BECOME A MEMBER
Are you independently owned? Do you value the families you serve above all else? Then you are the perfect fit for our association. As a member of OGR, you will be connected to members who hold the same strong values and business ethics as you. Fewer than 5% of independently owned funeral homes can call themselves Golden Rule Funeral Homes and those that do are committed to adhere to a set of 11 ethical standards.
Why Join? Running a successful independent funeral home in today’s ever-changing world requires more than hard work and good business practices. You need the right contacts, a technical edge and sound business advice; all of which come with the privilege of being a Golden Rule Funeral Home. Now is the time to align with the most trusted brand in the funeral profession!
The International Order of the Golden Rule (OGR) represents independently owned funeral homes that are committed to providing ethical and compassionate care to the families they serve. OGR is focused on promoting professionalism, integrity, and high ethical standards in the funeral profession. We are the voice of the funeral profession! If you own a funeral home and value ethical and compassionate service, joining OGR can provide you with many benefits, including:
- Professional Development: OGR offers numerous opportunities for continuing education, professional development, and networking. As a member, you can attend conferences, workshops, and seminars, and gain access to valuable resources that can help you improve your skills and knowledge.
- Reputation: OGR is a respected organization in the funeral service industry, and being a member can help you build and maintain a positive reputation. By adhering to OGR's Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct and aligning with our brand, you demonstrate to families and colleagues that you are committed to providing ethical and compassionate service.
- Support: Joining OGR provides you with a community of like-minded professionals who share your values and goals. This can be a valuable source of support and encouragement as you navigate the challenges of the funeral service industry.
- Access to Resources: As a member of OGR, you can access a wide range of resources, including legal and regulatory updates, marketing materials, and industry research. These resources can help you stay up to date on industry trends and best practices and provide you with the tools you need to grow your business.
Here's just a few of the many resources and programs available to our members:
- OGR's free Family Contact Survey Program uses customer feedback to provide you with insight about your firm's services and operations by capturing what families value most.
- OGR partners with over 60 supply partners, giving you access to everything you need including caskets and urns, financing and investment services, business consulting, supplies, and more.
- Our brochures and Care Card Program are designed with OGR members in mind, offering them more ways to connect with the families they serve.
- Tap into the expertise of experienced funeral professionals with our Member Connections Network that includes in-person and virtual opportunities to exchange ideas and learn from each other.
- OGR's flagship quarterly magazine, The Independent, keeps you on track with funeral service trends, proven ideas from colleagues, and tips for improving your business.
- Hope After Heartache offers grief support for your families that you don’t have to run. Members can offer families access to our monthly virtual grief support group facilitated by OGR grief expert, Nancy Weil.
- Click HERE to learn more of what OGR has to offer that will help your funeral home thrive!
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Membership Categories
OGR membership is at the company level. Every funeral director who works for that company is then able to set up a profile to access benefits like continuing education, the member directory, digital copies of the Independent quarterly magazine and more.
Dues are set up on a tiered structure based on your operation's annual case volume. If you have multiple locations, all locations within a 100 mile radius will be grouped together under a single membership with all of their cases combined to determine your dues level.
- Main Firm: Funeral home operation based in the U.S. and/or Canada
- International Firm: Funeral home operation based outside the U.S. and Canada
- Retiree: An individual who was an employee of a current or former OGR member firm but is no longer actively participating in the funeral profession
- Educator: Educator, researcher and/or otherwise engaged in the academic field of study, but not the practice, of mortuary science
- Student: Currently enrolled in an accredited mortuary science school
- Supply Partner: Any individual or firm engaged in selling products or services to OGR members, or individuals who provide management and consulting services to independently owned and operated funeral homes
Questions? Contact the Membership Department at 1 (800) 637-8030, or email us at [email protected].
Main Firm Membership OGR dues are a tiered structure based on case counts. All funeral homes owned by the same funeral director within a 100-mile radius are included in the case count and will be considered to be member funeral homes.
CASE VOLUME |
ANNUAL DUES*+ |
Up to 100 |
$1,533 |
101-200 |
$1,926 |
201-400 |
$2,438 |
401-600 |
$3,224 |
601-900 |
$3,840 |
901+ |
$4,250 |
*All amounts in US dollars. +Dues payments are not tax deductible as a charitable contribution but may be deducted as a business expense.
