Plan a St. Joseph’s Event

Thank you for your interest in hosting a fundraiser on behalf of St. Joseph’s!  We welcome the support of businesses, schools, community organizations, and other groups or individuals who would like to host a fundraiser to benefit St. Joseph’s. 

These can be fun, easy, and great ways to make a difference for our patients.  Proceeds from your event can be directed towards the program or area of your choice, for example, to benefit St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital, St. Joseph’s Wayne Medical Center, the Cardiac Services Program, the John Victor Machuga Diabetes Center, or the Pediatric Feeding & Swallowing Center, just to name a few.

For more information on how to host a St. Joseph’s event, read the below information and complete the Event Proposal Form.

Event Notification & Approval

The first step is to complete the Event Proposal Form so that we know what your group has in mind and to prevent planning conflicts.  Please complete the form here.  If you need assistance, please contact:

Approval of Print Materials & Logo Use

Please note that anytime you use our name or logo, we need to know to ensure that all materials associated with our name are accurate and appropriate.  This applies to website postings, printed materials, promotional items, etc.  All materials should be forwarded to us for Public Relations approval prior to printing, distribution or posting.  Once materials are approved we will assist in the placement of our appropriate logo(s).

Resources

We have many resources that will help share our message with your group.  Please see the materials below to help you in your planning.  We also encourage you to explore our website for information about specific programs, projects, latest news and patient stories, all of which we encourage you to share with your group. 

Please note that while the St. Joseph’s staff may provide guidance to your event once it is approved, we are generally unable to provide administration or logistical assistance (such as distributing invitations, compiling, responses, selling tickets, serving on event committees, etc.).

General Guidelines

The first step is planning a fundraiser is the completion of the Event Proposal Form detailing the particulars of the event.  Our staff can assist you in this process, and will respond to your request within one week of receipt.

In accordance with the New Jersey Attorney General’s charitable giving guidelines, organizations and individuals which support St. Joseph’s University Medical Center through public events are asked to comply with the following:

• Clearance must be received from St. Joseph’s Health to conduct an event whose net proceeds go to the Foundation (St. Joseph’s University Medical Center Foundation or St. Joseph’s Wayne Foundation).  Please do not promote your event prior to approval from the Foundation.
• All net proceeds, or a percentage thereof, from the event designated to benefit the Foundation must go to St. Joseph’s.
• If you are holding a raffle with your event, please be aware that such activity requires a special license and extra time to organize.  It is the responsibility of the person or persons organizing the event to obtain the necessary license(s) and approval(s) required.
• It is the responsibility of the person or persons organizing the event to obtain all applicable permits, licenses, and all insurance certificates that may be required for an event.
• If you are planning to issue receipts for the charitable donation portion of your ticket price, this amount must be clearly identified and differentiated from the “fair market value” of the event.  Products or tangible items, such as the purchase of admission tickets, greens fees, and goods, are not eligible as tax-deductible charitable donations.  We can provide you with sample verbiage. 
• When a portion of the sale of commercial goods or services will benefit the Foundation, the commercial entity must file a Commercial Co-Venture Contract between St. Joseph’s Health and file it with the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office.  Our staff can assist you with this process.
• St. Joseph’s cannot assume any responsibility for event expenses and cannot assist with ticket sales or sponsorships, nor is St. Joseph’s responsible for conducting the event or guaranteeing attendance.  Also, St. Joseph’s is not responsible for providing individual gift acknowledgements except as required by law.
• In accordance with the Attorney General’s charitable guidelines, we ask that all proceeds from your fundraiser be forwarded to St. Joseph’s within ninety (90) days following the event.  Formal IRS receipt of the gift(s) will be provided. 

Steps to a Successful Fundraising Event

Choose something that interests you, and then create an event around it. Almost any interest or hobby can be turned into a fundraiser! The more you enjoy what you are working on, the better the event will be.

Assemble a planning committee. Whether this is friends, family, or co-workers, you will want to get together a group of  people you know that you can depend on. The more support you have, the more successful you will be.

Plan your budget and establish an achievable fundraising goal. This is especially important in an event’s first year. Whether you are planning to raise $500 or $20,000, you want to make sure that you have the plans in place to realistically reach your goal.

Schedule your event. Choose a date, location, and time to hold your fundraiser. Be sure not to schedule around any major holidays, and give yourself as much time as you will need to make the event a success.

Promote your event. Even if you do not have a large budget for this, there are many ways to publicize your event. Social Media outlets such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, posting flyers, listings on online bulletin boards and event calendars, email communications, church bulletins and community publications, and word-of-mouth are all great, free ways to promote your event.

Hold the event and have fun with it. Once all funds are collected, contact the hospital to coordinate next steps, particularly if you would like to do an official check presentation.

Thank your supporters. From your committee members to your sponsors, to your event attendees, make sure everyone knows how much you appreciate their support! Be sure to spread the word about how much you raised.