Case Studies & Testimonials » Cabrini Mission Foundation
Carrying Forward a Legacy: How Cabrini Mission Foundation is Embracing Crypto to Serve Communities Worldwide
Honoring Mother Cabrini’s 175-Year Legacy Through Modern Philanthropy
In 2025, the Cabrini Mission Foundation celebrated a milestone year: the 175th birthday of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, the founder of the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. For more than a century, the sisters have been dedicated to education, healthcare, immigration services, and social justice. Cabrini Mission Foundation has carried that legacy forward, especially in the last two decades, building a reputation for compassionate service while embracing innovative ways to engage the next generation of donors.
One of the most notable shifts has been the organization’s decision to embrace cryptocurrency donations through The Giving Block. What began as a curious exploration into new fundraising methods quickly became a powerful tool for connecting with both existing and new supporters. As Christopher A. LaBianco, Executive Director at Cabrini Mission Foundation, noted, “When I first got here, we were still doing mail merges and stuffing envelopes. Then I realized—there’s a whole community of crypto philanthropists out there, and some of them are Catholic, some of them just care about the mission. We weren’t open to it before, but now we are. It’s been eye-opening”.
By adopting crypto, Cabrini Mission Foundation is not only expanding its fundraising capacity but also ensuring that Mother Cabrini’s mission remains relevant in an increasingly digital world.
146 Years
Years of impact from the Missionary Sisters
$140K
Raised via The Giving Block in the first 12 months
17 Countries
Global reach of Cabrini Ministries providing education, healthcare, and social services
Mission Statement
Cabrini Mission Foundation responds with boldness, urgency and courage to the unmet needs of the most vulnerable and those on the margins of society. We support charitable works of healing, teaching and caring that reflect the charism of the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, founded by St. Frances Xavier Cabrini.
With every response we foster hope as bearers of the love of Christ in the world.
A Mission Rooted in Service, Evolving With the Times
Reflecting on the anniversary of Mother Cabrini’s birth, he explained:
Grounded in its founder’s mission, the Cabrini Mission Foundation champions immigration, healthcare, education, social services, and pastoral care. From scholarships and food pantries, to mental health support, helping the homeless, assisting new immigrants with legal paperwork, and providing winter clothing for children, the Foundation is dedicated to serving those too often forgotten.
—Christopher A. LaBianco, Executive Director at Cabrini Mission Foundation
The Leap Into Crypto
Like many faith-based nonprofits, Cabrini Mission Foundation initially relied heavily on traditional fundraising: direct mail, in-person events, and donations by check. But conversations with donors revealed an unexpected opportunity—many longtime supporters already held cryptocurrency.
“When some of our donors realized we could take crypto, their reaction was, ‘Wait, you take Bitcoin? That’s fantastic!’” LaBianco recalled. “Suddenly, we were getting gifts that came in as cryptocurrency, converted to cash in our account, and it was real money we could use for our mission”.
Crypto donations have proven to be powerful conversation starters. Some gifts have even come in the form of novel tokens related to internet communities—like “cat coins”—surprising the Cabrini team and demonstrating the creativity and generosity of digital asset donors.
Importantly, Cabrini’s adoption of crypto has been seamless thanks to The Giving Block’s platform, which handles the complexity of processing and converting donations. This has allowed Cabrini to focus on stewarding donor relationships rather than worrying about technical barriers.
Blending Tradition and Innovation
While Cabrini embraces digital giving, the foundation also honors traditional fundraising practices. Their annual gala, held each fall, remains a cornerstone event. Far from the “rubber chicken dinner” stereotype, Cabrini has transformed its gala into a television-ready, livestreamed production, complete with simultaneous English and Spanish interpretation to reach a global audience.
At these events, Cabrini leverages technology in new ways—introducing QR codes for instant crypto donations, digital thermometers to track giving in real time, and even text-to-donate tools powered by partners like GiveLively.
As LaBianco explained, the blend of old and new has been crucial:
“The gala is one of the few times a year we get everyone together as a family. But now, thanks to The Giving Block, we can put a QR code on the screen, and someone can send a crypto gift instantly. It’s about making it as easy as possible for people to say yes”.
