Raise funds and fan engagement with redeemable perks and rewards
By Anastasia Samaras
Upstream’s Redeemable NFTs enable your brand to integrate a digital rewards program for your audience to unlock digital merchandise, physical merchandise, rewards, or experiences while still being able to hold or trade the underlying digital collectible.
Upon redemption, the NFT unlocking the item or experience is replaced with an evolved NFT that can be held or traded with other supporters globally.
Upstream is working with non-profits and brands to integrate digital rewards programs into their brand and fundraising strategies. Here’s how they can complement your fundraising strategy!
Digital Rewards Program for Non-Profits
NFTs offer non-profits a powerful way for organizations to expand their donation pool and raise additional funds.
For a lot of organizations, donations are responded to with a nice email or thank you letter. Using Upstream’s NFTs that are created at no upfront cost to organizations, non-profits can say thank you to donors using digital collectibles that may drive further donations and engagement. Say thank you to donors of all sizes with a free digital collectible or membership NFT.
Because NFTs act as immutable proof of donation, proof of attendance, and proof of authenticity; donors can proudly share their badge NFTs on social media and hold proof of donation in their Upstream wallet.
Donors can hold onto these collectibles, or to drive further traffic and action, you can make the NFTs redeemable for physical merch, ticket access to charity events, and other experiences.
We designed our Redeemable NFTs to be chained together which can go a long way to expand your donation pool and fundraising efforts by driving supporters to initiatives you’re promoting.
By tapping into the Web3 community, you are also extending brand recognition through social sharing and enabling supporters to donate using cryptocurrency in the form of USDC Stablecoin in addition to cash, credit cards, debit cards, and PayPal.
*Digital Rewards Program Flyer for Non-Profits
Digital Rewards Program for Brands
Customers want to engage with brands on digital platforms due largely to the digitalization of client loyalty. Take your rewards program to the next level with collectible opportunities, immutable proof of ownership, and opportunities to create buzz around trading.
Uniquely for brands in the retail or product space, NFTs can be used to drive engagement and additional revenue streams powered by Web3. Take limited-edition shoes for example. The collector community currently purchases limited edition shoes from your brand, then posts them on third-party sites to resell and make a profit. Your profit potential ends after the first purchase.
Using Redeemable NFTs, you can bring the collector community back under the hood of your brand. Collectors can trade a digital replica of the underlying shoes within a secure, regulated environment where you have monetary benefit potential throughout. Once a collector wishes to redeem the digital replica for the physical shoe, the Redeemable NFT is replaced with a commemorative NFT, and the brand can fulfill the order using a verified redemption code. Keeping the trading community in your ecosystem also enables you to collect potential onward royalties on the trades. You can also use the commemorative NFTs to continue engagement with NFT holders, offering additional perks to drive them to your locations and merch drops.
Redeemable NFTs enable brands the freedom to develop unique experiences without being constrained by conventional forms of reward programs. Your brand can chain Redeemable NFTs together to drive sales, create meaningful user journeys, and enhance fan engagement with your digital-first audience.
*Digital Rewards Program Flyer for Brands
Conclusion
Upstream’s unique NFT integrations usher in the next generation of fan engagement. In addition to Redeemable NFTs used in the digital reward programs above, we offer a wide range of fan engagement-driven NFTs including ticket NFTs being leveraged to replace or complement tickets; promotional NFTs which is a unique share-to-receive NFT experience where fans Tweet about a project and instantly receive a free NFT in their Upstream portfolio as a reward for their promotion; and membership NFTs which grant owners access to online communities, exclusive events, and other perks and with blockchain verified membership, ownership can be more easily transferable.
Non-profits and other brands interested in integrating a Web3 fundraising strategy at no upfront cost to them can learn more at https://upstream.exchange/ or reach the team at hello@upstream.exchange.
