GREAT JUNCTION, Colo. (KREX)โ
Cryptocurrency has been popular with a niche group of internet dwellers for years, but a Grand Junction nonprofit is turning it a bit more mainstream with its claim to be the first hospice nonprofit to the nation that accepts cryptocurrency donations.
Debbie Horwitz, Hopewest's director of development, told us she's even gotten calls from other nonprofits asking how they can do it. Debbie is excited at the prospect of starting a trend, but most of all she's happy to bring new options to donors. Debbie shared with us that among cryptocurrency owners, 46% have given $1,000 or more in donations, so she is also interested in the possibility of new donors.
Hopewest told us the timing isn't ideal: โIt took a while to set everything up. Right. Policies. So when we started the process, cryptocurrency was working very well. And then the day we released it, the day before we released it, FDX imploded." But they also told us that even though cryptocurrency is dormant right now, they're not worried: โOnce we have all the policies and everything in place, there really isn't much risk. It took time and effort to get to this point. But in no way, we are not putting ourselves or our donors at risk in any way, shape or form.โ Within a week of launch, Hopewest had already received a cryptocurrency donation, which is just the first step. The organization has also recently made Venmo an option for donations and hopes to add Apple Pay sometime next year.
