Articles and Resources on Cryptocurrencies, Blockchain and Crowdfunding
In 2016, I decided to refocus this page on two general topics:
- Cryptocurrencies and Blockchain
- Crowdfunding
Shared below are links to a variety of articles I find noteworthy. But sharing doesn’t necessarily suggest endorsement. These topics have generated a great deal of interest the past several years, and I “bookmark” articles I find online as much for myself as for my readers.
Cryptocurrencies Like Bitcoin, and Blockchain
Definitions
Bitcoin is digital money used for secure and instant transfer of value anywhere in the world. It is not controlled or issued by any bank or government – instead it is an open network which is managed by its users. Much in the way email improved communication by making it fast and cheap, bitcoin is an improvement on existing payment methods which were not designed for the internet era.
Unlike credit card networks like Visa and payment processors like PayPal, bitcoin is not owned by an individual or company. Bitcoin is the world’s first completely open payment network which anyone with an internet connection can participate in. Bitcoin was designed to be used on the internet, and doesn’t depend on banks or private companies to process transactions. (Coinbase)
At its most basic, a blockchain is a list of transactions that anyone can view and verify. The Bitcoin blockchain, for example, is a record of every time someone sent or received bitcoin.
This list of transactions is fundamental for most cryptocurrencies because it enables secure payments to be made between people who don’t know each other without having to go through a third party verifier like a bank.
Blockchain technology is also exciting because it has many uses beyond cryptocurrency. Blockchains are being used to accelerate cancer research, improve sharing of healthcare records, verify people’s identity, and so much more. (Coinbase)
Carolyn’s Notes
If you live in the Austin area or visit on occasion, and you have an interest in Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies, you might like to attend meetings of the Austin Blockchain Collective Community Meetup. You might also enjoy reading the BitGive Blog.
- Roger Brown and Rachel Walker for Cointelegraph, “Things to Consider When Giving Crypto to Charities or Others” (July 2020).
- World Economic Forum’s Alexandra May for Public Engagement, writes, “Blockchain to tackle supply chain failures exposed by COVID-19 and boost economic recovery” (April 27, 2020). You might also like to download, “Rebuilding Trust: Blockchain Deployment Toolkit” from the World Economic Forum.
- Darryn Pollock for Forbes, “Blockchain For Good: How The United Nations Is Looking To Leverage Technology” (February 27, 2020).
- Nasdaq, “2020 Bitcoin Adoption: Why Nonprofits Will Lead the Way” (February 11, 2020).
- Devin Thorpe for Forbes, “New Equity Crowdfunding Site Fundopolis To Emphasize Blockchain” (November 18, 2019).
- BREAKERMAG, “73 Blockchain Social Good Organizations That Are Actually Doing Something” (February 1, 2019).
- Fidelity, “Donating Bitcoin to Charity” (2019). “Fidelity Charitable accepts a wide range of cryptocurrency including Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, Litecoin and Ripple.”
- Candid (2019), “A Scan of Community Foundations Accepting Cryptocurrency Gifts.”
- Dell Technologies, “Five Ways Organizations Are Using Blockchain For Good” (May 7, 2018), by Elana Lyn Gross.
- Devin Thorpe for Forbes, “Examples of People Using Crypto for Good” (March 18, 2018).
- GuideStar, “Bitcoin: What Nonprofits Need to Know and How It Might Give Your Fundraising a Competitive Advantage” (February 27, 2018).
- The Chronicle of Philanthropy, “‘It Just Felt Like a Miracle’: Small Groups Win Big in Bitcoin Donor’s $56 Million Giving Spree” (February 22, 2018).
- World Economic Forum’s Jochem Verberne of Global Partnerships at WWF International writes, “Can blockchain serve business, people and the planet?” (February 1, 2018).
- pwc, “Bitcoin, cryptocurrency, blockchain … So what does it all mean?” (2018).
- Jamie Smith of BitFury Group for World Economic Forum, “There is More to Blockchain Than Moving Money. It Has the Potential to Change Our Lives.” (November 9, 2016).
- TechSoup, “How to Set Up Bitcoin for Your Nonprofit” (July 6, 2015).
- Steve Forbes for Forbes, “How Bitcoin Will End World Poverty” (April 2, 2015).
- United Nations, UN Chronicle, “Blockchain and Sustainable Growth” (n.d.).
- Aaron Tilley for Forbes, “Microsoft Begins Accepting Bitcoin for Purchasing Digital Goods” (December 11, 2014).
- Tanaya Macheel for CoinDesk, “United Way Reveals Why It Became Bitcoin’s Biggest Charity” (September 30, 2014).
- Gerrard Hartley for CryptoCoinsNews.com (which is now CCN Markets), “Bitcoin is Revolutionizing the Non Profit Sector [Infographic]” (2014).
Crowdfunding
Crowdfunding is the use of small amounts of capital from a large number of individuals to finance a new business or social good venture. Crowdfunding makes use of the easy accessibility of vast networks of people through social media and crowdfunding websites to bring investors and entrepreneurs together.
On a personal note and from the standpoint of a successful major gift fundraiser, crowdfunding requires many of the same types of preparation as traditional fundraising campaigns like capital and endowment campaigns. Crowdfunding should not necessarily be view as an “easy” way to replace major gift campaigns. When done well, neither type of campaign is necessarily easy. In addition, both methods can exist comfortably side-by-side in the context of the same major gift effort.
- Kevin Johnson for Nonprofit Quarterly, “Crowdfunding Will Change Philanthropy – But How?” (March 15, 2017).
- GlobalGiving, “GUIDE: Crowdfundamentals – The Beginner’s Handbook For Crowdfunding Success” (2016).
- Devin Thorpe on GoodCrowd.info, “Crowdfunding Platform Directory” (August 17, 2015). You might want to invest in Devin Thorpe’s 2013 book, “Crowdfunding for Social Good: Financing Your Mark on the World.”
- Tatyana Kapkan for Nonprofit Hub, “11 Indispensable Ingredients of a Successful Crowdfunding Campaign” (ca. 2014).
- National Council of Nonprofits, “Crowdfunding for Nonprofits” (n.d.).
- See the brief video below for excellent crowdfunding tips courtesy of Qgiv.
- Wild Apricot Blog, “Crowdfunding for Nonprofits: How to Succeed + 6 Platforms You Can Use” (n.d.).
