ConsenSys, a blockchain startup founded by Ethereum’s (ETH)
co-founder Joseph Lubin, and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) have jointly
launched the Impactio platform to bring transparency into philanthropy.
Per an announcement made on Sept. 24, a new partnership between ConsenSys and the WWF resulted in an Ethereum
blockchain-based platform dubbed Impactio designed to supervise and
fund projects within nongovernmental organizations and standalone
companies. The impetus behind the initiative is to trace how companies’
funds are spent within social impact projects.
What does Impactio solve?
Individuals
and companies who utilize Impactio should submit their projects,
providing clear objectives for aspects such as sustainability,
inequality, emerging communities or the environment in accordance with
the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
After
that, curators receive Impactio Tokens in a digital wallet, with the
platform using a system based on ConsenSys’ research on Token Curated
Registry (TCR) to curate and choose high-potential projects and
subsequently present them to potential funders. The announcement further
explains the TCR’s role in the process:
“It
requires curators to stake their tokens to back a project, and for
curators who wish to dispute that project to stake the same amount of
tokens. If there are no other curators who object to the project, the
project will be approved and surfaced for donors to decide on funding.
If there are objections, curators can challenge the project by matching
the tokens staked by the curator backing the project.”
According
to Robby Greenfield, co-founder at ConsenSys Social Impact, “Many
nonprofits struggle to show that they are using their funds effectively
and how it aligns their funders’ goals.” Indeed, a law firm Nolo’s study
revealed that 75% to 85% out of 220,000 nonprofit organizations
improperly allocated their expenses.
Industry players embrace blockchain in philanthropy
As
Francesco Nazari Fusetti, social entrepreneur and founder of Ethereum
blockchain-based token AidCoin and full-service platform CharityStars,
previously told
Cointelegraph: “Charities must keep in touch with their donors all the
way through the project, and keep updating them about the new milestones
reached” in order to prove that a success story is true, as well as to
ensure the work is sustainable. He added:
“Adding
financials and proofs of payment definitely helps to create a success
story, but only with crypto and blockchain we can aim to give full
transparency about the use of funds.”
In early
September, news broke that Rainforest Foundation US, a New York-based
nonprofit NGO working in Central and South America, was hoping to support anti-deforestation efforts with crypto and blockchain tech.
Binance Charity, the philanthropic wing of major cryptocurrency exchange Binance, also began a campaign to help support victims of Hurricane Dorian.
source link
