How can civil society organisations and social enterprises diversify their sources of funding? Can new technologies, digital products and NFTs create new opportunities to support social causes?
These questions were at the heart of a series of information sessions organised in Macedonia within the Social Impact NFTs – SINFT project, bringing together civil society organisations and other interested participants in Skopje, Bitola and Ohrid throughout September 2026.
The sessions took place on 9 September in Skopje, 25 and 26 September in Bitola, and 29 September in Ohrid, providing participants with an opportunity to learn more about the SINFT project, explore the potential of new technologies for social impact, and discover how young people can become actively involved in developing new digital solutions for social missions.
Exploring New Ways to Support Social Missions
The info sessions focused on one of the important challenges faced by civil society organisations today: the need to explore new and additional models of funding.
While grants and donations remain essential for the sustainability of civil society organisations, digital transformation is opening up new opportunities to develop alternative sources of income, create digital products and build communities around social causes.
This is where Social Impact NFTs (SINFT) comes in.
Participants were introduced to the idea of transforming an organisation’s mission, cause or project into a digital product, while combining the creativity and digital skills of young people with the experience and knowledge of civil society organisations.
The sessions presented SINFT not as a replacement for traditional fundraising, but as an additional opportunity to diversify funding sources and explore innovative approaches to supporting social missions.
What is Social Impact NFTs – SINFT?
The Social Impact NFTs – SINFT project aims to empower young people to create social impact through digital technologies and the development of NFTs.
During the sessions, participants learned how the project connects:
- young people and youth organisations;
- civil society organisations and social enterprises;
- artificial intelligence and digital creativity;
- NFT and blockchain technologies;
- digital marketing and storytelling;
- and new approaches to fundraising and digital entrepreneurship.
A key element of the project is the creation of SINFT teams consisting of four young people and one youth worker or organisation representative.
This team-based approach allows organisations to bring their social mission and experience, while young participants contribute creativity, fresh perspectives and digital skills.
From an Idea to a Digital Collection
A central part of the sessions was the presentation of the SINFT educational platform and the learning journey available to participants.
The platform provides access to courses, webinars, practical learning activities and mentoring support, allowing participants to gradually develop the knowledge and skills needed to create their own digital products.
Participants were introduced to the process of developing an idea connected to a specific social cause and transforming that idea into a potential NFT collection.
An important message throughout the sessions was that no previous technical knowledge is required to participate.
The learning process is designed to help participants build their skills step by step, while working together as a team and developing a concrete idea connected to a real social mission.
Participants can also earn points through their engagement in courses, webinars, mentoring sessions and activities on the platform. These points can then be transferred to the platform and used in the process of creating an NFT collection.
Participants who successfully complete the courses also receive a certificate.
Understanding NFT, Blockchain and Monetisation
The technological side of SINFT was also presented during the information sessions, introducing participants to the basic concepts of NFTs and blockchain technology and their potential application in the context of social impact.
Through a practical demonstration, participants could see how a digital idea can be developed into an NFT collection, prepared for publication and potentially offered on the market.
The sessions also explored the process of monetisation – from creating and promoting a digital product, to selling the collection and transferring the generated funds into money.
The emphasis, however, remained on the social mission behind the technology.
The aim is not simply to create an NFT, but to explore how a social idea can be transformed into a meaningful digital product, communicated to a wider audience and potentially generate additional resources for the organisation’s mission.
Young People as Creators of Digital Solutions
One of the key elements of SINFT is the active involvement of young people throughout the process.
Rather than being only users of digital technologies, young participants are encouraged to become creators of digital products and contributors to solutions addressing real social challenges.
During the discussions, organisations were encouraged to consider:
- Which of their missions, causes or projects could become the basis for a digital collection?
- Which young people could become part of their SINFT team?
- How can organisational experience and young people’s digital skills complement each other?
- How can a community be built around a social cause?
- How can digital marketing and storytelling help communicate the value of a digital collection?
A key conclusion was that technology alone does not determine the success of a digital product.
The story behind the cause, the way it is communicated, the community built around it and the people who support it are equally important.
From Information to Action
The final part of the sessions focused on how interested organisations can move from learning about SINFT to actually becoming involved.
Through interactive discussions, participants were encouraged to think about how they could develop their own SINFT team and what social mission or project they could potentially bring into the process.
The discussions covered topics such as team building, youth engagement, division of roles, developing creative ideas, promoting digital collections, building communities around social causes and creating opportunities for cooperation between organisations.
The objective was to ensure that SINFT does not remain only an educational experience, but becomes an opportunity for learning, experimentation, creativity and practical application.
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