OUR MISSION

The mission of OGR’s charitable foundation is to fund, perform and/or support activities on behalf of the International Order of the Golden Rule (OGR). Its Board of Directors is responsible for identifying mortuary students and programs that advance the standards of funeral service and/or contribute to the compassionate care of individuals in need. The OGR Foundation, its board of directors and the whole of OGR thanks all of our donors for their generosity. Use the link below for a list of all of this year's donors.

Visit our Virtual Tribute Wall | Donate to the Foundation

AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE SCHOLARSHIPS

The OGR Foundation's Awards of Excellence Scholarship Program provides annual scholarships to mortuary students based on academic performance, funeral service experience and an essay describing the student’s commitment to serving families with compassion, fairness and dignity. The OGR Foundation will be awarding scholarships totaling $10,000 in 2025. 

The scholarship application is now closed. Information on the 2025 application cycle will be released at a later time. To apply, applicants must:

• Be currently enrolled in a mortuary science degree program.
• Be scheduled to graduate during the 2025 calendar year.
• Have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
• Be involved in the community and school activities.
• Demonstrate excellence in the pursuit of knowledge in mortuary science.
• Commit to working for an independently owned funeral home.
• Provide a 2023 transcript.
• The top five applicants will be interviewed by members of the Foundation Board to determine the first-place recipient. 

 Click here to meet this year's winners!

 
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 WAYS TO SUPPORT

All OGR charitable foundation activities are funded entirely by members and their allies. The OGR Foundation is a tax-exempt charitable organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Your contribution is tax deductible. A gift of any size helps enable us to provide more scholarships to deserving young men and women interested in the funeral service field.

You may make a one-time gift or a recurring gift to make an even greater impact now and in the future. Contributions may be made in honor of or in memory of an individual. Contributors may specify an address to which the Foundation will mail a card acknowledging the donation in a person’s name. These donations will also be published in the next issue of OGR’s The Independent magazine and recognized on our Virtual Tribute Wall during the calendar year in which the gift was made.

Planned Gifts

Planned gifts enable you to leave a legacy by aligning your estate plans with your desire to support the Order of the Golden Rule Foundation. We can provide you and your legal or financial advisor with information and language that can assist you in making a planned gift to the Foundation.

Plan a Fundraising Event

By hosting a third-party event to raise money for the OGR Foundation, you can provide your friends, family or community with the opportunity to support the Foundation by through a fun activity you plan that sets a fundraising goal. This is a great way to engage individuals who are passionate about our cause and help raise awareness about the OGR Foundation and your business’s philanthropic involvement.

Silent Auction Donation

One of our largest fundraising events for the Foundation is our Annual Silent Auction held in conjunction with our Annual Conference. Your donation of an item, desired service or experience will help us reach our fundraising goal for the auction. To donate an auction item, email [email protected]. 

Facebook Fundraiser

A quick and easy way to support the Foundation is by hosting a Facebook Fundraiser. Host it in honor of your birthday or any time of the year, then engage your network of friends and family to help you reach your fundraising goal. Your Facebook fundraiser not only raises funds for the OGR Foundation, but also helps raise much needed awareness around our cause. Creating a Facebook Fundraiser is simple! Get started here.

Questions

If you have questions or would like more information on you can support the OGR Foundation, please contact Wendy King, Executive Director/CEO, Order of the Golden Rule, at (800) 637-8030, ext. 140 or [email protected].

VISIT OUR VIRTUAL DONOR WALL

 
FOUNDATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The OGR charitable foundation's Board of Directors is responsible for approving all fund distributions and spearheading fundraising initiatives. The board is composed of OGR members who are in good standing, including the President-Elect of the OGR Board of Directors, who automatically joins the board as a voting member. The OGR Board President and Executive Director serve as non-voting ex officio members. Each term lasts one year, and there is no limit to the number of terms one can serve.

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