk management, and honest communications

Nana Crawford, British Red Cross

I believe organisations should be focusing on risk and reputational management especially for their social teams. With ‘cancel culture’ alive and kicking, sometimes apologies won’t cut it anymore. Nothing is ever really gone from social, and we know it can spread very fast, so if organisations are preparing to be bolder with their comms, they need to make sure they have the right steps in place to handle any risks.

I don’t want this to put people off from speaking out or trying something new but rather be prepared to be more honest, transparent if it doesn’t quite work. If you make a mistake, don’t just apologise, show us how you’ll learn from it.

Nana is social media manager at the British Red Cross

Ricard Valls Riera: Fundraising costs will continue to spiral

In 2022, hybrid fundraising will be the norm, there will be continued growth in online giving, with traditional channels playing a key role too. But the concern here in Spain is that fundraising costs from the main acquisition channels (face-to-face and telemarketing) will keep on rising. There’s now a lack of good face-to-face providers, and although we’re seeing salary growth, it’s difficult to find good ‘facers’ – likely a symptom of the ‘great resignation’, following the pandemic.

The contact level for telemarketing is dropping, even when it comes to mobile numbers, and the cost per donor is increasing, particularly on lead conversion. So this begs the question: what is the acceptable cost for donor acquisition? And what happens when that cost climbs too high? As online giving takes on a bigger role, digital marketing tools will be critical and organisations will need to try new strategies to attract regular donors online.

Ricard is CEO of Zohar Consultoria Marketing & Social (Spain)

Nolwenn Poupon: French presidential elections add to the shadow of uncertainty

Nolwenn Poupon, France générosités

2022 will be another challenging year for fundraising all over the world because of Covid-19, but in France, the presidential elections make it even more uncertain. Here, studies show that presidential election years are not the best for fundraising or generosity. The climate of elections and the risks of changes, especially on taxes, may disrupt individual donor actions. Thankfully, around half of individual giving comes from Direct Debit, sustaining an important part of the annual income stream. After Emmanuel Macron’s elections, individual donations dropped by 4.8% from 2017 to 2018 in France due to tax changes put in place by the new government. It was the only fall in 15 years of fundraising. This is why France générosités will meet all the 2022 candidates to explain the impact of charities’ actions, the importance of private resources and propose several measures to develop generosity and fundraising in France.

Nolwenn is head of studies and communication at France générosités

Robert Kawalko: Growth of the fundraising profession

Robert Kawalko, Polish Fundraising Association

Since the pandemic, we’ve seen a positive shift in Poland, with fundraising being taken more seriously as a profession and I think we’ll see continued growth in that respect.  More charities are recruiting and asking for our help with that and what is even more interesting is that each time there are valuable candidates ready to take up the challenge of becoming fundraisers, although they know that it will not be easy. Increasingly, these people are new to the profession. They like the idea of working in line with their values and with people who live by ideals. Fundraising is gaining more recognition and it’s starting to seem feasible that the presence of fundraisers will become a norm in organisational teams.

Robert is president of the Polish Fundraising Association

Main photo by Rob Wicks on Unsplash

Based on a survey of 480 nonprofit representatives across Europe, the 2021 Nonprofit Pulse Report reveals that 2 in 3 respondents expect their total income in 2021 to exceed or match income from last year.

Although half of respondents had to cancel or postpone fundraising activities during the year, nonprofits innovated and diversified, ramping up their use of digital. More than 2 in 5 reported a rise in individual giving over the past year, with 1 in 4 saying donation levels were stable. As demand for services continues to rise and social distancing restricts face-to-face outreach, over half (55%) have developed new ways to deliver their mission and reach beneficiaries.

Concerns about increased workloads and pressure on staff

However, the report exposes concerns about rising workloads and increased pressure on nonprofit staff. A second year of lockdowns, remote working, cancelled fundraising events, barriers to service delivery and a general climate of uncertainty is taking its toll on the sector’s workforce.

When asked to identify the biggest challenges facing their nonprofit now, the ability to manage workload topped the list, cited by more than half of respondents (52%). 4 in 10 report that staff and volunteers are more stressed than they were pre-pandemic.

As nonprofits continue to adapt to new ways of working and often longer task lists, sector capacity is being stretched. 1 in 3 representatives report a drop in volunteers and 1 in 5 a reduction in staff.

Eduard Marček, former President of EFA and Head of the Slovak Fundraising Centre, says:

Eduard Marček, Slovak Fundraising Centre

“Nonprofits have proved themselves to be hugely resilient and agile, but this cannot come at the expense of the sector’s workforce; the people who work so hard to protect good causes and the most vulnerable communities around us.

