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Transparency is critical to any successful member association and, in the spirit of transparency AORN is dedicated to communicating key financial figures. But the true value of transparency is that it promotes dialogue between the association and its supporters.

At the 2008 Congress, AORN's treasurer Nathalie Walker, RN, BS, MBA, CNOR, presented to the House of Delegates key financial figures on AORN, Inc., AORN Works (formerly known as AORN Management Solutions) and AORN Foundation (Foundation) from the 2007 financial report.  In her report she noted in the Foundation received $657,455 in funding in 2007 from industry and members. 

Walker also shared that the Foundation awarded/incurred $752,930 in expenses in 2007 for the following areas:

• $188,911 (25%) to support AORN programs
• $167,606 in awarding education grants for members to attend Congress, Leadership and other AORN education activities
• $110,180 (15%) in awarding scholarships to assist members in obtaining a nursing diploma, a bachelor's degree in nursing, a related masters degree or a doctorate
• $281,538 in operations (37%)
• $4,695 in other

Following this presentation, several members expressed concerns regarding 37% of total expenses (awarding programs and administration) going to operations.

Operations in 2007 primarily accounted for 2 ½ staff members, staff travel to secure funding, printing of fundraising material and contract labor/consulting to assist in fundraising activities.  In fact, for 2007, the $281,538 incurred in operations was the lowest the figure has been in many years. In 2006 these same costs were $371,000 and in 2005 these operations cost reached $646,000.


The costs associated with operations expenses for the Foundation have declined in the past two years.

When we look at these numbers, we see that the issue is not that operations has accounted for a significant percentage of expenses. The issue is that funding received from industry and members to support the Foundation's main programs, including scholarships, education grants, research and AORN programs has dropped significantly, which makes the percentage of costs for operations a high figure. 


Since 2005, AORN Foundation funding from industry and members has decreased significantly.

The Foundation board of trustees has realized that the Foundation must change its strategy for raising funds in order to solve this problem. If not, the Foundation will be forced to lower its operating expenses by reducing staff members and other fundraising resources. Reducing administration will have a direct impact on raising funds. This means nurses will not receive the funds they need to obtain their degrees and education requirements, and AORN will not be able to support nursing initiatives like National Time Out Day and resources like the Fire Safety Tool Kit, which are funded by Foundation donors.
 
As part of its new strategy to increase Foundation funds, the "Join OuR Heroes" endowment campaign has been created. Announced at the 2008 Congress, this endowment campaign has a five-year goal of raising $10 million, which will be placed in a permanent investment fund. Earnings generated from the investments will support the Foundation programs that support scholarships, education grants, research and patient safety.

As this endowment continues to grow, more funds will be awarded to various programs and the ratio of operations expenses to total expenses will be reduced to a more acceptable level.

AORN Foundation thanks you for the e-mails, letters and face-to-face discussions with our members regarding the Foundation. The Foundation Board of Trustees, the AORN, Inc., board of directors and the Foundation staff welcome this dialogue and will continue to do what is right to ensure the Foundation is meeting the needs of AORN's mission.

Learn more about the AORN Foundation.

Read more news in AORN Connections.