Buy an NFT. Give directly to those in need.

All proceeds from this NFT sale will go towards giving **cash** to people living in extreme poverty. [GiveDirectly](https://GiveDirectly.org) is a non-profit that distributes cash from its donations, and is arguably the most effective charity in the world at doing this.

[edition://0x281d37D880CdD614B78DC607C6e22FA2ebB86dec?editionId=0](edition://0x281d37D880CdD614B78DC607C6e22FA2ebB86dec?editionId=0)

To prove that funds earned from this collection go to GiveDirectly, I collected the first NFT and withdrew the 0.03 ETH (\~95 USD).

Here is the [transaction record](https://etherscan.io/tx/0x44525411024511687bdde0b506744eaee7e0777736242059dbdcad139e3f9d51) on Etherscan, showing that 97.5% of funds went to GiveDirectly’s Ethereum [address](https://www.givedirectly.org/crypto/?gclid=Cj0KCQiA3rKQBhCNARIsACUEW_Y5HSmCRiT0hq2-hUUj1tOlbWcY04L1oKv2V0uQ58FVxz2IPyssiUEaAn2OEALw_wcB). The other 2.5% went towards a fee that Mirror (hosting site) collects.

## Why NFTs

It’s no secret that much of the world is living in extreme poverty. In the West, it’s difficult to imagine these circumstances, but we have an amazing opportunity to help people in need.

Using NFTs as a donation mechanism does a few things:

1. Directly sends money (Ether) to a non-profit that gives cash to those in need
2. Provides donors a digital token which serves as a reminder of the good they’ve done
3. Utilizes Ethereum to prove that these transactions took place

I view this drop as an experiment. My opinion is that smaller donors *may* need more to feel appreciated. While giving has a positive benefit on a person’s psychology, it’s easy to feel disconnected when you don’t see the benefits of your donations.

NFTs don’t solve for this entirely, but I do believe they will play an important role in non-profits’ strategies to engage donors. Think of it as a customer marketing strategy that increases donor appreciation and retention. This results in more consistent donors, attracts new donors, and **sees more people getting the help they need**.

## Why GiveDirectly? The NFT Explanation

Transparently, I created this NFT a bit out of spite. When I was 16 and started driving, people always told me “Don’t give cash to people at stoplights. They’ll use it to buy booze.”

The studies prove otherwise. Domestically (US/Canada) and abroad. The NFT features a quote from GiveDirectly’s site on how people use the funds, and the QR code takes you to their [research](https://www.givedirectly.org/research-at-give-directly/) on why direct cash transfers are effective. And believe me, it’s thorough.

As mentioned, GiveDirectly is arguably the most effective non-profit at getting cash in the hands of people that need it most. Their work is analyzed extensively, and they’ve earned plaudits from top [research organizations](https://www.givewell.org/charities/give-directly) in the field.

They also accept a number of cryptocurrencies as a form of donation, including Ether and ERC20’s. Given that they accept Ether (their address is featured on the NFT), the NFT sales’ funds are able to be directly routed to them.

Mirror enables this by allowing the edition to list GiveDirectly’s address as the recipient of the funds.

This combination presents a very compelling use case for other charities, or social impact groups, to use NFT sales as a way to collect funds while rewarding donors with a digital token that represents their impact.

## Author’s Notes

I pledged 10% of my income (until I retire) to charities that I feel are effective. Since making that pledge, I’ve been fortunate enough to participate in a number of groups, discussions and courses around charitable giving.

“Effectiveness” is a very analytical way to approach giving. At times, I feel the human touch can be lost. As mentioned, I think NFTs can bridge that gap and give donors a more intimate appreciation for their donations. Especially global ones.

Since leaving my job 6 weeks ago, I’ve been fortunate enough to see the power 