Chapter Fundraising Ideas

AORN members share ideas from successful fundraising campaigns that brought in needed finances to support chapter activities and education.

Golf Tournament

This year we are working with another local chapter for meetings and a fundraising event. Our usual big event is a golf tournament (Everyone plays golf in the Southwest!!!!). This year we are going to sell raffle tickets. Each chapter has purchased a mini vacation package. One is for four days/three nights or three days/two nights at a resort. The recipient gets to pick where they want to go. It can have a retail value from $600-$900. We are selling a set amount of tickets.
Our Charleston, SC Chapter has an annual golf tournament that is our biggest fundraiser and is quite successful!
In my chapter we have an annual golf tournament and we usually make a lot of money. We get our reps, hospitals, and surgeons involved. Also, we had a fashion show that was a success. Now we are selling angel pins and automobile tags with our logo. At the state level, we sell pins, scarves, and note pads with our council logo. Good luck. Armando Riera, RN, BSN, CNOR (Chapter 1004 South Florida)
AORN Shellcoast Chapter #1010 has a golf tournament and a Vendor's Fair. We sell Entertainment Books as well. Most of the coupons in the book are two for the price of one. The books cost $30, and we make $6 per book.
I have worked on the golf tournament for several years. I know nothing about golf and do what my fellow members that know tell me to do. It is profitable for us. The Vendor's Fair, which I have chaired for the past 3 years, is fun. I sent out an evaluation to the vendors last year to see how they felt. They love it and gave us a big 99% on all the questions. We have the event at a local, popular hotel. It is small; I can only have 30 vendors. The place makes it easy for every one to find. I could make it bigger and have it at another place, but I would rather have a successful event and a full house than have a larger event with vacant spaces. Ft. Myers is really a small town at heart. The vendors pay for their table. We pay all costs and provide snacks and soft drinks. We have a cash bar for those that want that. The vendors donate door prizes, and prizes are called through out the evening. Each person attending receives a free door prize ticket. We select a grand prize, and it is awarded at 9 pm. You do not have to be present to win this door prize, but you do have to have a signed off sheet which has been signed off by 25 vendors you have visited to be eligible to win the prize. We used to call numbers on the ticket but discovered it took the participant's attention from the vendor. Now we have them sign their ticket, tell them we have to be able to read their name, and call out names. This works much better. We also do a 50/50. $1 per ticket or an arm's length of tickets for $5. The 50/50 usually brings our Chapter $100. Carol Morris (Cape Coral, FL)

5K or 10K Run/Walk

The Northern VA Chapter of AORN has organized a 5K/10K Fun Run/Walk that brought in about $2000 last year. We also sold t shirts which brought in $1000. I have sent vendor letters to those that are willing to help us
and raised about $1500, and we also received a great donation from one of the surgery centers in the area. They are buying our t shirts for the run/walk. We will also host a nationally known speaker which will be a mini fundraiser. We plan to charge a nominal fee and market to all nurses. Maryanne Coughlin (Past President AORN of Northern VA)

Seminar

Our sales representatives assisted us in underwriting the expenses for our seminar as a fundraising activity for our chapter. They also had the opportunity to show their wares at the afternoon sessions along with their individual presentations in service. The participants, RNs, appreciated the afternoon sessions especially the hands on experience and the fact that they were able spend the afternoon in smaller groups, different locations, moving around, trialing the equipment, asking questions, etc. We work with these reps all of the time, and it was a good experience for all to have the chance to be outside the hospital setting in a more relaxed learning atmosphere. During another fundraiser we held, one of the reps that helped underwrite the year before was the recipient of our weekend getaway raffle. This was not fixed and not a setup!!! It was well deserved! Mary Lou
Our seminar brings in at least $1200. This seminar is held annually and is very reasonably priced for a 7-8 CH luncheon in a great location. We had rave reviews last year. Our seminar was held at the community college campus, and the luncheon was prepared by the restaurant program through the community college. Our speakers present in the morning as well as during a mini "show and tell" program in the afternoon. During the afternoon program, the group was divided into smaller groups. We felt that as a chapter with 109 members the seminar would be a success if we had 20 to 25 members in attendance. This year the membership is clamoring for another seminar in the same location with the same good food (food always brings 'em in). We will also be doing a fundraiser for a $500 gift certificate to one of the high end clothing stores in the area. We will have the drawing in November just in time for the Thanksgiving sales and Christmas shopping. We are starting out our year with more funds than in previous years so, as treasurer, I expect a good year. My goal this year is to have our chapter buy chapter memberships for some of our student nurses at our community college program who are interested in the OR. We have already invited them along with their instructors to one of our meetings this year. Mary Lou

Entertainment Books

We sell Entertainment Books, but I do not know if they are available in all areas. Most of the coupons in the book are two for the price of one. The books cost $30, and we make $6 per book. Carol Morris (Cape Coral, FL)

Pins

At our last Illinois Council meeting, it was determined that the funds raised from the Chicago pin sales would benefit the Illinois Chapters individually, the Illinois State Council, and the Foundation. A formula was presented for the division of funds that was accepted.

Miscellaneous

Ideas for fundraising will vary depending on the size of chapter and participation of members, but some ideas include golf/tennis tournaments,a fashion show in conjunction with an educational seminar, cookbooks, wrapping paper, and even a baby sitting service. This is just to name a few. Regina Mills (Former Membership State Coordinator, GA)
Everyone donates a bottle of imported beer, cheese, chips, or other item, and we sell chances on wine and cheese baskets and beer baskets. We do well in spite of being a small chapter.
For our fundraiser we work with a local florist who tries to get us the best price possible for flowers for Mother's Day. We start selling them in March and April for delivery (we do our best through the post office) by the Saturday before Mother's Day. We can (as long as the price remains the same with our florist) sell them for $35.00. You can safely add $5.00 to that price to make your fundraising profit. The flowers are a tropical mix. Usually anthiriums and orchids with a wide variety of ginger or bird of paradise as well as ti leaves. We have them boxed by the florist, cleared for mailing, and on the Tuesday before Mother's day send them out in the mail. We have found it easy to sell since almost everyone has a mother or close friend that falls into that category, and it is easy for them to just give the information and a check. Eileen Podell (Hawaii Chapter)
We have a small chapter, and we have tried selling candy bars. You know that most OR staff would eat cardboard if they were hungry!! Also, we have gone into the community to ask for funding for our chapter goals. I was surprised that we have had a favorable response especially since the shortage of nurses has been televised to the public. However, people do respect nurses, and they trust us. Maybe this could work for you. Good Luck!!!
AORN of New Orleans sold their 50th Anniversary cookbook - A Taste of New Orleans. It featured a picture of the charter members, great recipes, and wonderful pictures of New Orleans landmarks. In addition, it has pictures of the 1994 Congress Planning Committee and of all the Volunteers that helped make Congress 2000 a great success. Nathalie Walker

Contact AORN Member Services or the Chapter Relations Coordinator at 800-755-2676, Ext. 222 if you have a wonderful, successful, or new idea for a chapter fundraising activity.