Circle, the company behind the popular USDC stablecoin, has unveiled the Circle Foundation, a new philanthropic initiative focused on advancing financial resilience and inclusion globally. Seeded by Circle’s Pledge 1% equity commitment, the foundation will support organizations that strengthen financial systems that people rely on daily.
The launch represents a significant step in Circle’s decade-long mission to raise global economic prosperity through the frictionless exchange of value. The foundation will initially focus on empowering small businesses across the United States before expanding its impact worldwide.
Introducing Circle Foundation, advancing financial resilience and inclusion for people and communities around the world.
— Circle (@circle) December 2, 2025
Seeded by Circle’s Pledge 1% equity commitment, the Foundation will support organizations that:
→ Strengthen financial systems for small businesses in the… pic.twitter.com/H3fJlSIAQD
Strengthening Financial Infrastructure for Small Businesses
The Circle Foundation’s first phase targets financial resilience for small businesses throughout the United States. This focus acknowledges the critical role these enterprises play in the economy – employing nearly half of all US private-sector workers and generating more than 40% of GDP.
Despite their economic importance, many small businesses struggle to access affordable financing, digital tools, and capital readiness resources necessary for growth. The foundation will address these challenges through strategic grantmaking to Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs).
These mission-driven lenders fill crucial gaps left by traditional financial institutions. The foundation will prioritize partnerships with technology-forward CDFIs that share best practices and data-driven insights across their networks, thus multiplying the impact of every grant dollar.
From Local Impact to Global Vision
While the foundation’s initial grants target US communities, its mission extends globally. Billions of people worldwide remain excluded from financial systems that enable prosperity. The Circle Foundation plans to collaborate with international organizations to modernize humanitarian financial infrastructure.
This global vision builds upon Circle’s established partnerships with multilateral institutions and NGOs. Through these collaborations, Circle has already demonstrated the transformative potential of digital financial tools in crisis situations.
In Ukraine, Circle worked with the UN Refugee Agency to deliver assistance via USDC to thousands of displaced people. In Venezuela, a partnership with humanitarian and fintech organizations helped route nearly $18 million to more than 60,000 healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Beyond Financial Support: Time, Expertise, and Independence
The Circle Foundation offers more than just monetary assistance. Through its participation in Pledge 1%, Circle has committed both financial resources and employee time toward social good. Every Circle employee receives up to 40 hours of paid volunteer time annually to contribute to nonprofits and community organizations of their choice.
The foundation also maintains structural independence for maximum impact. Established as a donor-advised fund housed with Fidelity, it operates under separate governance focused entirely on mission-aligned giving. Circle covers operational costs, ensuring that foundation dollars flow directly to initiatives where they can create the most significant impact.
Elisabeth Carpenter, founding Chair of Circle Foundation and Circle’s Chief Strategic Engagement Officer, explained the vision: ‘Since our founding in 2013, we’ve believed that digital assets and stablecoin technology can be a bridge to prosperity for everyone, everywhere. Circle Foundation brings that belief to fruition channeling our resources and expertise into building the infrastructure of economic inclusion.’
Building on a Legacy of Innovation for Impact
The Circle Foundation represents an evolution of Circle’s existing commitments to financial inclusion. The company has previously awarded USDC grants to developers and projects worldwide that leverage stablecoin technology to solve real-world problems.
Circle’s Developer Grants program has supported teams across Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, and Europe working on projects ranging from decentralized finance innovations to tools for merchants and tokenization of real-world assets. These initiatives demonstrate Circle’s belief that blockchain technology can make financial services more accessible to underserved communities.
The establishment of the Circle Foundation takes this commitment further by creating a dedicated vehicle for sustainable, long-term impact. Where Circle’s technology helps move value faster and farther, the foundation aims to ensure those benefits reach deeper through systems-level change that addresses root causes of financial exclusion.
For communities and small businesses often overlooked by traditional financial institutions, the Circle Foundation represents a promising new resource in the quest for economic resilience and opportunity. By combining philanthropic capital with technological expertise, Circle hopes to create lasting change in how financial systems serve everyone.
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