Ripple, a financial technology company specializing in crypto solutions for businesses, has announced that several leading development and humanitarian nonprofit organizations, including World Central Kitchen, Water.org, GiveDirectly, and Mercy Corps, are leveraging its Ripple Payments platform and Ripple USD (RLUSD) stablecoin to enhance the speed, transparency, and impact of aid and funding distribution globally.
Nonprofits worldwide are seeking improved methods to move funds quickly and efficiently, particularly when responding to urgent needs in areas with limited infrastructure. Ripple Payments, an end-to-end, licensed platform powered by blockchain technology, enables organizations to send money across borders in seconds, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, without relying on traditional banking systems. The platform allows nonprofits to access the benefits of digital assets without directly managing cryptocurrency themselves. Pairing this platform with Ripple’s U.
S. dollar-backed stablecoin, RLUSD, offers an efficient mechanism for aid delivery and supports new models for financial inclusion and disaster relief.
Monica Long, President of Ripple, stated, “Our partners and customers are redefining how urgent aid, sustainable development, and financial support reach those who need it most. It’s a powerful example of what happens when innovation meets purpose—showing how blockchain technology can reshape the systems behind global relief and unlock lasting impact at scale.”
Innovation is central to World Central Kitchen’s (WCK) mission to respond swiftly to communities in crisis. Since 2020, Ripple has supported WCK in delivering millions of meals to communities and first responders affected by natural disasters. Building on this partnership, WCK is now utilizing Ripple Payments and RLUSD to accelerate the disbursement of funds to local restaurants and partners in regions lacking established banking infrastructure, facilitating faster and more transparent delivery of critical support.
Joshua Tripp, President of Innovation at World Central Kitchen, commented, “When disaster strikes, World Central Kitchen mobilizes with the urgency of now to bring fresh meals to first responders and impacted communities. With Ripple, we’re testing new financial technologies to settle payments in hours instead of days, even in challenging environments, allowing us to serve more communities in their most vulnerable moments.”
Water.org, a global nonprofit founded by Gary White and Matt Damon, has improved access to safe water or sanitation for over 81 million people. Following a successful pilot of Ripple Payments to send funds to microfinance partners in Brazil, Mexico, and Peru, the organization now plans to conduct all its Latin American transactions through Ripple’s platform and is exploring expansion into other regions, including Africa and Asia. By using the Ripple Payments platform, Water.org can move funds more quickly and cost-effectively to support affordable loans for essential water and sanitation solutions.
Gary White, CEO and Co-founder of Water.org, noted, “At Water.org, we’re always looking for new ways to make financing for safe water and sanitation for families in need faster and more affordable. Through our collaboration with Ripple, we’re exploring how digital payments can help us move funds more efficiently to our local partners — unlocking capital faster so more families can access the solutions they need to survive and thrive.”
Ripple is also collaborating with nonprofit partners on pilot programs testing RLUSD in applications such as parametric insurance for unbanked populations and anticipatory cash transfers. This includes multiple ongoing pilots with Mercy Corps Ventures in Kenya, with similar pilots being scoped with GiveDirectly.
Scott Onder, Chief Investment Officer at Mercy Corps, said, “Through our pilot in Kenya, we’re testing how stablecoins like RLUSD can move aid faster and more reliably to people facing crises. For families waiting on emergency cash or insurance payouts, even a few hours can make a difference—and blockchain-enabled payments are helping us close that gap.”
This initiative highlights the broader potential of stablecoins to transform the global financial ecosystem. By offering a low-cost, near-instant alternative to traditional remittance services, stablecoins can increase the amount of money recipients receive, enhancing economic resilience for billions in underbanked and unbanked communities. With RLUSD surpassing a $900 million market capitalization in less than a year since its launch, Ripple is demonstrating that enterprise-grade stablecoins can scale rapidly and responsibly. This effort is a core component of Ripple’s mission to build a more inclusive global economy.
