That assumption costs churches real money. The opportunity doesn’t end at setup: once the infrastructure is in place, communicating that your church accepts these gifts is the single most important step to actually receiving them.

Cryptocurrency and appreciated stock donations are no longer niche tools for Silicon Valley philanthropists. They represent one of the fastest-growing channels in charitable giving, and they’re landing at nonprofits — and increasingly, churches — at record levels.

Key Stats at a Glance

Those numbers aren’t flukes. They reflect a structural shift in how donors — especially younger, high-capacity ones — are giving. And churches that aren’t positioned to receive these gifts are leaving significant resources on the table.

Why Donors Give Crypto and Stock (Not Cash)

The tax math is compelling. When a donor gives appreciated stock or crypto directly to a nonprofit, they typically avoid capital gains taxes and can deduct the full fair market value of the asset. Selling first and donating cash is the less efficient path — yet it’s the only path available if a church can’t accept non-cash gifts.

What “Being Ready” Actually Requires

Accepting crypto or stock isn’t as complex as it sounds, but it does require deliberate infrastructure. Here’s what needs to be in place:

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  A third-party platform to receive, convert, and transfer donations (e.g., The Giving Block, Engiven)
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  A gift acceptance policy that covers non-cash assets
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  Accounting procedures to record fair market value at time of receipt
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  Proper donor acknowledgment letters that meet IRS requirements
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  Staff or advisor who understands how to classify these gifts on financial statements

The accounting piece is where most churches stumble. Crypto and stock gifts require a different workflow than a check or an ACH transfer — and errors in valuation, recognition timing, or donor documentation can create compliance problems down the road.

The Window Is Open — But It Won’t Stay That Way

Year-end giving dominates this category: roughly 61% of stock gifts and 22% of crypto gifts through church platforms are made in December. That concentration means the churches positioned ahead of Q4 capture the majority of these gifts. Those that scramble to set up infrastructure in November often miss the window.