“Remote working, reduced staff and volunteer capacity, restricted budgets and higher demand for services are all adding to the challenge of managing workload in an ever-changing environment.

“The biggest challenge ahead of us now surely is not only how to survive and thrive through the next phase of the pandemic, but how best to support and nurture our people and ease workloads. It’s no easy feat but protecting our people has never been more important.”

Developing stronger supporter relationships

Digital has become critical for fundraising and service delivery in a socially-distanced world, but the shift in channels comes alongside a renewed focus on relationship building and supporter care, which are taking a front seat in fundraising strategies. Half of respondents say they are increasing their focus on supporter retention, and 1 in 3 say that supporter relationships have strengthened during the pandemic.

Bijan Bedroud, Senior Vice President and General Manager International at Salesforce.org, adds:

“We know that supporters and volunteers are the lifeblood of the nonprofit community and it’s amazing to see how the shift to digital has enabled organisations to strengthen this bond. The sector has shown its commitment and endurance during the pandemic, and even if we all look forward to more in-person events, the nonprofit community continues to embrace new channels and the opportunities they bring.”

Reactions from the sector

Responding to the findings, Ceri Edwards, Director of People & Engagement at the Chartered Institute of Fundraising and Vice President of EFA, says:

“These findings are a fascinating snapshot of the impact on fundraising across Europe during 2021. It’s clear that the pandemic continues to place challenges on fundraisers all over the continent and is transforming fundraising strategies for the longer-term, especially with the increased focus on digital and opportunities of online events and new channels. While it is encouraging that income for charities is increasing and that fundraising is recovering compared to 2020, significant challenges remain.

“From the UK perspective, it’s concerning that respondents are most likely to say that they have bigger workloads and that staff are more stressed. We need a fundraising workforce that is energised and healthy to be able to raise the funds that our causes need, and the Chartered Institute of Fundraising will be working with its members to develop the right tools, support and training to achieve that.”

Martin Georgi, Chair of the German Fundraising Association (DFRV) highlights nonprofits’ resilience, saying:

“Organisations in Germany were remarkably resilient in the crisis and many even managed to increase their income significantly through active fundraising. Digital channels have become ever more important, but mail and telephone also worked well in the pandemic since donors could be more easily reached at home: the overall outlook for fundraising is optimistic.

“Challenges were faced by organisations that depend on income from live events and for all organisations providing services, not all of which could be easily transferred easily to digital formats. A particular note of concern for the coming months is the continuing high workload – after almost two years of extra efforts and reconciling sometimes conflicting private and professional pressures, and with the pandemic not yet over, many staff and volunteers are struggling or even suffering and need some relief.”

Commenting on the Irish market, Scott Kelley, Chief Operating Officer of Charities Institute Ireland, adds:

“The pandemic has caused a lot of change in our society and this survey demonstrates that the Irish public has responded to the pressures on charities. The lockdowns and the curtailment of our normal social lives have given donors a fresh perspective on charities and the work we do. Many charities have responded to a collapse in traditional fundraising (events, face-to-face) by seeking donations online through digital platforms. This is encouraging because it is impossible to envisage a future without a significant level of fundraising being carried out online or remotely.”

View the report here.

Main photo by Frauke Riether on Pixabay

The Charity Sector through Covid report, produced in partnership with Charity Finance Group and the Chartered Institute of Fundraising, summarises the findings of a series of tracking surveys, showing that there has been widespread innovation and invention across the charity sector as a result of Covid-19. This tide of constructive, creative change is expected to carry through and even build into 2021.

From app-based delivery of food vouchers to hashtag-based running challenges, the crisis has moved fundraising, service delivery and day-to-day operations online. Echoing the findings of EFA’s recent Europe-wide survey (conducted in partnership with Salesforce.org), more than three quarters (77%) of UK charities participating in the Covid Charity Tracker have made greater use of digital and technology during the pandemic, while two thirds (67%) have innovated to deliver services remotely. These new figures show that 7 in 10 charities want to make more services digital and deliver new services remotely over the next 12 months, and more than 5 in 10 want to increase their use of technology and digital within their back office functions.

The study shows a drive for collaboration, with half of charities looking to collaborate more with others in their sector and over a third (35%) aiming to enhance their relationships with corporates.

Despite these positive trends, the research provides a clear reminder of the challenges facing the sector. One in four charities (25%) anticipate it taking at least two years for income to return to pre-Covid levels, and 81% expect Covid to negatively affect their ability to deliver their objectives for the first six months of the year.