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International Membership Funeral homes located outside of the United States and Canada are invited to join. After all, you make us international! Dues: $382
As an international member, your membership includes:
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Retiree Membership Any person who is a retired employee of a current or former member firm and is no longer actively participating in the funeral profession but would like to keep up with the times. Dues: $156
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Educator Membership Open to educators, researchers, and academics engaged in the study, but not the practice, of mortuary science. Dues: $52
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Student Membership As a student member, you are invited to participate in all member activities. Your annual membership fee of $35 includes:
- Subscription to the award-winning The Independent magazine and bi-weekly InSights eNewsletter
- Advanced notice and discounts on registration rates to OGR Educational Seminars and Annual Conference
- Access to OGR’s Young Professionals Facebook group, eNewsletter and events
- Access to member-only pages on OGR's website
- Opportunity to submit resume to OGR’s “Jobs Wanted” site
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Supply Partner Membership
Open to any individual or firm engaged in selling products or services to OGR members or individuals who provide management and consulting services to independently owned and operated funeral homes. There are three tiers of membership in OGR's Supply Partner Network:
- Annual Partners: one-time annual fee of $600
- Royalty Partners: base dues are $750 with royalties paid throughout the year as a portion of any business obtained through OGR members.
- Endorsed Suppliers: an exclusive tier with no more than one in any supplier category, dues and additional benefits are negotiated on a case-by-case basis
Supply Partners Dues: $600
- Your company is listed on the online Supplier Network page, including:
- your company’s name;
- a description you provide, up to 100 words;
- contact information; and
- a copy of your logo that links to your website.
- We will provide you with an updated membership list at least three times a year (October, January and April), including each member’s address and phone number.
- Discounted registration for OGR's Conference
- Using copy you provide, we will send up to 2 sponsored social posts on your behalf on the OGR social media platform of your choosing. You may include a link and up to one image for each post.
- 10% discount on website advertising opportunities on OGR.org
- 10% discount on advertising rates in OGR’s quarterly magazine, The Independent, and bi-weekly eNewsletter, InSights
- Line-item inclusion in the Fall Buyers Guide section of the fall issue of The Independent
- You may submit informative / Subject Matter Expert articles for inclusion in The Independent as space allows, free of charge
- Contact the Communications Department for submission guidelines and advertising rates
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Royalty Partners Dues: Base dues are $750 with royalties paid throughout the year as a portion of any business obtained through OGR members.
Royalty Partners receive all Annual Partner benefits, plus:
- Upgrade to a max of 4 sponsored social posts sent by OGR on your behalf.
- FREE quarter-page ad in Fall Buyers Guide section of the fall issue of The Independent. You may also upgrade to a larger size at a discounted rate.
- 15% discount on website advertising opportunities on OGR.org
- 15% discount on advertising rates in all other issues of The Independent, plus the bi-weekly Insights eNewsletter.
- Contact the Communications Department for submission guidelines and advertising rates.
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Endorsed Supply Partners Dues: Endorsed Supplier agreements are tailored individually.
This is an exclusive tier, with no more than one in any supplier category. Endorsed Suppliers receive all Royalty Partner benefits, plus:
- Your Supplier Network listing may be expanded to up to 200 words, and we will include a badge identifying you as an Endorsed Supplier.
- Using copy you provide, we will send 1 email to our full membership on your behalf.
- 20% discount on website advertising opportunities on OGR.org
- FREE full-page ad in every issue of The Independent.
- 20% discount on advertising rates in OGR’s bi-weekly InSights eNewsletter and advertising upgrades in The Independent.
- Guaranteed placement of an informative / Subject Matter Expert article in one issue of The Independent. You will be asked to identify which issue you want your article to run in when you pay for your Endorsed Supplier membership. Additional articles may be submitted as space allows.
- 1 complimentary registration for OGR’s Conference
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The International Order of the Golden Rule is registered as a 501(c)(6) organization with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service. As such, dues payments - regardless of membership category - are not tax deductible as a charitable contribution, but may be deducted as a business expense.
The Order of the Golden Rule Foundation is registered as a 501(c)(3) organization with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service. As such, donations to the foundation can be deducted as a charitable contribution.
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