'Out-of-the-Box Solutions': Save the Children Unveils Bitcoin Fund to Counter Traditional Aid Failures

Save the Children has announced the launch of a “first-of-its-kind” Bitcoin Fund, developed in partnership with digital asset firm Fortris, to modernize its humanitarian aid delivery.

Maximizing Value With a ‘Hodl’ Strategy

Save the Children, a humanitarian organization for children, announced on Dec. 11 the launch of a Bitcoin Fund developed in partnership with digital asset leader Fortris. The fund is designed to transform how financial resources are held, managed and delivered in times of crisis.

In a statement, the humanitarian organization said the new fund will enable Save the Children to securely hold bitcoin donations for up to four years, following a “hodl” strategy that aims to maximize the value of every contribution. The fund also creates a platform to test and scale new ways of delivering cash and voucher assistance, leveraging tools using bitcoin, stablecoins and digital wallets to get funds directly into the hands of those in need more quickly and at a lower cost.

Janti Soeripto, Save the Children U.S. president and CEO, stressed the necessity of adaptable solutions in the face of unpredictable global events.

“Out-of-the-box solutions are essential to ensure we continue to be there for children when they need us most—especially when traditional foreign aid funding falters,” Soeripto said. “This innovation integrates the speed, cost-efficiency and financial inclusion of blockchain-based tools to strengthen Save the Children’s emergency response and long-term development programs for kids in the U.S. and around the world.”

Building on a Decade of Crypto Initiatives

The Bitcoin Fund builds on the organization’s trailblazing work, which began in 2013 when it became the first international non-governmental organization to accept Bitcoin donations to support the response to Typhoon Haiyan. Through its current initiative, Hodl Hope, the global humanitarian organization has already raised millions in digital assets to support children in crises from Ukraine to Gaza, Sudan and beyond.

Antonia Roupell, Innovation and Partnerships Lead for Save the Children U.S., explained that the holding strategy is a direct response to donor demand. “Many non-profits accept Bitcoin today, but few hold these donations or leverage the asset’s underlying peer-to-peer technology in their operations,” Roupell noted. “Our Bitcoin donors asked for the flexibility to choose when to convert to maximize the impact of their generosity, and this fund delivers exactly that.”

This latest initiative underscores Save the Children’s commitment to exploring the full potential of distributed ledger technology across various cryptocurrency ecosystems. For example, in 2021, Save the Children in Rwanda partnered with the Cardano Foundation to launch an ADA crypto charity platform. This partnership introduced a direct payment gateway for ADA donations, allowing funds to be invested in African-based social enterprises focusing on children, families and youth without intermediaries.

Read more: Save the Children Senior Advisor: We Chose ADA Because Its Backed by the Cardano Foundation

Maggie Korde, Save the Children’s country director in Rwanda, said the arrangement offers “countless possibilities through blockchain to firstly directly impact children’s lives through initiatives such as digital school records and secondly to increase our efficiency and transparency as an organization.”

By combining over a century of humanitarian experience with cutting-edge financial technology, Save the Children aims to turn digital value into tangible economic empowerment. The organization plans to continue exploring community-based bitcoin tools, such as partnerships with bitcoin app developers like Fedi, to promote financial inclusion and digital literacy for families with limited access to traditional financial services.

FAQ ❓

• What is Save the Children’s new Bitcoin Fund? It’s a crypto-powered fund that lets Save the Children hold bitcoin donations for up to four years to boost impact.
• How will the Bitcoin Fund improve emergency aid worldwide? It uses bitcoin, stablecoins and digital wallets to deliver cash assistance faster and at lower cost in global crises.
• Why is Save the Children choosing a “hodl” strategy for donations? Donors requested flexibility to maximize value, and the fund allows contributions to grow before being deployed.
• How does this initiative expand blockchain use beyond bitcoin? Save the Children is also testing tools like ADA-based donation platforms and community bitcoin apps to support families across Africa and other regions.