Remember the last time you felt really

compelled to give to a need?

Chances are there was some reason

you felt a connection to it. Either you

knew someone personally involved or

there was a story that you identified

with. You needed to make a difference.

Real people. Real needs. Real change.

This storybelongs to:

Real people. Real needs. Real change.

Statistics have a place but Selma’s

Story is not one of them.

When 10,000 are dying of a disease,

our response may be sadness or

empathy, but it is usually not action.

But when you can know the name

of one, whether a stranger, your

neighbor, a friend, or family, most

are willing to take great action.

Every story shown on our site is a

real person, with real needs and real

stories to be heard. You now know

their name. What will you do?

Only have $1? For some of our stories, that may be all that is needed to fulfill the need.

For all the others, it may be a great start. We believe that every person should be able to

give, but many organizations require minimums, or it seems like a $5 donation just won’t

do a lot. We know different. Only have $1, $4, $10, $20? All make a very real difference.

Sure, we love the $100 donation. But in exactly the same way we love the $1. And they

are all tax-deductible.

Little giftsgo along way

I havemuch

to offer

Every person has a need. For some, it’s something we can write a story about and

a small amount of money will help. But for the rest of us, we NEED to be givers, to

step into a bigger story and really make a difference in the life of another person.

The gift of giving changes our lives. It is liberating. It brings us joy.

I havemuch

to offer

We met Anna at a womens’ shelter in Mexico.

Anna had been severely beaten and left

with a broken jaw. Thanks to the shelter, she

was receiving food and shelter in a safe and

supportive environment. But the shelter did not

have funds to have Anna’s jaw fixed. Without

treatment, Anna will live in constant pain and

will likely have trouble with eating and speaking.

With treatment, she’ll have a chance to recover

her life. Before Anna, there was Selma. A story

about hundreds who changed a little girl’s life.

Read more at www.SelmasStory.org.

Each of our Field Partners are providing worthwhile services in their communities, but

they often encounter needs that are beyond the scope of their services. These are the

needs that make it to Selma’s Story. Without our help, they’ll go unmet.

We’re bringing unmet needs into the daylight

While funds arebeing collected

$365 left...

We have received$25 of the

amount needed...$475 left. $361 left...

Even a $4 giftgoes a

long way!

This story hasbeen completed!

Sarah hascompleted her

certification

Your commentsare welcome.

Encourage all of yourfriends. It only takes a

little from all of us.

Sarah has been enrolled in her classes.

She will receive certificationwithin six weeks.

Once all fundsare collected

Congratulations toall that contributed.

This story hasbeen fulfilled.

100% of the giftswill be disbursed

to the Field Partner.

Congratulations toSarah! Thanks toall who donated.

When funds have beendispersed to the Field Partner

When Story hasbeen completed

The Field Partnerwill begin working

with Sarah.

Our Field Partnerhas received

the funds.

Selma’s Story is about writing new endings to life-impairing stories. We are committed

to keeping you posted on your story so you can be confident your gift actually made a

difference in the life of the recipient.

You’ll hear from Selma’s Story as soon as all the funds have been collected to meet the

need. We will inform you soon after the money arrives at the organization and again after

the need has been fulfilled.

Selma’s Story will keep you updated with pictures and messages when appropriate.

You will have the opportunity to engage with others that have given to the same stories.

You will be able to see the real difference you made in the story well after you’ve given.

You’re part of the story long after you give

While funds arebeing collected

$365 left...

We have received$25 of the

amount needed...$475 left. $361 left...

Even a $4 giftgoes a

long way!

This story hasbeen completed!

Sarah hascompleted her

certification

Your commentsare welcome.

Encourage all of yourfriends. It only takes a

little from all of us.

Sarah has been enrolled in her classes.

She will receive certificationwithin six weeks.

Once all fundsare collected

Congratulations toall that contributed.

This story hasbeen fulfilled.

100% of the giftswill be disbursed

to the Field Partner.

Congratulations toSarah! Thanks toall who donated.

When funds have beendispersed to the Field Partner

When Story hasbeen completed

The Field Partnerwill begin working

with Sarah.

Our Field Partnerhas received

the funds.