Watch the Full Conversation
Hear directly from Executive Director Chris LaBianco about Cabrini Mission Foundation’s journey into crypto fundraising and how it is helping them engage a new generation of supporters.
Cabrini Mission’s Crypto Experience in Context
Cabrini Mission Foundation’s early wins with crypto align with the larger trends highlighted in the 2025 Annual Report on Crypto Philanthropy.
- In 2024 alone, more than $1 billion in cryptocurrency was donated to nonprofits globally, making it the largest year for crypto giving on record.
- The average crypto donation in 2024 was $10,978, a 386% increase from the year before.
- Faith-based organizations, like Cabrini, are seeing significant growth in crypto fundraising, with the report noting that this trend will accelerate as more churches and faith-driven nonprofits embrace digital giving.
By stepping into the crypto space, Cabrini has not only diversified its fundraising but also tapped into a younger, more digitally native donor base. Crypto donors—often Millennials and Gen Z—are wealthier than average and eager to support causes that align with their values. This positions Cabrini to build long-term relationships with philanthropists who will shape the future of giving.
Expanding Giving Options
As Cabrini modernized its fundraising infrastructure, the team recognized that digital transformation meant more than just accepting cryptocurrency—it meant rethinking every way supporters could give. In 2025, the Foundation expanded its donation options by incorporating Shift4’s card payment processing, a move that delivered both flexibility for donors and financial savings for the organization.
Shift4’s platform enabled Cabrini to securely process traditional credit and debit card gifts at a fraction of the transaction costs charged by legacy processors. The success of this transition inspired Cabrini to continue experimenting with new, donor-friendly tools.
In addition, Cabrini transitioned off of Blackbaud and onto Give Lively’s fundraising platform, a shift that was both seamless and transformative. Give Lively not only equipped Cabrini with more modern, user-friendly fundraising tools but also facilitated the Foundation’s integration into Salesforce—at no cost—saving nearly $50,000 annually in software expenses. The Give Lively team made the introduction to Salesforce and guided Cabrini through every step of implementation, ensuring a smooth and confident transition for the entire staff.
In preparation for their September 2025 Gala, Cabrini leveraged Give Lively’s interactive fundraising features, including real-time giving thermometers and text-to-donate options that kept donors engaged throughout the evening.
The results spoke for themselves. Thanks to the dynamic and complementary blend of these technologies, this year’s Cabrini Gala giving was higher than ever before—and, even better, every single pledge was fulfilled, a testament to the trust Cabrini has built with its donor community and the seamless digital experience powering their contributions.
Together, the integration of Shift4, Give Lively, and The Giving Block created a unified, low-friction giving ecosystem—one that blends the security of traditional giving with the innovation of modern philanthropy.
What’s Next for Cabrini
Looking ahead, Cabrini Mission Foundation is focused on scaling its crypto fundraising efforts and deepening engagement with digital donor communities. LaBianco is clear-eyed about the journey:
Mother Cabrini established her religious order in 1880. Today, the Missionary Sisters continue her legacy with missions in 17 countries. Crypto donations offer a unique opportunity to expand this global reach and ensure Mother Cabrini’s mission thrives for generations to come. As crypto philanthropy grows—projected to reach $2.5 billion in 2025—Cabrini Mission Foundation is well-positioned to be part of this movement.
—Christopher A. LaBianco, Executive Director at Cabrini Mission Foundation
Join the Movement
The story of Cabrini Mission Foundation is a powerful example of how a faith-based organization with a 146-year legacy can adapt to a digital-first future. By embracing crypto with The Giving Block, Cabrini is unlocking new generosity, engaging younger donors, and funding vital programs in education, healthcare, immigration, and social justice.
Book a demo with The Giving Block: Learn how your nonprofit can start accepting crypto and other non-cash asset donations.
Make a donaiton to Cabrini Mission Foundation: Together, we can continue Mother Cabrini’s mission and ensure that generosity knows no boundaries.
