Unlocking Digital Donations: How Pat Duffy’s The Giving Block is Leading the Crypto Philanthropy Movement

Cryptocurrency isn’t just for tech-savvy investors anymore. It’s making waves in philanthropy, and few have been as instrumental in driving that change as Pat Duffy, co-founder of The Giving Block. When Duffy and Alex Wilson launched the platform, they opened the door for nonprofits to tap into a new donor base. For organizations looking to connect with younger, digitally savvy donors, this could be a game changer. But with new technology comes uncertainty, especially in a sector that often treads carefully.?

To better understand where crypto philanthropy is headed, I recently sat down with Pat? Duffy. Our conversation touched on The Giving Block’s origin story, the growing adoption of cryptocurrency in nonprofits, and the future of digital donations.?

From Skeptic to Innovator?

Interestingly, Duffy didn’t start off as a believer in cryptocurrency. In fact, he was skeptical.?“I spent about a year trying to talk Alex and everyone else out of cryptocurrency,” Duffy admitted. “I’ve still got friends who are mad at me because I talked them out of? cryptocurrency, and then I saw them five years later and all my money was in it.”?

But once he dove into the technology and understood its potential, things changed. The light-bulb moment for The Giving Block came when Duffy and Wilson witnessed large crypto donations—like the $55 million in Bitcoin from the Pineapple Fund—make headlines.

“We saw Ashton Kutcher go on Ellen and give $4 million in crypto. So Alex and I immediately started messaging each other and said: We got to set up my charity to take crypto? donations.”?

They quickly realized there wasn’t a user-friendly way for nonprofits to accept these donations. This challenge became the driving force behind The Giving Block. “We saw that there were at least a couple dozen nonprofits at the time who might be interested,” Duffy noted. Today, they support thousands of organizations, providing the tools they need to? accept crypto donations with ease.?

Overcoming Resistance and Building Trust?

Getting nonprofits on board with crypto hasn’t been without its challenges. Nonprofit leaders are often hesitant to adopt unfamiliar technologies. “We don’t like things that are new and different,” Duffy said, echoing the sentiment of many nonprofits. Change, especially when it involves finances, can be daunting.?

Where Pat and his team have excelled is in taking something inherently complex and making it simple. By developing solutions that automate the process and handle concerns like crypto volatility and tax documentation, The Giving Block has lowered the barrier to entry for nonprofits.

“Nonprofits now know if they talk to us, that it instantaneously is sold for US? dollars as soon as it hits accounts, like that program to automatically sell crypto resolves the?volatility issue for charities.”?

In my own experience working with nonprofit organizations, I know that simplifying processes is key to adoption. Nonprofits have limited resources and even less bandwidth to explore new technologies. The fact that The Giving Block offers “copy-and-paste donation forms” and automates complex processes like tax documentation has been a game changer. It turns crypto donations from something unknown into something that feels manageable—even routine.?

New Technologies, New Opportunities?

One of the most exciting parts of our conversation revolved around emerging technologies like NFTs and stablecoins in philanthropy. NFTs (non-fungible tokens) are digital assets that use blockchain technology to verify ownership, often of digital art. Duffy explained: “NFTs? use blockchain in the same way cryptocurrencies do, but they’re used for something other? than a financial asset.”?

NFTs open fascinating opportunities for nonprofits. Imagine hosting an online auction where digital art is sold, and the proceeds go directly to charity. With blockchain’s transparency,? donors can trust that their contributions are reaching their intended recipients. NFTs are just one piece of the puzzle.?

Stablecoins, another form of cryptocurrency, are also gaining traction. Unlike Bitcoin, whose value fluctuates, stablecoins are tied to a fiat currency like the U.S. dollar. “Stablecoins, in short, are like cryptocurrency, but they’re pegged to a stable value,” Duffy said. This means nonprofits can accept cryptocurrency donations without worrying about market volatility.?

These technologies expand the range of giving options for nonprofits, offering new ways to engage donors—especially younger, tech-savvy individuals. In five years, we might see digital art and stablecoin donations as everyday staples in nonprofit fundraising.?

The Future of Crypto in Philanthropy?

As our conversation turned to the future, Duffy shared a fascinating insight: cryptocurrency donations aren’t just a trend—they’re a bridge to larger, transformational gifts. “The average gift size is $5,000 to $15,000. It’s a serious major gift,” he said. Crypto donations are attracting not just casual donors but those capable of making significant contributions. The? donor base is shifting, with younger, tech-savvy donors becoming increasingly important as? we move toward what’s been called “the great wealth transfer.”?

In my experience, nonprofits that fail to adapt to new donor expectations often struggle to maintain relevance. As Duffy put it,

“It’s this bridge into major gifts that I think ultimately will? future-proof a major gifts program or leave it behind.”?

Looking ahead, nonprofits willing to embrace cryptocurrency have an opportunity to future-proof their fundraising efforts. Those that don’t risk being left behind in this digital transformation. As Duffy and The Giving Block have shown, cryptocurrency isn’t just a tool?

for the future—it’s already shaping the present.?

Final Thoughts?

For nonprofits looking to explore cryptocurrency, Duffy’s advice is simple: “Book a demo? with our team… even if you don’t end up using us, at least it removes the confusion around? what barriers there are to entry.”?

The question isn’t whether cryptocurrency will play a role in philanthropy—it’s how big of a role it will play. As organizations increasingly compete for the attention and resources of younger donors, those willing to embrace tools like cryptocurrency won’t just survive— they’ll thrive. The Giving Block is paving the way—will your organization follow??

To listen to the full interview or read the transcript, just click here .

Denver Frederick, Host of The Business of Giving serves as a Trusted Advisor and Executive Coach to Nonprofit Leaders. His Book, The Business of Giving: New Best Practices for Nonprofit and Philanthropic Leaders in an Uncertain World, is available now on Amazon and Barnes & Noble .