Over the past few years, Bitcoin and other digital currencies have taken flight as transferable assets creating huge gains for many people worldwide.

One unnamed donor set up the Pineapple Fund to give away $86 million worth of their personal bitcoin to various charities, “because once you have enough money, money doesn’t matter.” If your nonprofit accepts Bitcoin donations, you can apply today.

How Your Nonprofit Can Accept Bitcoin Donations in Three Easy Steps

1. To accept bitcoin donations, you will need a place to store your bitcoin. In the bitcoin world, this is called a “bitcoin wallet.” Think of your wallet as the digital version of a bank account. To create a wallet for free, go to Blockchain, the world’s leading software platform for digital assets.
2. Once you have your wallet, you will need a way to receive bitcoin donations. BitPay is a great option since registered 501(c)(3) corporations can have their bitcoin donations processed at no charge. It’s also very easy to setup and use.
3. Lastly, for additional assurance that you will receive the money, you’ll want to secure your bitcoin wallet address through the Blockchain Security Center function. This will help verify that your nonprofit is the owner of the wallet. Yes, this also a free service and you’ll see the Security Center once you sign up for your bitcoin wallet.

The Best Way for Your Nonprofit to Receive Bitcoin Donations

Before your donor sells their bitcoin and donates the after-tax proceeds, you may want to suggest that the bitcoin be donated directly to your nonprofit. This framework contains two significant benefits for both the donor and the nonprofit.

First, the donated bitcoin gift to your nonprofit will be larger because, instead of the donor paying capital gains taxes, the nonprofit will receive the full value of the contribution. Second, the donor’s tax deduction will be equal to the fair market value of the donated bitcoin instead of only the after tax proceeds from the sale minus taxes paid.

How to Convert Your Bitcoin Donations Into Dollars

Bitcoin may be the currency of tomorrow but there are still very few nonprofits that accept them today. This good news is just how quick and easy converting bitcoin to dollars is now. In many ways, a bitcoin donation is like a simple stock donation.

As such, most nonprofits will want to immediately convert the bitcoin into dollars. Simply deposit the bitcoin in a digital marketplace and they will be matched to an interested buyer. The digital marketplace will quickly and easily convert your bitcoins to dollars and transfer them to a debit card, bank account, or digital wallet of your choice.

To learn how to convert your donated bitcoin to cash in 11 easy steps, click here.

Should your nonprofit accept bitcoin donations? What happens if you don’t?

Marc Stein is Co-Founder and Managing Director of The Global Center for Nonprofit Excellence where nonprofits, funders and industry experts work together for the greatest impact. For more thought leadership on nonprofit best practices and operational excellence, please visit www.theglobalcenter.net. Yes, membership is free.

Disclaimer: Neither Marc Stein nor The Global Center for Nonprofit Excellenceprovide tax, legal or accounting advice. This article has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide, and should not be relied on for, tax, legal or accounting advice. You should consult your own tax, legal and accounting advisors before engaging in any transaction.

Originally published on LinkedIn December 21, 2017

This is how we did it. 

A few years ago, the marketplace was speaking loudly to us. We didn’t notice for awhile. After all, we were the experts. But, we eventually heard our customers saying,”you’re not helping us in the way we want to be helped.” Ouch.

After some reflection, we decided to close our existing program and just start listening. Literally, our representatives went to the field armed with a pencil, pad and business card. No brochures, no books, no checklists.

Humility Accelerates Acceptance

Our customers were thrilled by our new approach. They told us about their challenges and dreams and they even told us how they wanted to be served.

Before long, trends started to emerge. We identified three separate markets that we previously lumped into one. Twelve different “pain” subjects surfaced and organically divided by the three market segments and took on a natural order of prioritization.

We started to really understand our customer’s needs. Only then, did we appreciate how they consumed information and it was completely different than the way we had been offering. They wanted little practical books (12,000-15,000 words) that could be ingested in just one sitting and in both digital and printed formats.

We were almost ready to start over again. We now knew our audience. We knew the topics they were interested in. We knew how they wanted to receive the content. What we needed now was a new wine skin to hold the new wine.