Roberta Fusco, Director of Policy and Communications at Charity Finance Group added:

“Charities and social change organisations of all sizes have shown huge amounts of resilience, adaptability and decisive action through 2020 to ensure that they keep delivering a continued focus on their mission and meeting the rising tide of need from existing and new beneficiaries. The imperative to keep rapidly adapting will continue through 2021 with the impact of rising unemployment, Brexit and implications of possible No Deal. The capacity to remain flexible and adaptable relies on financial sustainability, which is under serious threat for many.

“Charities have stepped up to deliver and adapt at pace and have pulled on all the levers at their disposal, but they still face 2021 with hope – now government needs to do the same in their support of never more needed charities and not give up on the millions of beneficiaries who rely on the public benefit they deliver.”

Anya Martin, Senior Research and Policy Analyst at Pro Bono Economics, said:

“Voluntary and charitable organisations have a long history of overcoming adversity. 250 years ago, they rose to the world-altering challenge of the Industrial Revolution. Following the last financial crisis, the sector pivoted towards new sources of earned income when other sources of funding fell away. This crisis is no different.

“Much about the months and years ahead are uncertain and the funding gap is a flashing red light on the sector’s dashboard. Yet a determined focus on collaboration and digital innovation means it is possible the charity sector emerges from the pandemic more closely knit and more efficient in the long-term – ultimately able to help more people, more effectively.”

For the full report, click here.

Related feature:

Special focus feature: Looking into the crystal ball: Fundraisers’ predictions for 2021

[Fundraising Europe] Bitcoin and Blockchain are not particularly widely used as yet for charitable donations. What are the fundraising opportunities for nonprofits?

[Anne Connelly] Giving online using the internet was once unknown too. The idea of incorporating it into a successful fundraising programme was uncomfortable for fundraisers. But now it is a mainstay of a quality fundraising programme. In fact, it would be difficult to find one that doesn’t have online giving. The same shift will happen with cryptocurrencies – it’s only a matter of time before every nonprofit is accepting donations in this form. By examining cryptocurrency donations, fundraising organisations have an opportunity to future-proof themselves.

Bitcoin isn’t new to the fundraising world – the RNLI, for example, has been accepting Bitcoin since 2014. But it’s only recently that charities are really starting to take notice and appreciate the potential of this opportunity to engage new donors.

Anne Connelly, Singularity University

The success of cryptocurrencies has created a new generation of wealthy donors. To understand the opportunity this has created for fundraisers, take a look at the second-largest cryptocurrency platform today, Ethereum. When Ethereum launched in 2014, a single ether was valued at €0.25. At its height in January 2018, Ether traded at just over €1155. To put it simply, someone who invested €215 in Ethereum during the launch would have seen their portfolio grow to nearly €1M in just four years.

In 2020, the University of Cambridge estimated that the current number of active users of cryptocurrency is 101 million people. And this is just the beginning. Just recently, PayPal has announced that it plans to allow cryptocurrency as a funding source for purchases at 26 million merchants worldwide. As we write this, the total value of all cryptocurrencies is over €412 billion and growing.

While fundraisers are generally familiar with the phrase, “You don’t get what you don’t ask for”, when it comes to cryptocurrency, you also don’t get what you can’t accept. So why should charities pay attention? Because many crypto holders have the potential to make a major gift and yet only 4% of charities accept cryptocurrency.  

Who is likely to donate in this way?

Many charities will have a profile for their “average donor”. However, for crypto donations, a perceptive fundraiser will set aside that profile completely. The cryptocurrency community is one of the most distinctive donor communities in the world. 

It is important to understand that the members of this unique community are all working to conceive, build, and grow blockchain technology as a part of a global network of people. Their desire to see the success of this technology is not motivated by personal gain, it’s about believing in, and contributing to something greater than themselves — a quality that is shared with many people in the charitable sector.

To cultivate a gift in crypto, you’ll need to look at the community with a completely open mind about who may be interested in your work and have the capacity to make major gifts. Unlike typical major donor events or galas, at a crypto event, the person with the most capacity to give could be a 21 year old wearing a purple unicorn t-shirt. 

Within the crypto community, there are niche groups a donor might belong to or blockchains they prefer to build on that will tell you a lot about what they care about. Learning about the unique characteristics of the community, donor expectations for stewardship, and what type of projects they will support will go a long way to making your crypto donation programme successful.

What about the risks? There are often concerns as to whether people can really trust digital currencies and whether it’s costly. What are your views?

