Help with a letter to my employer re: donation for nursing pinning

thinwildmercury · Dec 6, 2009

Dear ________

I am writing to you today to ask for a generous favor. My nursing program is having trouble coming up with the funds necessary for our pinning ceremony. We have held several fundraisers this year to support our effort but are still finding ourselves short of funds.

I am asking that you consider giving a donation to our program. This would be met with much appreciation from all of the future RNs in my program.

sincerely,

_____

hm just off the top of my head, a little generic but i hope it helps you come up with something sincere and best of luck to you!

HealthShepherd · Dec 6, 2009

Confused... I've done three undergraduate degrees (including nursing) and have never heard of students having to fundraise in order to have a graduation ceremony... isn't it the university's responsibility to host it? Or is this "pinning ceremony" some kind of optional private party? What exactly do you need the money for?

coolatta19 · Dec 6, 2009

The fundraising offsets the cost of our nursing pins, our continental breakfast for over 60 students & 20 staff members, decorations for the ceremony, supplies, etc. From what I've been told, our community college does not

provide any funds to us for the ceremony and bf. We are on our own if we can any kind of ceremony & bf...we will graduate later on in the day with the rest of the college graduates...this ceremony, is provided by the college, of course.

MedSurgeMess · Dec 6, 2009

Most schools in my area, the students must pay for their own pins. Is there a problem with that at your school? I know a donation would be nice, but many companies, even if they appear thriving, may be cutting back costs, not able to donate...

coolatta19 · Dec 6, 2009

The center in which I work is not hurting financially;if it were, I would not be asking. I just thought asking my employer for a few bucks to support 2 of their hardworking nursing students, wouldn't be too much to ask for...especially since all that we have learned in the past 3years, we apply every single day at their practice and don't see a penny for it. I know many have reservations asking, but I don't. Just need some help putting a request together. I figure I can at least try..so help raise funds for our pinning ceremony, decorations and eats...the worst they can say is no...but at least I tried..

coolatta19 · Dec 6, 2009

Dear ________
I am writing to you today to ask for a generous favor. My nursing program is having trouble coming up with the funds necessary for our pinning ceremony. We have held several fundraisers this year to support our effort but are still finding ourselves short of funds.
I am asking that you consider giving a donation to our program. This would be met with much appreciation from all of the future RNs in my program.
sincerely,
_____
hm just off the top of my head, a little generic but i hope it helps you come up with something sincere and best of luck to you!

Thank you for the tip. It really helped! I put the letter together and my fellow nursing student & co-worker will sign and present to our employer. Thanks, again!

HealthShepherd · Dec 6, 2009

So it sounds like this is a more intimate graduation party for just the nursing faculty - make some speeches, eat some muffins, and put on some pins.

To be honest, I wouldn't ask for donations for this. You say that your employer is able and probably willing to support your program - but it's not like you're asking for something that really contributes to nursing education. If you were asking as part of a fundraising drive for new lab/computer equipment or new library acquisitions or even new scholarships, that would be one thing. But I don't think it would make a good impression on your boss if you ask for money for streamers and plastic cups for a school's-out party. I'm sure you're excited about being almost done, and you probably enjoy event planning or you wouldn't be involved in this, but I don't think it's reasonable to expect the rest of the community to care or contribute.

My suggestion would be: spend the money you've raised so far on one "fancy" detail like wine (just enough for everyone to make a toast, not an open bar). Let the students buy their own pins - you'll find that many don't care enough to do so (I certainly wouldn't have), so you'll be glad you didn't spend money on pins they don't really want. Instead of spending your valuable study time holding car washes and bake sales, let your planning committee spend some time baking and fruit-chopping to have an inexpensive snack table at the party. Skip the decorations, they're more work than they're worth.

(Feeling a bit cynical today, but I do hope that this helps in some way...)

ktwlpn, LPN · Dec 6, 2009

I say "do it yourself" Make breakfast casseroles,bread puddings and such. For decorations print out nursing caps-you can cut them out and fold them. They make great centerpieces with some greenery from the yard and a few flowers from the grocery store. Get plastic ware from a big box store or if you can just use the schools cafeteria and dishware. Something else that worked for my class was selling drinks and snacks within the department daily.We would get cases of soda and sell individual cans for a profit-ditto fresh fruit and coffee...You can make your pinning very meaningful without spending lots of money.

coolatta19 · Dec 6, 2009

We are paying for our own pins..just need some help with the pinning ceremony expenses. I do not mind asking my employer to donate, since every single time they are short staffed, every time they need an extra shift help, every time they need more & more, we are there to fill in the gaps with not a thank you. EVER. I take away from my studies to help my employer. They least they can do is donate a few dollars. I'm not asking to fund the entire ceremony! My nurse manager thought it was a great idea & gave me the thumbs up. So I'm going to take the chance..I wish others would do the same...might be surprised with the results.

And yes, we are going to do tons of baking for the ceremony & no wine, alcohol is not allowed. In my class of 30, we all adult students whom hold FT jobs & attend classes in the evening a few days a week. I'm quite surprised at the reaction to my request on the forum. All of Professors & fellow nursing co workers thought it was a great idea..especially since 2 of my classmates have had success with their employer re: a donation.

KatieNoelLPN · Dec 6, 2009

I don't get it still. Our college paid for our pinning ceremony. Decorations, food and all. I think its kinda inappropriate to ask you employee to donate for a party. And I wouldn't use the 'i did this for them and they did nothing for me' approach. They provided you with valuable work experience and a paycheck. I'm sure they didn't expect that you would use that against them at some point to fund a party. Your class should pool together money and your own resources ie. baking and have a small celebration.

NewNurseyGirl2009 · Dec 6, 2009

Yeah, our employers pitched in but they sponsered our nursing program in exchange for us working for them for 6 years. It was a scholarship type of deal. We paid for our own pins. I would NEVER ask for help from them for this though unless they offered. I think that you should be able to do it without the help of the employer. Seems odd that you would even ask them.