Plan for Success

We explored traditional versus self-publishing options and decided on the latter. We developed an aggressive two-year editorial calendar to create a 12 book series based on the 12 topics our customers told us they were interested in. We decided on offering the books for free; eliminating any barriers to the widest distribution, acceptance and brand identity.

We sought out industry experts to write the books, from inside and outside our organization, based on subject matter. We kept our audience and other industry specialists engaged the entire time as they helped us refine the content. They became like adjunct faculty owning the process and the excitement and anticipation gained momentum.

At the same time, our customers also told us that would like bite-sized blog posts on the same issues and a safe online community to share ideas. We engaged a few different outsourced creative specialists to help us with the book packaging, design and editing, new website and look and feel.

Build Execution Into Your Strategy

Since we did not have a budget much beyond production costs, we had to build a contagion into execution. In other words, we had to rely on word of mouth and referrals online and off. The question became… How could we help the people we were helping to want to share these books with their friends and associates?

We decided that Amazon would be our primary digital provider because they are the biggest but more importantly, they are an influential search engine that other search engines rely upon. So, we knew if we could become successful on Amazon, Google and others would then become part of our spread the good news strategy.

We learned the Amazon Kindle system for self-publishing digital product (called KDP) and how to maximize the opportunity with being very intentional about categories and keywords. We also discover that some book categories and keywords were less used than others making it possible for us to take an immediate market leadership position.

In truth, we were building the plane in the air. We were inventing it as we went.

We decided to self-publish the print versions and control the distribution to as many decision maker and influencers as possible. That way, our first readers could tell their friends and followers that free Kindle versions of the books were available on Amazon. We also added supplemental helpful resources to our books for free download on our new website along with a free membership to our online community and blog.

Using Leverage to Do More With Less

Amazon’s Top 100 Paid ranking is primarily based on the number of Kindle books purchased and Amazon’s Top 100 Free rankings are simply based upon downloads, that is, free downloads. Getting Amazon to distribute your books for free is tricky but it can be done if other reputable sites also offer your books for free. In our case, 350 other sites.

The Amazon ranking algorithms are secret but the more books that were downloaded the higher that title went up in the rankings and the more titles that were added, the more previously released books seemed to be downloaded.

In short, it worked. Ultimately, all six books were in the Top 10 of the Top Free 100 List in three list categories at same time. The seventh book is being readied for release now. I now believe that the original 12 books in the series, once published, can hold the Top 10 rankings in the same three categories locking out any challengers.

Success in an Unlikely Industry

The industry, organization and specialty studied here are anything but cutting edge proving that innovation can trump incumbency and resourcefulness can be more advantageous than resources under the right direction. In this case, here are some specifics:

Industry: Religious Institutions
Organization: Joni and Friends
Specialty: Disability Ministry
Program: Irresistible Church
Market Segments: Church Leaders, Volunteers and Families and Caregivers
Content Manager: Mike Dobes

Professor and Director of Church Relations at the Christian Institute on Disability Jeff McNair said, “…the Irresistible Church series could be considered among the most significant contributions to the furthering of disability ministry in the past 10 years. I say this because of the people I hear from telling me about how helpful the materials have been.”

Joni and Friends is an amazing ministry demonstrating the love of Jesus to people affected by disability worldwide. The Irresistible Church has become the point of entry for domestic churches wanting to serve people affected by disabilities. Disability ministry can help a church become irresistible to people affected by disability and hopefully to others in their communities they serve.

Glory to God!

Once upon a time, two ministry leaders were driving down a familiar highway. These leaders had much in common and were enjoying their time together. Suddenly the landscape changed.

One leaned over and asked, “Where are we? Everything looks unfamiliar.” The other said, “Did we miss a turnoff or overlook something?” People looked different. They didn’t respond as they once had.

I think we can relate to those proverbial ministry leaders. In fact, it’s almost as if we’re riding along with them in the back seat. Our world has changed so quickly and significantly that it is hard to find our bearings. One of the frustrating factors of this misadventure is the realization that the small adjustments we once controlled can no longer get us back to the main road.

How did we get here? We don’t need a map to discover that we have unintentionally merged onto a narrow downhill road with few turnoffs or opportunities to exit. Okay, I’ll be the one to admit it, “we’re lost.

Where Can We Turn?

