WaFd Bank Backs National Rollout of Revolutionary Giving Platform

SEATTLE, WA – April 02, 2026 – A new partnership is set to transform everyday shopping into a powerful engine for community support. Seattle-based WaFd Bank has been named the official U.S. banking partner for the Network of Giving Foundation, a move that provides the critical financial infrastructure to scale a novel philanthropic technology platform across the country. The collaboration aims to seamlessly integrate charitable giving into daily digital commerce, allowing consumers to support local nonprofits with every purchase at participating businesses—at no extra cost to themselves.

A New Model for Community Philanthropy

At the heart of this initiative is the Network of Giving's patented platform, which creates a unique ecosystem connecting consumers, local merchants, and community nonprofits. The model is deceptively simple: consumers securely link their existing credit or debit cards to the Network of Giving app. When they shop at a participating local business, the merchant automatically funds a micro-contribution to a nonprofit designated by the consumer.

Unlike "round-up" programs that use a consumer's own spare change, these contributions are entirely merchant-funded, functioning as a new form of community-focused marketing and customer loyalty. The platform promises that these donations are 100% consumer-directed and fully audited, ensuring transparency from transaction to distribution.

“Network of Giving is built on a simple but powerful idea: everyday actions can strengthen local communities,” said David Saalfrank, Network of Giving Foundation’s Chief Evangelist and Advisory Council Member.

The platform's initial activation began in Seattle, home to WaFd Bank. Founding nonprofit partners include prominent local organizations such as United Way of King County, Special Olympics Washington, Make-A-Wish Alaska and Washington, and Northwest Harvest. On the business side, early adopters include over a dozen Ethan Stowell Restaurants, demonstrating the model's appeal to local merchants looking to deepen their community ties and attract socially-conscious customers. For these businesses, the platform offers not just a way to give back but also access to marketing guidance and behavioral analytics to help drive customer engagement.

The Banker's Role in Purpose-Driven Finance

For WaFd Bank, a financial institution with roots stretching back to 1917, this partnership marks a significant strategic move into the burgeoning field of purpose-driven finance. By becoming the official banking partner, WaFd is not merely lending its name but providing the essential operational backbone for the entire system. The bank will facilitate the secure collection, settlement, and distribution of millions of anticipated micro-contributions, leveraging its trusted financial infrastructure to ensure every penny is handled securely and efficiently.

This role positions WaFd as a key enabler of a new philanthropic paradigm and aligns with a growing trend in the financial industry toward integrating Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles into core business strategies. In a competitive market, such initiatives can serve as a powerful differentiator, appealing to a new generation of consumers and businesses who increasingly expect corporations to play a positive role in society.

“WaFd Bank has believed in the Network of Giving from the very beginning,” said Brent Beardall, President and CEO of WaFd Bank. “We have always understood the power of financial services and digital commerce to do good for our communities and for society. Network of Giving brings those strengths together in a new way of giving that is simple, transparent, and deeply impactful.”

Beardall added, “Our team recognizes the potential of this platform to strengthen local businesses and uplift nonprofits. We are proud to stand alongside the Network of Giving Foundation as its official banking partner and to help bring this innovation to communities across the country.”

Governance and the Path to National Scale

While the concept is powerful, scaling it nationally presents considerable challenges. Success hinges on achieving a critical mass of both participating merchants and active consumers in each new market. This requires overcoming the inertia of small business owners operating on thin margins and educating a public inundated with digital apps and loyalty programs.

To build the necessary trust for this expansion, the Network of Giving has established a robust, multi-layered governance structure. The ecosystem is stewarded by the Network of Giving Foundation, an entity designed to ensure long-term mission alignment and accountability. Further fortifying this structure are a Public Benefit Corporation (PBC) and a Special Purpose Philanthropic Entity (SPPE). The PBC legally obligates the for-profit technology company to prioritize its public benefit mission alongside financial returns, while the SPPE provides a dedicated vehicle to manage the philanthropic assets with full transparency.

WaFd Bank's commitment extends beyond transaction processing; the bank is also joining the PBC and SPPE to help guide the mission. This deep integration signals a long-term strategic investment in the platform's success and integrity. According to Saalfrank, this structure ensures the platform remains anchored in community benefit. “With WaFd Bank’s support, every micro-contribution is securely collected, transparently distributed, and directed to the nonprofits that serve our neighbors,” he stated.

Redefining the Landscape of Giving Tech

The philanthropic technology space is diverse, featuring everything from corporate social responsibility platforms like Benevity to e-commerce plugins and direct-to-consumer round-up apps. The Network of Giving aims to carve out a unique niche by creating a self-sustaining local economic loop where commerce directly fuels community well-being. Its primary distinction is the merchant-funded, no-cost-to-consumer model applied to everyday, in-person digital commerce.

The platform is still in its infancy. Its Seattle launch occurred in the latter half of 2024, and publicly available data shows user adoption is in the very early stages. However, the challenges of launching a new network effect business are immense, and this is precisely where the partnership with WaFd Bank becomes a game-changer. The bank provides not only the financial plumbing but also a significant injection of credibility, trust, and strategic support.

By backing this venture, WaFd Bank is making a calculated bet on the future of community engagement and corporate responsibility. If the model proves scalable, this partnership could set a new standard for how financial institutions can actively foster local economic resilience and empower a more accessible, integrated form of philanthropy nationwide. The journey from a promising Seattle pilot to a national force for good will be a crucial test of this innovative vision.