Historically there was a stigma about cryptocurrencies and blockchain, but today, reputable companies like Microsoft, Facebook, IBM, global banks, and many governments are working with the technology. 

The beauty of a cryptocurrency donation program is that you can set it up in a way that matches your organisation’s risk tolerance. In the same way that some organisations will sell stock donations immediately upon receipt while others hold and manage their own portfolios, each organisation can choose a level that meets their needs. In essence, accepting Bitcoin can be even less risky than accepting donations of cash, as Bitcoin can be immediately returned if an organisation chooses not to keep the funds. 

The best part about a crypto donation programme is that it costs nothing but time to set up, so if you didn’t put it in your budget this year, you can still incorporate it in your plans for the year and get great ROI.

What are the main principles that fundraisers need to understand before getting started?

What fundraisers need to know is this: you can do it. As with anything new, it may take some time to learn, but there are lots of free resources available to help inform you, and the crypto community is very supportive.

It is important to secure organisational support in order to ensure a successful programme. This means educating yourself on Bitcoin, finding advocates within your organisation, and helping executive leadership to understand the benefits. 

From there it’s about deciding what your programme will look like and working with your team to ensure a smooth donor experience from start to finish. Finally, getting a deep understanding of the crypto donor community, where to find them, and what they are passionate about will help you secure a donation. 

What are your top tips for nonprofits hoping to making the most of Bitcoin?

The first step for fundraisers is to become a crypto owner, and a crypto donor yourself. Learn how to buy €1 worth of Bitcoin and try donating it to a charity that is currently accepting Bitcoin. It’s easier than you think and you’ll become a part of a new community of people trying to make the world a better place.

Read more in Bitcoin and the Future of Fundraising: A Beginner’s Guide to Cryptocurrency Donations, co-authored by Anne Connelly and Jason Shim. 

About Anne Connelly

Anne is passionate about harnessing blockchain and cryptocurrencies to transform the lives of people around the world. Anne is Faculty at Singularity University, teaching global leaders how exponential technologies can solve problems that impact over a billion people. Anne previously worked with Doctors Without Borders as a field worker in Central Africa, as a fundraiser in their Canadian and Irish offices, and as a member of the board of directors. As the Director of Fundraising at Dignitas International, Anne set up one of the world’s first bitcoin donation programmes. In 2015, she was given the AFP New Fundraising Professional Award.

Anne has a Bachelor of Life Sciences from Queen’s University, an MBA from McMaster University, and is certified in Strategic Disruption from Harvard Business School. She was honoured as one of CBC’s 12 Young Leaders Changing Canada and one of the Fifty Most Inspirational Women in Technology in Canada.

Main image credit (Bitcoin): Photo by André François McKenzie on Unsplash

Under this remit, Rapidata will provide support for charities, highlighting technological developments that could improve the donation experience, and change the way charities accept and process payments. This will include developing new research and providing IoF members with regular updates about how the payments landscape is evolving, what this means for charitable giving and the opportunities to innovate.

Commenting on the partnership, Scott Gray, head of payments at The Access Group and chair of IoF Suppliers Forum, said:

“The way that people make payments is rapidly evolving and it is not just an opportunity, but a necessity for charities to keep pace. Technology is changing all the time and this means charities have a multitude of opportunities for accepting donations and processing transactions. We have worked alongside the IoF for many years and we are delighted to formally become their Payments Partner, working to help charities adapt and encourage innovation in the field.

“We look forward to bringing greater depths of knowledge and research to enrich the fundraising community about how they can make the most of the payment revolution that is occurring and change in donor expectations.”

Adam Bryan, director of innovation at the IoF, added:

“Rapidata continues to provide support and commitment to the fundraising community and at the IoF we are pleased to begin our formal partnership. Digital technology has revolutionised donor behaviour and how charities interact with the public, and I’m excited that together we will be able to support the future of payment technology for our members.”

The service lets donors subscribe to a monthly donation of an agreed amount. The first donation is carried out using the donor’s credit card via a mobile device. For subsequent donations, the donor’s credit card is charged with the same amount as a recurring payment, which will be continued on a monthly basis until the donor chooses to amend or terminate the subscription.

It is also flexible, allowing donors to choose their donation amount and to select their preferred subscription frequency.

World Vision Switzerland is the first charity globally to adopt the solution through which it is able to offer donors a one-click start of their donation subscription.

