| It takes so much more... |
| to build sustainable livelihoods |
| We are currently accepting donations for Haiti earthquake relief. Please specify if you would like your contribution to go to Haiti. |
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Gifts of financial support are what make it possible for us to provide behind-the-scenes training, product development, and small grants to our partners, extending their earning potential into the future. In a world where almost 3 billion people survive on $2 or less a day, our goal is to reduce poverty and generate income for artisans and small farmers in a number of ways.
Plant a Seed for change in the life of an artisan or farmer. Your donation to any Plant a Seed Project has a real impact on real people. Through product design, training, equipment grants, technical assistance, and market access, you enrich artisans, farmers, and their families.
Learn more about Plant a Seed Projects |
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1Training |
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To earn a sustainable living from their products, our partners need to know more than simply how to create them. They also need to know how to produce, market, package, export, and ship their products to customers in the U.S. That's why training is such an important element of our partnerships with artisans and farmers. One example of this is an extensive basket making training held in both Ghana and Uganda. SERRV sponsored a 5-day training in Ghana to work with 30 master basket makers to improve their skills in weaving and dyeing. In Uganda, we trained more than 200 basket makers working with SERRV’s partner NAWOU. The training helped both groups improve the quality and consistency of their baskets.
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2 Design |
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If you were an artisan living in a developing region who has never been outside of your home country, you would find it difficult to know what kinds of products will sell best to American customers. In our product development visits, we help artisans adapt traditional techniques to products that align with current U.S. trends to help increase their sales. We also are able to introduce them to new techniques that can help save them time and add value to their products. A recent SERRV product development visit to Thailand, China, and Cambodia was ripe with opportunities to discuss new design ideas and production techniques. Artisans were delighted to see how easy silk screening is, and that they could learn to do it themselves, rather than sending the work out to be done elsewhere at a high cost. Artisans also learned that they could cut multiple fabric shapes with a die cut machine. Making changes like these means artisans gain new skills and add value to their products.
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3 Grants |
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Sometimes what is needed most by an artisan or farmer group is a little seed money. It might be for new looms, or the construction of a needed workshop, or sometimes the need to rebuild and replace after a major disaster. For the first 6 years that SERRV has been working with the Nyabigena Soapstone Carvers, they have traveled an hour each way to read and respond to email messages. Electricity is finally coming to their community, and in order for them to do business more efficiently, SERRV provided a grant to fund the purchase of computers, a printer, a year of wireless service, and the fee to get electricity to their building. The group is enthusiastic about the change this will bring to their community.
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Your charitable gift helps us reach more artisans and farmers with this important assistance. Please consider a contribution today!
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Donate by clicking the button to the left. Or consider including a tax-deductible contribution with your order by calling 1-800-422-5915. |
Alternatively, you can mail a donation to:
SERRV International
ATTN: Kellie Jones
PO Box 365
500 Main Street
New Windsor, MD 21776-0365
SERRV was established in 1949 and incorporated in Maryland on July 14, 1998. SERRV International has a 501(c)(3) classification from the Internal Revenue Service and donations are tax-deductible. You may send a written request for our annual report to: Director of Finance, SERRV International, P.O. Box 365, New Windsor, MD. 21776. Or, in the alternative, residents of the following states may request information from the offices indicated: Registration with any state does not imply endorsement by that state. A copy of the latest financial statement and/or registration statement for SERRV International may be obtained by contacting us at P.O. Box 365, New Windsor, Maryland 21776, 1-410-635-8755, or by contacting the state agencies as noted below. SERRV International is in compliance with all state registrations required.
Arizona: Financial information filed with the Secretary of State is available for public inspection or by calling toll-free (800) 458-5842.
California: A copy of the Official Financial Statement may be obtained from the Attorney General’s Registry of Charitable Trusts, California Department of Justice, P.O. Box 903447, Sacramento CA 94203-4470.
Florida: A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION FOR SERRV INTERNATIONAL MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE FLORIDA DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE, WITHIN THE STATE OF FLORIDA, 1-800-435-7352. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE.
Kansas: The annual financial report for SERRV International for the preceding fiscal year is on file with the Kansas Secretary of State.
Maryland: For the cost of copies and postage, you may obtain a copy of SERRV International’s registration statement from: Maryland Secretary of State, State House, Annapolis, MD 21401.
Mississippi: SERRV International’s official registration and financial information may be obtained from the Mississippi Secretary of State’s office by calling (888) 236-6167. Registration by the Mississippi Secretary of State does not imply endorsement.
Missouri: SERRV International estimates that the percentage of its funds solicited which were spent on the costs of fundraising during the past 12 months is 14%.
New Jersey: INFORMATION FILED WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL CONCERNING THIS CHARITABLE SOLICITATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY BY CALLING 973-504-6215. REGISTRATION WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT.
New York: A copy of the latest financial report and registration for SERRV International may be obtained by writing: Office of the New York Attorney General, Department of Law, Charities Bureau, 120 Broadway, New York, NY 10271.
North Carolina: Financial information about this organization and a copy of its license are available from the North Carolina Solicitation Licensing Branch at 919-807-2214. The license is not an endorsement by the State.
Pennsylvania: The official registration and financial information of SERRV International may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State, Charities Bureau, by calling toll-free, within Pennsylvania, 1-800-732-0999. Registration does not imply endorsement.
Virginia: A copy of the latest financial report and registration filed in Virginia may be obtained from the Division of Consumer Affairs, Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, P.O. Box 1163, Richmond, VA 23218.
Washington: A copy of the most recent registration filed with the State of Washington may be obtained by contacting: Charities Division, Office of the Secretary of State, State of Washington, Olympia, WA 98504-0422; 1-800-332-4483.
West Virginia: West Virginia residents may obtain a summary of SERRV International’s registration and financial statements from: West Virginia Secretary of State, State Capitol, Charleston, WV 25305.
Wisconsin: A financial statement disclosing the assets, liabilities, fund balances, revenue, and expenses for SERRV International’s last fiscal year will be provided upon request to SERRV International.
Registration with any state does not imply endorsement by that state.