Our 38-year-old foundation is ready to implement a program that has never been done before. We are a hybrid charity that raises money for schools and nonprofits using our multipurpose, revenue-generating, and legacy-preserving storytelling tool. Most charities solicit donations but do little for their sponsors/members. We are different because we offer an optional storytelling tool, have only one level of giving and two separate components, and do not produce, sell, or send out products. Instead, we offer our individual members multiple opportunities to benefit themselves, their families, and the organizations they support by making charitable gifts. We also enable local businesses and professional service providers to turn part of their marketing strategies into charitable gifts. We are easily scalable for a nationwide rollout. We seek an investor/partner who will later own the program for a predetermined cost to help our marketing and rebuild our website, which is sufficient for the early stages of a pilot but not for a national rollout.
All community members, schools, and nonprofits receive a free lifetime membership in Americans All (AA), enabling them to publish two 2,000-word stories in English and as many as they desire in foreign languages on our Heritage Honor Roll (HHR). They can post an unfinished story to our website by filling in an honoree or group name*, date of birth* or formation* (and passing* or disbandment,* if appropriate) and a summary not to exceed 60 words in our summary template field* and type “To come” in the story template field.* Stories can be finished later and enhanced with images, logos, hyperlinks, photos, and audio-visual media.
Ancestors of all Americans came here from diverse locations (either voluntarily or by force, so we all have immigrant roots. These experiences can be shared through stories acknowledging that heritage and culture are rich aspects of personal and group identity. Importantly, our polarized nation needs a vehicle to help reinforce and appreciate the commonalities that unite, rather than divide, the American people, thus promoting understanding, tolerance, and acceptance.
AA members receive a three-month free trial in our Social Legacy Network (SLN), which enables them to receive discounts on goods and services from our business and professional service providers. K-12 students are free until their class graduates. After the trial is over, we use a business model based on CVS’s “CarePass” program, whereby their members pay $4 monthly without a trial period to receive a $10 reward that can pay for many in-store or online items that month. We use the same 4/monthly fee, but to improve their model, we offer a trial period and a much larger base of businesses and professional service providers to get unlimited monthly discounts.
Business partners pay a $49 membership fee every six months to create a landing page, which can be updated daily with information on themselves and their goods and services to help expand traffic. After the two trial periods end, we will donate 77 percent of our gross revenue from SLN subscription fees and business Legacy Partner membership fees to a nonprofit they have selected. Also, the nonprofit and our foundation each receive three percent of our gross revenue.
Extensive research confirms that life stories are central to people’s sense of self and social world. It also asserts that intergenerational knowledge of one’s family history is associated with a positive sense of belonging. Businesses benefit because stories directly impact emotions and frequently determine buying decisions. Good storytelling builds trust and connections.