Mark Finser, Tracy Gary, Ted Lord, Barbara Cushing,

Nipun Mehta

Gold Lake, June 29, 2006

The Question

“How can we increase the number of philanthropic transactions of generosity, by decreasing the barrier to entry?”

Possibilities

• Leverage the Internet to dis-intermediate bottlenecks

• Tell personal stories to amplify the subtle voice of service inside each heart

• Spread memes rapidly using organic trust-networks and word of “mouse”

Birth of an Idea

Create a repository of compelling, personal, transformational service stories in a way that it catalyzes many-to-many networks of philanthropic action.

One Story at a Time

                                                                                               

                    

“There have been great societies that did not use the wheel, but there have been no societies that did

not tell stories.” --Ursual K. LeGuin

After reading a story

• Give “diggs” to stories you like• Pass it on to a friend• Make an anonymous, monetary

contribution• Signup to volunteer your time• Donate other resources like airline miles,

assets, etc.• Connect to other relevant networks

The First Steps

                                                                                               

                    

“You have to understand, my dears, that the shortest distance between truth and a human being is a story.” --Anthony De

Mello

4 First Steps

1. Create a vision statement & nomination form and aggregate example stories.

2. Identify inspired leaders & conscious journalists and write the stories.

3. Setup the online infrastructure with the required functionality.

4. Launch 11 profiles on Sep 11th of 2006.

Key Players

• Angels: volunteers who will anonymously scout for inspired leaders. (Initiation: “smile” acts)

• Five “founders”: will select first 11 (eventually will shift to many-to-many selection).

• Journalists: inspired writers (initially paid, ultimately given pay-it-forward awards).

• CharityFocus: ownership of the project.• Sneezers: organizations and individuals who

will help spread inspiration virus.

Viral Marketing

Spreading the Word

• Individual Blogs• Organization Newsletters/Websites• Inspired Leader Networks• Google Adwords• Press stories around Sep 11th launch• Free syndication to all media for

reprinting

How Can You Help

• Sharing ideas on making this even better• Finding “angels” to bring in nominations• Connecting us to networks of socially-

conscious journalists• Finding partner organizations or media

outlets who would be willing to help• Telling a friend about the project

Let’s Do It!

                                                                                               

                    

“The destiny of the world is determined less by the battles

that are lost and won than by the stories it loves and believes

in.” --Harold Goddard