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How Givelify’s CEO Walle Mafolasire Changed the Way We Give to Churches and Nonprofits
- Maina Mwaura CrosswalkHeadlines Contributor
- Updated Dec 04, 2024
As the nation enters into the season of giving, Walle Mafolasire, CEO of the giving platform that thousands of churches use, never imagined in 2013 when the platform began that the platform would serve thousands of churches and nonprofits across the country to receive financial gifts. Walle clearly states that the foundation of Givelify is the local church, where the organization started serving its community. "I can remember going to the pastor and asking him to pass along the platform to his friends," and from there, Givelify has become the giving platform for thousands of churches across America.
In a sit-down interview with Crosswalk, Walle walks down memory lane on the organization's humble beginnings.
Crosswalk Headlines: How did Givelify get started?
Walle Mafolasire: I think many of us might have been in situations where we find ourselves inspired to want to give but don't have the cash on hand to do so during the moment. I started thinking if the phone is good enough to read the Bible, then it should be good enough to give through. I found myself on Sundays at my church wanting to give, so I came up with the idea of what it would look like if people like me could give directly from their phones.
CWH: After having that thought during a church service, what happened next?
WM: the team that helped me start Givelify started thinking and working on what that would be like. Fast forward ten years later, and thankfully, and apparently, there were a lot of people like me, 1.5 million of them who are on Givelify right now. Through their generosity and kindness, we have raised six billion dollars to expand the kingdom for churches and nonprofits all over the United States. We only exist in our success because of the people who take generosity very seriously.
CWH: When did you know that God had allowed you to create something special?
WM: I can't think of that moment, to be honest with you. I think for me, I was just trying to solve that problem for myself. When I started saying, look, I'm going to build this, in my heart, I might be the only one using this, but that was okay too because at least I could say that I solved the problem for myself.
CWH: What was it like when you started building the software?
WM: I remember going to my pastor about it. First, I told him that I had built something to solve the problem of giving; he saw tremendous success and started introducing me to his pastor friends, one friend at a time. We just started growing from there. I did not want to disappoint him; I just felt like I had the duty to make him proud of what I was doing.
CWH: Before you wrote the first code, what did you do first?
WM: I wanted to know how giving happens inside of churches, so I decided to visit 150 churches to see what the need was.
CWH: What did you find out by visiting the churches?
WM: I found out that churches, don't necessarily give time for people to give, so I decided that whatever we developed had to be simple and easy.
CWH: How did you keep going when you wanted to quit? You even sold your car to make Givelify become a reality?
WM: There are only three things I could do with this obstacle. I could either jump on top of it, go under it, or take the obstacle out of the way and keep moving, but what I will not do is let the obstacle get in my way.
WATCH: Wale Mafolasire, Givelify CEO, Appreciates Pastors for their Selflessness and Inspiring Leadership
Photo Credit: ©YouTube/Givelify
