You can watch the full video here: https://youtu.be/R-3bSFqA7Os

How to create a perpetual donation fundraising model with Smart Coins® C=md²

💡 What if one coin could change how nonprofits fundraise forever?
Long before social media, a single challenge coin I designed raised over $80,000 for the American Red Cross — just by sparking emotional connection. Now imagine that same kind of coin, but smart — embedded with NFC tech so a simple tap opens a donation page instantly. It’s more than a keepsake. It’s a tool. A conversation starter. A grassroots donation engine in your donor’s pocket. This is the story of Smart Coin® — and how it can turn your supporters into unstoppable fundraisers.

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We ran 100 computer simulations starting with one sponsor and 500 coins. We opened the donation options so the donor could donate $50, $100, $250, or $500 and receive a coin. Rather than simply offering the coin for a $50 donation, give the donor more options for a higher donation and you may be surprised with the additional funds you raise!

⚙️ Assumptions Recap:

  • Initial Coins: 500 (sponsored, free to charity)

  • Donation Levels: $50 (40%), $100 (35%), $250 (20%), $500 (5%)

  • Referral Range: 1 to 5 additional donors, weighted toward 1–2

  • Reorder Cost per Coin: $13

  • Donors donate once but may inspire multiple others

  • All donors get their own coin and agree to find a minimum of ONE other person to make the next donation.

Key Insights

  1. Corporate Sponsor ROI is Outstanding

    • Sponsor outlay: $6 500 (to mint the first 500 coins)

    • Community impact: $678 K net to the charity (mean)

    • For every $1 the sponsor spends, $100+ flows to the mission—an easy pitch for CSR budgets.

  2. Coin Reorders Are a Non-Issue

    • Average additional coins: 5 233 (5 733 – 500)

    • Cost to charity: 5 233 × $13 ≈ $68 K

    • That cost is < 10 % of revenue; margin stays > 90 %.

  3. Referral Assumptions Drive Scale

    • We set E[referrals] ≈ 1.1 (0, 1–3 weighted) + generation cap = 8.

    • Even modest virality produced ~12 × coin multiplication.

    • A slight bump in the 0-referral probability would slow totals; a cap of 10 generations would raise them.

  4. High Donor Tiers Drive Dollars

    • Roughly 25 % of donors hit the $250–$500 tiers (per our 20 % / 5 % split).

    • These high-value pledges make the average donation $130 + despite 40 % at $50.