Give 100%Not a single cent of your donation

is used for anything other than what

you’ve donated to. If you give $10 to

Anna’s story, the $10 is what we will

send. Period.

We raise separate support to pay

for operating expenses, that means

100% of your gift goes completely to

the person who needs it.

Visit www.Store.SelmasStory.org where you can buy cool Selma’s Story gear. Also consider using GoodSearch.com. Selma’s Story receives money everytime you do an online search.

Our operating expenses will be subsidized by earnings from both sites. Tell all your friends and get started today!

We’re changing the waypeople give

Selma’s StoryField Partner

Identify needs

Aggregate and disburse for need

Report results and accountability

Publicize needs

DonorSelma’s Story

Aggregate and disburse for need

Publicize needs

Donate to need

Publish results and feedback

Selma’s Story is not creating a new network, but we are reaching the world in a whole

new way. By partnering with qualified and approved organizations (Field Partners) who

are already doing great work throughout the world, your impact can be felt near and far.

As we add Partners, we expand the difference you can make in the world.

Our network also gives you choice. Choose a story in an area of the world that is

important to you. Or choose a story associated with an orphanage or a particular kind of

organization. Most importantly, choose to make a difference in a story that moves you.

Confidence in givingIn case you are worried about where your money will go, we wanted to be really, really clear (it’s important to us too).

Field Partners complete a qualification process that includes a review of their organizational documents and financial records, and they agree to follow all Selma’s Story procedures and documentation requirements.

We are a 501(c)(3)organization.

Each Field Partner is visited on-site prior to approval, and we conduct an on-site audit at least every 24 months after their first story is posted.

Your money never goes to the person, always to the Field Partner who ensures the need is met by paying for all expenses and keeping records.

We make available to all who ask copies of our tax returns and financial records.

The State of Philanthropy

The small donations of the masses make the difference. You hear more about the large donations of individuals, but the majority of all dollars contributed to charitable causes is provided in small donations by everyday people.

Most of us can give more. For whatever the reason, many households don’t give at all, and most others give away just a tiny percent of their resources.

Too little of our giving goes to meet basic human needs. In spite of massive need, less than one-third of total charitable giving is directed to the poor, and just 8% of all charitable giving goes to meeting basic human needs.

Income: <$200,000

Income: $200k to $1m

Religious Combined Basic needs Health Education Arts Other

Income: $1m +

$1,491per year

$347per year

$387per year

$190per year

$258per year

$176per year

$271per year

25% 25%27% 19% 13% 7%

44%

$12,105per year

$7,087per year

$3,076per year

$2,805per year

$15,327per year

$8,166per year

$5,632per year

62% 57%75% 74% 87%

72%75%

$44,332per year

$17,072per year

60% 55%

$12,673per year

76%

$92,289per year

70%

$78,138per year

83%

$50,945per year

77%

$61,060per year

71%

Source: The Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University, 2007.

20%

100%

16%

77%

10%

1%

59%

How it adds up.The largest category of givingfor the wealthiest Americansis to schools and universities. Only 20% of giving to religiousorganizations translates intobenevolences focused onthe poor.

40% of all donations gotoward benevolencesfocused on the poor.

Income: <$200,000

Income: $200k to $1m

Religious Combined Basic needs Health Education Arts Other

Income: $1m +

$1,491per year

$347per year

$387per year

$190per year

$258per year

$176per year

$271per year

25% 25%27% 19% 13% 7%

44%

$12,105per year

$7,087per year

$3,076per year

$2,805per year

$15,327per year

$8,166per year

$5,632per year

62% 57%75% 74% 87%

72%75%

$44,332per year

$17,072per year

60% 55%

$12,673per year

76%

$92,289per year

70%

$78,138per year

83%

$50,945per year

77%

$61,060per year

71%

Source: The Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University, 2007.

20%

100%

16%

77%

10%

1%

59%

How it adds up.The largest category of givingfor the wealthiest Americansis to schools and universities. Only 20% of giving to religiousorganizations translates intobenevolences focused onthe poor.

40% of all donations gotoward benevolencesfocused on the poor.

www.SelmasStory.org