On December 6, Robby Greenfield joined us to deliver a presentation titled Improving Your Nonprofit Impact Using Real Web3 Examples. Robby is CEO of Umoja Labs and a blockchain expert. He was able to provide a wide range of real-world applications of Web3 and decentralized technologies in the nonprofit sector.
Prior to developing Umoja Labs, Robby served as ConsenSys's head of social impact and co-founded the Blockchain for Social Impact Coalition, which is the world's first social sector blockchain consortium. Not only is he extremely knowledgeable, but he also co-led some of the world’s highest profile blockchain for social impact projects:
- The first cryptocurrency-backed cash assistance program in Vanuatu
- The first worker wellness pilot with the U.S. State Department, Harvard SHINE, and New America
- The first fully transparent grant management solution (Impactio.Global) with the World Wildlife Fund
Below is the list of use cases that Robby presented on, but be sure to watch the recording to hear his detailed explanations of each:
- Hala Systems builds advanced solutions for civilian warning systems including AI-based monitoring tools and violence prevention. Blockchain technology is used to collect digital evidence of human rights violations and prove the integrity of the data.
- From Bait to Plate is an initiative from the World Wildlife Fund using blockchain technology to trace the journey of fish from capture to consumption in order to prevent illegally caught seafood from entering our supply chains.
- Collaborative Healthcare Solutions is a blockchain-enabled system for medical reporting used to ensure the tamper-proof nature of evidence collected in sexual assault cases.
- Project Unblocked Cash is the first international humanitarian aid program leveraging stablecoins, specifically using ethereum’s DAI in Vanuatu. This ethereum-based cash and voucher assistance humanitarian solution enabled aid to be delivered with more speed, efficiency, and transparency — even in diaster-prone areas with limited infrastructure.
- Bounties for the Oceans is a project that aims to incentivize individuals in communities — particularly in areas with environmental challenges like landfills in the Philippines — to clean their surroundings and earn income through community-developed bounties.
- Luxarity is a platform that enables the reselling of donated luxury goods to fund community grants, such as scholarships and support for local schools. The platform has implemented blockchain technology to enhance transparency by recording the donation, resale, and proportional impact of donations on the grants provided, offering a real-time view of the economic contributions made by donors.
Robby’s presentation was rich in promising projects utilizing decentralized technology for social and environmental good. He closed out by highlighting a couple of obstacles and regulatory challenges including regulatory ambiguity, user experience and design challenges, and the disconnection between NGOs and technology companies.
We are grateful to Robby for joining us for this exciting and eye-opening presentation!