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Ripple has pledged $25 million in Ripple USD (RLUSD) stablecoin to support small businesses and U.S. veterans, channeling the funds through Accion and Hire Heroes USA. The donation, announced September 15, comes as part of Ripple’s broader strategy to showcase how blockchain tools can improve philanthropy by providing faster and more transparent support to nonprofit programs.
This marks the company’s second $25 million donation in 2025, following an earlier gift to education-focused charities. By choosing Accion and Hire Heroes USA, Ripple is targeting two communities often described as pillars of the U.S. economy: entrepreneurs and military veterans.
“Small businesses and veterans are two of the most powerful engines of American progress, yet both face barriers that limit their full economic impact,” — Brad Garlinghouse, CEO, Ripple.
The small business component of Ripple’s donation will be managed by the Accion Opportunity Fund (AOF). With its portion of the $25 million, Accion will scale programs designed to give entrepreneurs access to capital and technical training. The flagship initiative, the Ripple Digital Leap Forward accelerator, will provide $500,000 in direct support to business owners, while offering tools to digitize and expand their operations.
Accion projects that the contribution will generate up to $125 million in lending impact nationwide, helping underserved entrepreneurs gain financing they would otherwise struggle to access.
“Our partnership with Ripple goes beyond philanthropy,” — Luz Urrutia, CEO, Accion Opportunity Fund. “This investment will enable Accion to accelerate the development of its digital and educational programs for small businesses, ensuring they are better equipped for today’s economy.”
The collaboration with Ripple is expected to widen Accion’s reach among minority-owned, women-owned, and immigrant-owned enterprises, groups that frequently encounter barriers in traditional financial systems. By anchoring the donation in stablecoin, Ripple also hopes to demonstrate a faster and more efficient method of distributing aid.
The second part of Ripple’s pledge is directed toward Hire Heroes USA, a nonprofit specializing in helping veterans and military families transition into civilian careers. The funding will be used to expand employment programs, including efforts to place 14,000 veterans into jobs over the next year.
With a growing emphasis on digital-first employment opportunities, Hire Heroes USA will also use the funds to strengthen training initiatives for veterans seeking careers in fintech and technology-related sectors.
“The support from Ripple allows us to expand our reach to more veterans and families,” — Andrew Sandoe, CEO, Hire Heroes USA. “This funding will improve our training and career transition resources, giving veterans the tools they need to thrive in a competitive job market.”
By combining small business development with veteran employment, Ripple and its nonprofit partners aim to strengthen economic resilience at both community and household levels.
Ripple’s decision to use RLUSD for the donation underscores its effort to highlight the benefits of stablecoins in philanthropy. The transfer process was conducted through The Giving Block’s donation platform, with custody and settlement managed by Uphold. This model, Ripple argues, ensures faster delivery of funds, transparency in tracking, and lower transaction costs compared to traditional philanthropy methods.
The company has already deployed RLUSD for previous charitable efforts, including a $25 million donation to DonorsChoose and Teach For America earlier this year. Analysts note that Ripple’s approach could serve as a case study for regulators and lawmakers debating the role of digital assets in public service.
“Blockchain offers efficiency and transparency in ways that traditional donation systems cannot,” — Kristin Smith, CEO, Blockchain Association. “Efforts like Ripple’s work with Accion and Hire Heroes USA help illustrate the positive applications of stablecoins.”
For Ripple, the collaboration with Accion and Hire Heroes USA is part of a longer-term effort to build credibility for stablecoin-based giving. While the immediate beneficiaries are small businesses and veterans, the initiative also contributes to broader conversations about how digital assets can intersect with social impact.
If successful, Ripple’s strategy could encourage other corporations to explore stablecoin donations as a mechanism for supporting nonprofits. For recipients, it means quicker access to resources. For donors, it provides measurable transparency.
With the U.S. economy still grappling with uneven growth, the combination of entrepreneurial support and veteran employment programs could deliver lasting community benefits. And for the blockchain industry, Ripple’s gift may help reframe digital currencies as not just speculative assets but also practical tools for social good.
