Updated on:12/09/2025 05:55 PM 
The American Cancer Society (ACS) has embarked on a groundbreaking initiative by integrating web3 technology through a strategic partnership with Gitcoin, a pioneer in decentralized open-source funding, as confirmed in an official statement shared with CryptoSlate.
This collaboration marks a significant milestone for the renowned healthcare nonprofit as it ventures into the innovative realm of blockchain-based philanthropy. By leveraging Gitcoin's specialized expertise, the ACS aims to enhance its ACS Cares program and Crisis Response Fund, creating new pathways for supporting critical cancer research initiatives.
Distinguished from conventional funding rounds, this ACS-specific initiative operates independently from regular Gitcoin Grants cycles, ensuring direct support for the ACS Cares program and Crisis Response Fund. The allocated resources will fuel transformative cancer research projects, advance health equity initiatives, and expand patient support services. Additionally, the program will provide essential lodging assistance for cancer patients undergoing intensive treatments, demonstrating a comprehensive approach to patient care.
This initiative continues a growing trend of major nonprofit organizations exploring decentralized funding mechanisms. The ACS follows in the footsteps of UNICEF, which previously collaborated with Gitcoin on a significant Quadratic Funding pilot project in 2022.
Gitcoin has established itself as an indispensable player in the open-source funding landscape since its inception. Primarily through its innovative use of Quadratic Funding (QF), Gitcoin has successfully distributed over $50 million across more than 100 funding rounds, empowering mission-driven organizations worldwide.
Quadratic Funding represents a revolutionary approach to community-supported philanthropy, prioritizing contributor participation over donation amounts. This methodology cultivates broad-based community engagement while ensuring equitable resource allocation to projects with the greatest public resonance. For the ACS initiative, this approach promises efficient channeling of resources toward breakthrough cancer research, health equity programs, and comprehensive patient support systems.
Azeem Khan, Head of Impact at Gitcoin, emphasized the significance of this collaboration: "Participating in the ACS round powered by Grants Stack presents a unique opportunity for individuals and organizations to contribute to the fight against cancer using blockchain technology."
The initiative has garnered strong support from key figures in the blockchain philanthropy space. Kyle Weiss, Executive Director at the Gitcoin Foundation, and Nicole d'Avis, Protocol Lead at the Public Goods Network (PGN), have both expressed enthusiastic support for these collaborative efforts.
The Public Goods Network, an innovative component of the Gitcoin ecosystem, functions as a cost-effective Layer 2 OP Chain, directing the majority of its net sequencer fees toward public goods initiatives. This model offers users and developers an economical alternative to the Ethereum mainnet while simultaneously generating sustainable funding for public goods through transaction activities.
Despite limited mainstream media coverage, organizations like Gitcoin and the Public Goods Network have quietly revolutionized the landscape of public goods financing. Their contributions have proven instrumental in establishing sustainable, reliable funding mechanisms for initiatives that benefit society at large.
The American Cancer Society's strategic entry into the web3 ecosystem via Gitcoin transcends traditional fundraising paradigms. By embracing blockchain technology and harnessing the power of community-driven funding models, the ACS not only advances its critical mission in cancer prevention and treatment but also sets a compelling precedent for other nonprofit organizations to explore the transformative potential of decentralized technologies.