About Upstream:
Upstream, a MERJ Exchange Market (merj.exchange), is a fully regulated global stock exchange for digital securities. Powered by Horizon’s proprietary matching engine technology, the exchange will enable investors to trade NFTs, shares in IPOs, crowdfunded companies, U.S. & Int’l. equities, and celebrity ventures directly from the app: https://upstream.exchange. Interested issuers can reach the team at hello@upstream.exchange.
About MERJ:
MERJ Exchange (MERJ) operates Upstream as a fully regulated and licensed integrated securities exchange, clearing system and depository for digital and non-digital securities. MERJ is an affiliate of the World Federation of Exchanges (WFE), recognized by HM Revenue and Customs UK, a full member of the Association of National Numbering Agencies (ANNA) and a Qualifying Foreign Exchange for OTC Markets in the US. MERJ is also a member of the Sustainable Stock Exchanges Initiative. Visit https://merj.exchange/ to learn more.
About Horizon:
Horizon is a fintech company that builds and powers global securities exchanges with an integrated suite of software for compliant issuance, management, and secondary trading of securities. Our in-house solutions combine Wall Street and Silicon Valley to power the next generation of securities offerings and trading in the U.S. and globally. Learn more at https://www.horizonfintex.com/.
Disclaimers
This communication shall not constitute an offer to sell securities or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in any jurisdiction where such offer or solicitation is not permitted.
NFTs received have no economic value, royalties, equity ownership, or dividends. NFTs are for utility, collection, and display only.
*U.S. investors are not permitted to purchase Upstream listed securities. U.S. and Canadian citizens will only be able to trade in securities they currently own, that have been listed on Upstream, for liquidation purposes only.
If funding Upstream with an ACH or wire bank payment, users must complete Upstream’s in-app KYC process to get their new, FDIC insured, Upstream U.S. bank account details via email. Users may then initiate a funds-transfer from their bank or financial institution to this new U.S. Dollar bank account. If you haven’t completed KYC yet, or didn’t select ‘Bank’ as the ‘Deposit From’ option when you completed the process initially, then please go through KYC again selecting the ‘Bank’ payment method. Users may complete the simple KYC process by tapping the settings icon and the KYC option inside the Upstream app.
Upstream is a MERJ Exchange market. MERJ Exchange is a licensed Securities Exchange, an affiliate of the World Federation of Exchanges, and a full member of ANNA. MERJ supports global issuers of traditional and digital securities through the entire asset life cycle from issuance to trading, clearing, settlement, and registry. It operates a fair and transparent marketplace in line with international best practices and principles of operations of financial markets. Upstream does not endorse or recommend any public or private securities bought or sold on its app. Upstream does not offer investment advice or recommendations of any kind. All services offered by Upstream are intended for self-directed clients who make their own investment decisions without aid or assistance from Upstream. All customers are subject to the rules and regulations of their jurisdiction. By accessing the site or app, you agreed to be bound by its terms of use and privacy policy. Company and security listings on Upstream are only suitable for investors who are familiar with and willing to accept the high risk associated with speculative investments, often in early and development stage companies. There can be no assurance the valuation of any particular company’s securities is accurate or in agreement with the market or industry comparative valuations. Investors must be able to afford market volatility and afford the loss of their investment. Companies listed on Upstream are subject to significant ongoing corporate obligations including, but not limited to disclosure, filings, and notification requirements, as well as compliance with applicable quantitative and qualitative listing standards.
Forward-Looking Statements
This communication contains “forward-looking statements.” Such statements may be preceded by the words “intends,” “may,” “will,” “plans,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “projects,” “predicts,” “estimates,” “aims,” “believes,” “hopes,” “potential,” or similar words. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, are based on certain assumptions, and are subject to various known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company’s control, and cannot be predicted or quantified, and, consequently, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, risks and uncertainties associated with (i) difficulties in obtaining financing on commercially reasonable terms; (ii) changes in the size and nature of our competition; (iii) loss of one or more key executives or brand ambassadors; and (iv) changes in legal or regulatory requirements in the markets in which we operate. The Company assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise its forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise