NGO Seeks Two 'Tech Geeks' for Bitcoin Fundraising

An NGO listing on the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) site is looking for two volunteers to help with research and train staff members on how to use bitcoins for fundraising.

Also read: BitGive: Charity 2.0 Platform Will ‘Revolutionize Philanthropy’

Volunteer Programs Interested in Bitcoin

Although the volunteer bitcoin evangelist positions are listed on

the UNV’s site (UNV is a UN organization that contributes to peace and development through volunteering worldwide) the recruits will not be working with that organization directly*.

The positions are with the ‘Twenty-First Century African Youth Movement’ (AYM), an NGO in Sierra Leone. This is a growing rural community focused initiative founded by Abu-Hassan (Askia) Koroma to engage the youth in the renaissance of Sierra Leone.

In an attempt to find new revenue sources as well as expand their global support base, the AYM has turned their attention to Bitcoin. They are “looking for alternative ways of raising funds by accepting donations in bitcoins,” the announcement says. It adds:

We are looking for two tech geeks to help with research and training 2 staff members on how to use digital currencies (Bitcoins) for fundraising.

What Will Be Required of the Volunteers?

No travel is required. The organization is hoping to find volunteers to be teachers and consultants online and does not need them to participate in any fundraising. Volunteers need to be able to commit to at least 12 weeks or longer to this task and start immediately, working 1-5 hours a week. “Training and coaching will be online via email, hangout, Skype and Whatsapp,” they explain, adding that they are looking for “Strong knowledge of digital currencies, Research, IT and, above all, a super tech geek.”

AYM revealed that they had established an account at Coinbase to accept bitcoin donations. However, they admitted that:

None of our team members understand the digital currency and how to seek out donations.

Over time, an increasing number of nonprofit organizations have started to accept bitcoin for donations. There are many benefits for nonprofits to do so, such as transparency, lower fees, privacy, minimal capital gains tax exposure, and tax deductions. Examples of nonprofits that accept bitcoins include the United Way, Save the Children, Red Cross, Heifer International, and Bitgive.org.

About UNV

Based in Bonn, Germany, UNV is an organization within the UN that contributes to peace and development through volunteering worldwide. UNV is active in approximately 130 countries every year.

According to their website,“The UNV Online Volunteering service connects organizations working for the Sustainable Development Goals with volunteers eager to contribute to global progress using their time and skills online.” The group has recruited approximately 12,000 online volunteers per year from 187 countries ranging from professionals to students, and from retirees to expatriates.

*Note: An earlier version of this article suggested the UNV itself was looking for Bitcoin-skilled volunteers. That is not the case. To clarify, it is the NGO Twenty-First Century African Youth Movement – Sierra Leone.

Do you think this organization will successfully raise money by accepting bitcoin donations? Let us know in the comment section below.

Images courtesy of colostate.edu, UNV, Coinbase