Bernhard Metzger, CEO World Vision Switzerland said: “We are happy that by cooperating with SIX Payment Services we can offer our donors a modern and convenient payment solution. This helps us to optimise our processes and to reduce administrative effort in Switzerland, which means that even more cents of every donated dollar will reach one of the 80 projects we have in 29 countries.”

To provide the service, Six Payment Services is using tokenization technology, which encrypts sensitive data such as credit card numbers and replaces them by substitute numbers called tokens.

An expert on transforming charities and not-for-profits, Pallotta will deliver The Bolder Board Training programme for more than 200 charity leaders, trustees and major donors on 12 November 2018, with the event kicking off Trustees Week 2018.

Pallotta’s 2013 TED talk The way we think about charities is dead wrong has had over 4.5 million views. His Bolder Board Training has also received international acclaim.  Part lecture and part workshop, it helps charity boards awaken, articulate and pursue their biggest dreams, teaching them how to work with their CEOs and disrupt traditional ways of thinking to find new ways of building and delivering on their visions.

The programme’s content includes:

– New thinking about charity, non-profit business practice, giving and making a difference, and the five conventions that obstruct organisations from reaching their potential

– New ways of looking at innovation, including the four keys to successful innovation

– How to create a future that is not based on the past

– How to increase the energy and enthusiasm of a team and board, and how to transform – and keep transformed – the board

Commenting on the event, Lucy Masterson, CEO, Charities Institute Ireland said:

“We are seeing increasing demands for services and greater regulation and transparency on the one hand but on the other, low acceptance of the need to provide the resources needed to deliver on these asks. As a sector we need to think differently, act differently and, if we are to succeed, we need new and bolder thinking.”

The Bitcoin Charity Battle was started by Niels van Hoorn, Sidney de Koning, Sidney Vollmer and Tessel Peijnenburg to raise awareness among charities for bitcoin. People are encouraged to donate Satoshis (one thousandth of a bitcoin) to a monthly Bitcoin Charity Battle that sees two charities without bitcoin integration go head to head. The charity with the most donations wins all bitcoin donated that month, while the organiser also helps both contestants with an integration, storage and management toolkit for bitcoin.

March’s charities battling it out are Evidence Action, and Against Malaria Foundation.

Donors send bitcoin to one of two receiving addresses. Each address corresponds to one charity, with all bitcoins received on that address viewable on the blockchain. At the end of the month, donations received per charity are added up. The winning charity receives all bitcoin donated that month to both addresses, minus an overhead fee of 10%.

The winning charity receives their monthly prize, financed by that 10%:

– A nano ledger

– All crypto donated that month

– An explanatory toolkit and workshop if needed on how to keep crypto safe, swop it for fiat, and how to make it part of the financial operation of a charity

– Code to embed a bitcoin donation button on any website

– The funds transferred to the charity’s new ledger wallet

The losing charity also receives a nano ledger, an explanatory toolkit and workshop if needed on how to keep crypto safe, swop it for fiat, and how to make it part of the financial operation of a charity, and code to embed a bitcoin donation button on any website.

100,000 Satoshis are worth approximately US$10.

The ‘Helping Heart’ jacket, a winter coat that is fitted with an LCD screen and contactless payment functionality, is currently being tested in Amsterdam. The LCD screen instructs people what to do; holding their card over the coat’s front pocket to donate one euro to its wearer.

Money is directed to the wearer’s designated account, which is managed by a homeless shelter. The wearer can then redeem donations for food or a night’s stay, or save the money towards vocational training or housing opportunities.

The jacket was designed to make it easier for people to help the homeless and to provide a way to overcome concerns about how any cash donation might be used.

If this pilot study is successful, it is hoped that the jackets will be made available across the city and further afield.

The collection box enables people to donate to charities quickly and safely with a contactless debit card or with their mobile phone.  It was co-developed with Whydonate in ING’s innovation lab ICEC and is being introduced as a pilot in 2017 in the Netherlands.

Contactless payments continue to rise across Europe. According to ING’s Economics Bureau, 52% of consumers don’t usually keep cash in their house. Figures from Visa’s 2016 Digital Payments Study, released last October and surveying 19 European countries, also show that the number of consumers across Europe regularly using a mobile device to make payments had tripled from 18% in 2015 to 54% in 2016, while in In the UK, more than half the people surveyed (58%) had used contactless cards, up from 20% in 2015.

Niels Corver, cofounder of Whydonate said:

“Charity collections are decreasing and finding collectors is also becoming more difficult. With this in mind we have developed the contactless collection box, linking the collection box with the Whydonate platform.  Collectors can immediately see how much they have raised for their charity. This makes collecting easier and above all fun.”