It’s not like we have not successfully driven this road many times before, but we are definitely not in Kansas anymore either. The everyday activities that all but guaranteed us relevant, fruitful ministry are just not working the same anymore. So, how do we get back on track?

To bend our ministry cultures back towards significant relevance and impact, we need to return to the main road, retracing the path Jesus walked, remembering whom Jesus cared for and reflecting the ministry he modeled.

In Matthew 25, Jesus tells about the final judgement, and he clearly lets us know whom he values and what he expectsof us. In short, Jesus told us to look after those who cannot care for themselves. To make sure we do not miss this off ramp, he identified himself firmly with them when he said: “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for
me’” (Matt. 25:40).

Now that the destination is clear, we can put it into our GPS. But, there are many routes. Which one do we take?

We simply need to follow the Chief Shepherd’s path. It may look a little different now, but the trail is still visible to those who are seeking it. The key is to understand the times we live in and adapt his original model for here and now. Creativity will not be enough. Although not yet a familiar term in the ministry world, innovation is what is required. Webster defines innovation as simply “the introduction of something new.” But, what?

Kingdom Innovation Leadership

We must hold tightly to the lessons of Matthew 25 and venture boldly and courageously into unknown territory like the Joshua or Caleb of our generation. There may be giants in the land but we can know that our Lord is always with us.

Kingdom Innovation Leadership is a transformational form of ministry that adapts the timeless truths of God’s Word to create practical solutions to address the unmet needs of those around us.

These three simple objectives can serve as our guideposts:

1. Gather an innovation mastermind working group of humble, highly gifted Christ leader/followers to identify underserved populations and practical needs in the community.
2. Create a high functioning, sustainable and expandable innovation environment to develop new perspectives, ideas and markets.
3. Collaborate with churches, ministries and Christian businesses that have the resources, network and influence needed to elevate the best concepts to real world application.

To accomplish these three objectives, we will need practical steps — mile markers if you will — to help measure progress toward our desired outcomes.

To accomplish the first objective, “gather an innovation mastermind working group,” you and a small group of likeminded individuals will need to prayerfully consider other individuals in your community, ministry sector or corner of the kingdom whom you can invite to create a working group aimed at bending the culture of your environment.

• Identify and attract kingdom innovators, idea generators and entrepreneurs from interrelated segments of church, Christian agencies and marketplace ministries.
• Invite thought leaders and/or change agents of compassion and mercy who can challenge us, teach us something new and expand our thinking.
• Gather courageous individuals who are willing to encourage new and unlikely collaborations and challenge traditional boundaries.

The idea here is not to assemble people who are trying to protect the status quo. On the other hand, we do not want anarchists desiring to tear down the entire system either. We want smart, Jesus-loving leaders, regardless of title, to unify for Kingdom Innovation Leadership purposes.

The second objective involves creating an “expandable innovation environment.” The goal here is to reach beyond the usual suspects, solutions and ecosystems to identify unmet needs within the communities we serve and determine practical steps to address the needs.

• Establish innovation platforms that encourage individuals to explore new ways to create, deliver and share mercy and compassion without assimilating into the greater secular community.
• Build real-life sandboxes within, or right next door to, traditional institutions in which a new generation of transformative ministry can be explored.
• Encourage the combination or uncoupling of existing ministry models as a means of creating new ways to express Christian identity, solve problems or deliver value.

The emphasis of the second objective is to survey for unmet needs and offer practical products and services to the community without losing or hiding our Christian identity. In other words, offering services or solutions through Christian organizations and individuals for the benefit of the whole community, regardless of the beliefs or lifestyles of those whom we serve.

The third objective is to “collaborate with churches, ministries and Christian businesses that have the resources, network and influence needed to elevate the best concepts to real world application.” Since churches, ministries and Christian businesses are often seen as exclusionary to non-believers, this is an opportunity to express Christian service in a new way that all people can experience.

• Move quickly from concept to prototype to validation before landing on a new service configuration or model that works and is ready to scale.
• Create a real world demonstration to explore how the new ministry model or service offering works for people inside and outside the church.
• Find people and institutions who are receptive to kingdom innovation and then resource them with the tools and platform necessary to scale.

