Next time you donate, you’ll probably see a ‘Crypto Accepted Here’ button. Nowadays, charities big and small, from disaster relief organizations to community-based, are embracing the convenience of crypto.
According to TheGivingBlock, crypto donations exceeded $1 billion in 2024. Why the surge? Donating crypto isn’t just for tech bros anymore. More and more good samaritans are realizing donations don’t have to be limited by borders or banks and that crypto is the answer.
Curious about which charities are leading this charge? We’ll show you exactly how crypto giving works (spoiler: it’s simpler than you think), spotlight nonprofits turning digital coins into clean water and disaster relief, and unpack why this isn’t just a trend—it’s rewriting the rules of giving.
Key takeaways:
Some charities that accept crypto donations include:
Crypto philanthropy has evolved dramatically. It was a novelty a decade ago—today, it’s a billion-dollar movement reshaping how we give. Early adopters paved the way, proving digital currencies could fuel real-world impact.
Bitcoin’s launch in 2009 set the stage for decentralized finance, but it took a while for people to see the potential for charitable giving. The security, transparency, and efficiency of blockchain made it a natural fit for donations, and charities began to take notice.
One of the earliest and most famous examples was the Pineapple Fund in 2017, where an anonymous Bitcoin holder gave away over $55 million in BTC to various nonprofits.
That moment put crypto philanthropy on the map. Since then, major organizations like UNICEF and the Red Cross have started accepting digital assets, proving that crypto donations aren’t just a passing trend.
Beyond the big-name charities, crypto giving has also opened the door for grassroots organizations and global initiatives that might otherwise struggle with traditional banking barriers.
Save the Children was ahead of the curve, becoming the first international NGO to accept crypto donations in 2013. Since then, they’ve expanded their crypto-friendly approach, now accepting Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and USD Coin (USDC) to support humanitarian efforts around the world.
Focused on providing clean water solutions in sub-Saharan Africa, The Water Project welcomes Bitcoin donations to help fund sustainable access to safe drinking water. Crypto supporters can make a direct impact by ensuring communities receive life-changing resources.
The American Red Cross accepts Bitcoin and Bitcoin Cash donations, using crypto contributions to fuel disaster relief efforts worldwide. Whether responding to hurricanes, wildfires, or humanitarian crises, crypto donors can help provide emergency aid where needed.
United Way accepts Bitcoin donations to fund education, financial stability, and health initiatives. By embracing crypto, they’re making it easier for donors to support a wide range of programs that uplift communities.
Let’s get real: 1 in 5 American kids don’t know where their next meal comes from. No Kid Hungry isn’t just ‘raising awareness’—they’re hacking the system. How? By accepting everything from Bitcoin to Shiba Inu (70+ cryptos total) and converting those digital dollars into classroom breakfasts, grocery cards for families, and summer meal programs that don’t quit.
Since the war began, UNHCR-Ukraine has been on the ground, providing emergency shelter, essential supplies, and psychological support. Crypto donations have been a lifeline toward this goal. In 2023, this innovative approach earned recognition at Paris Blockchain Week. UNHCR received the “Best Impact Project Award“ for its pilot program using blockchain technology to distribute cash assistance to people affected by the war. This project showed how crypto can make humanitarian aid faster, more transparent, and more effective.
GiveDirectly provides direct cash transfers to impoverished people across Africa, allowing recipients to decide how best to use the funds. Since 2009, they’ve delivered $800M+ in cash directly to over 1.6 million people. GiveDirectly accepts Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies such as DOGE, XRP, and LTC to support its activities.
Since 1988, the Rainforest Foundation has protected rainforests and supported Indigenous communities. It achieves this objective by providing the tools, training, and resources that ensure the rainforests’ best guardians can defend their rights—and their forests. The organization accepts Bitcoin, Ethereum, USDC, and Solana.
When hospitals collapse under bombardment or earthquakes bury entire villages, the International Medical Corps mobilizes—powered in part by crypto donations. These aren’t abstract transfers: your Bitcoin funds surgeons operating in blackout zones, trains local medics to contain outbreaks, like cholera, and drops emergency kits into regions where banks have gone offline.
Focused on breaking the cycle of poverty for children worldwide, Children International accepts crypto donations to fund education, healthcare, and nutrition programs for underprivileged youth.
Heifer International uses crypto donations to fund practical solutions: think goats for families in Honduras, beehives for farmers in Nepal, or training for Ugandan women launching chicken farms. These aren’t handouts—they’re tools for self-reliance. Your Bitcoin or ETH could help someone grow their income, put food on the table, and send their kids to school… all without middlemen or bank delays.
The World Food Program (WFP) puts crypto to work where it matters most: their blockchain system turns Bitcoin or Ethereum into emergency food kits for families fleeing climate disasters or war. Want proof? Track your donation in real-time—watch your crypto become sacks of rice delivered to a Syrian refugee camp or meals for Malawian farmers rebuilding after cyclones.
Médecins Sans Frontières accepts cryptocurrency donations in select regions to deliver critical care where traditional banking systems fail. In conflict zones like eastern Ukraine or refugee camps in Bangladesh, Bitcoin or Ethereum contributions help fund mobile surgical units, emergency vaccine drives, and trauma counseling—often within hours of a crisis unfolding.
RefugePoint uses crypto donations to cut through bureaucracy—think of a Syrian refugee in Jordan receiving microloans to start a tailoring business or a Congolese family accessing trauma care via a blockchain-verified aid voucher. Your Bitcoin or stablecoins don’t just ‘support’ resettlement; they fund language classes, job training, and mental health services that let displaced people chart their futures far from the limelight.
Cryptocurrency values can swing wildly. If you’re donating a significant amount, consider timing your contribution strategically to maximize its impact and optimize potential tax benefits.
Crypto transactions can be anonymous, but if you want a tax receipt (or updates on how your donation is used), it’s worth providing the charity with your contact information.
Before donating, consult a tax pro familiar with crypto—rules vary widely, and a misstep could cost you. (For U.S. donors, IRS guidelines treat crypto as property, so documentation is key!)
As crypto becomes mainstream, more nonprofits are expected to accept digital assets. Several factors are driving this growth. First, crypto is simply more mainstream now—buying, holding, and transferring digital assets has never been easier. Second, more people are seeing crypto as a viable way to give back.
This shift will give crypto holders more opportunities to donate in a tax-efficient and impactful way. A prime example? Fidelity Charitable, one of the biggest donor-advised fund providers, reported $688 million in crypto donations as of late 2024. That’s a jaw-dropping 1,300% jump from the $49 million in 2023.
The rise of decentralized finance (DeFi) could open up new ways to give, from staking rewards to yielding farming donations. As the space evolves, innovative philanthropic models are likely to emerge.
Finally, blockchain’s public ledger means every crypto donation is traceable, down to the cent. For charities, this isn’t just about tech; it’s a trust revolution. Donors see exactly how their ETH provided school fees for 50 kids or built a well, turning skepticism into long-term partnerships
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