Photo by Kevin Ortiz on Unsplash
Photo by BitGive Foundation

Connie Gallippi

Founder & Executive Director

BitGive Foundation

POSITION

Founder & Executive Director

COMPANY

BitGive Foundation

Website

BitGive

SCENE

Technology

SOCIAL

LinkedIn

Twitter

What makes Connie Gallippi a Global Shaker?

Connie Gallippi is the founder and executive director of the BitGive Foundation, a nonprofit that uses Bitcoin and blockchain technology to revolutionise philanthropy and improve public health and the environment. Founded in 2013, BitGive is the first 501(c)(3) Bitcoin nonprofit to be officially recognised by the US government, bridging the gap between innovative technologies and its practical applications for humanitarian work.

“Over the years, it has been a slow process of introducing the technology to NGOs in the simplest ways we can,” she told the Huffington Post. “It can be very intimidating and overwhelming. When we first started, it was very early on in the industry, so a lot of what we did was talking to mainstream charities about the technology and why they should be interested in it and the benefits.”

GiveTrack, the organisation’s proprietary technology, uses blockchain technology to facilitate transparency for nonprofit donors. The platform tracks the funds that users donate and shows how they are spent in real time. Fundraising through the blockchain also benefits the nonprofits themselves, as the funds get to the organisations faster and incur fewer costs.

“An easy way to do that was to open the doors to fundraising for them in Bitcoin,” she continued. “When you don’t have to go through the traditional system of banks and governments, the money gets there a lot faster, it is much less expensive and with Bitcoin, it is also cryptographically secure, so you know it is getting to who it was intended to get to.”

Prior to founding BitGive, Connie worked with environmental organisations in consulting, strategy development, policy and advocacy, funding assistance and program management. She’s held positions at the California Urban Forests Council, Conservation Strategy Group, Sacramento Tree Foundation, EDAW and North State Resources. BitGive was her first foray into a technological sector.

Connie is a member of the Forbes Nonprofit Council. She’s also on the board of directors at the California Urban Forests Council, Sierra Business Council and Tahoe Silicon Mountain.

The BitGive founder is also an advocate for diversity and equal opportunity.

Tags: blockchain, environment, non-profits, philanthropy, public health, Women in Tech

Last updated: October 8, 2019