The road to Kingdom Innovation Leadership is paved with practical solutions to unmet community needs; we simply need humble individuals willing to innovate collaboratively to find them. The result will be a closer connection to our neighbors. It may even prompt a question of why we are serving this way and lead to deeper conversations. Like the early Christians, we could acquire a new and different identity as helpful and caring followers of Christ.

We can individually and collectively change how our friends and neighbors respond to Jesus and his church through our daily interactions. Our everyday activities can once again lead to relevant, fruitful ministry and outreach.

In conclusion, we can re-enter the path that Jesus walked and help others find it too. Simply by meeting the practical needs of our friends and neighbors in a Matthew 25 manner, we can help bend culture back towards Jesus and make the local church the center of the community once again. By engaging Kingdom Innovation Leadership, we can help rewrite the story of our cities, churches and people everywhere.

Originally published in Outcomes Magazine, Fall 2016. 

The trend is unmistakable. The American Church is waning and few among us are even talking about it. It’s our 800 pound gorilla.

This isn’t just another “millennial issue.” It’s symptomatic of a much larger concern; our problem is systemic. You probably don’t need to see the statistics to know the American church is shrinking, but should you be a “doubting Thomas,” just choose any of the recent Gallup, Pew, Lifeway or Barna surveys. They all validate the existence of our large primate friend.

It’s like we have an infectious disease. Many outside the church don’t like us much right now, so they keep their distance. While we seem fairly healthy among our own church crowd, non-churchgoing people have heard typecast caricatures of Christians so many times and from so many sources, that they believe them to be true. Yet, we know that’s not who we are.

The good news is that we can transform our current persona. We possess everything we need to reclaim our true identity, and send that gorilla packing. Consider the source of our identity, Jesus, who was able to love and not compromise. (Note that this kind of love never condones sin, and never embraces a watered -down gospel aberration. It is, however, characterized by some of the innovative strategies described below.)

L.O.V.E.

To reclaim our true identity, we need more than creativity, we need inspired innovation. That’s because innovation requires we get out of our safe zones and into the real world. The acronym L.O.V.E. describes the innovative strategies we need today: listening, observation, viewpoint and engagement.

Listening

Jesus listened. He started many conversations with questions and listened to the people he was speaking with before responding; even though he already knew the answers. Our first step is to become better listeners. We can learn to stay present in conversations, to be empathic, to avoid interrupting even if we have a solution, and to ask clarifying questions before responding.

Listening Action Plan: Go on a listening tour beyond your inner circle. Engage the communities you serve and invite others, even those with dissenting opinions, to converse. Listen to what they care about.

Observation

Jesus always observed what was going on around him, while keeping the big picture in mind. He constantly looked beyond the obvious. Paul instructs us to observe like Jesus when he says: “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Cor. 4:18)

Observation Action Plan: Get out of your office, observe and address an unmet need of some non-churched, hurting people within your community. This will prompt the question we desire most, “Why are you doing this?”

Viewpoint

A viewpoint is a particular attitude that affects the way we approach people or situations. If we resist a person or opinion, our reaction can be fearful, defensive or limited. Jesus was able to respond so effectively to all he encountered because he knew who he was. He showed us how to love people; especially the undesirable, unlovable and unworthy.

Viewpoint Action Plan: Reflect on fear and love and decide, in advance, how you are going to live it out in your personal and professional life. Who can you process this with today?

Engagement

With renewed listening and observation skills, and a healthy viewpoint, we can encourage believers and non-believers alike. With positivity and a firm understanding of who we are in the risen Christ, we can confidently take action. Nothing will speak louder.

The spirit behind engagement is not about trying to be popular or getting non-believers to like us. The intention of engagement is to glorify our Father in heaven, magnify the name of Jesus and help people really know their Messiah.

Engagement Action Plan: A smile, positive expectation and an encouraging word go a long way to remedy a frowning face and a defensive posture. Speak life into your online and offline conversations each day. What action can you take today?

We can individually and collectively change how our friends and neighbors respond to Jesus and his church through our daily interactions. By simply choosing to L.O.V.E., people will begin talking about us again; but this time they will have new labels like “grace-filled, generous, big-picture thinkers.”

Hey, what ever happened to that gorilla?

Originally published in the Christian Leadership Alliance Higher Thinking Blog, Summer 2015.