The Orlando Central Florida Chapter of STC implemented several new initiatives in 2014 to generate revenue, earning them a Pacesetter Award. They raised $233 partnering with a local restaurant that donated a percentage of event tabs. A memorial scholarship was transferred to a university foundation, making it self-sustaining. The chapter also earned $378 from United Way payroll contributions and $20 from an event at a salad restaurant. Revenue was also generated through an Amazon affiliate program and has previously been earned through merchandise sales. The chapter plans to revive sponsorships and fundraisers to support educational outreach programs.

1. Innovative Fund-Raising
Orlando Central Florida Chapter Initiatives to Generate Revenue.
2014 Pacesetter Award.

2. The “CPK Connection”
 A community-minded local California Pizza Kitchen gives us a 20% rebate on our tab when
we hold events such as this mentoring kick-off meeting and our monthly Administrative
Council meeting there. We raised $233 in the second half of 2014 via our “CPK Connection.”

3. A Self-Perpetuating Memorial Scholarship
 We eliminated a $1,000 annual budget line by transferring the Melissa Pellegrin Memorial
Scholarship Fund to the University of Central Florida Foundation. Now self-perpetuating,
the endowment spins off ~$1,000 a year, making our annual scholarships self-sustaining.

4. STC is Eligible for United Way Contributions
 As a 503(c)(3) non-profit, STC is eligible for United Way payroll contributions
in some companies. The OCF STC Chapter realized $378 in revenue in 2014
from a number of its members who designated STC for all or part of their
payroll United Way contributions.

5. Sweet Tomatoes … Salad with a “Rebate”
 A one-time “fun-raiser” at one of Orlando’s popular Sweet Tomatoes
restaurants in 2014 netted OCF more than lettuce … $20 in “found” revenue.

6. An Amazing Click-Thru Pays Off …
 In 2014, the Amazon click-thru on our chapter’s website yielded us $195 in
rebates, plus a $20 carryover into 2015.

7. CafePress: Merchandising our Logo …
 We did not include this initiative in our 2014 Pacesetter application because we
did not pursue this revenue builder last year, but we’ve been successful with it
in the past; and we will be reviving it as we enter the 2015-2016 chapter year.
Balancing the budget is a challenging imperative communities must meet.

8. Rising Stars … Seeking Sponsorships
 Over the past 12 years, we have raised thousands of dollars from company and
individual sponsors in our Rising Stars educational outreach program. Most went into
our now-mature Pellegrin Scholarship Fund, the rest into our successful high school
writing competition, which, regrettably, ended in 2013 due to dwindling participation.
 We did not pursue Rising Stars fund-raising in 2014, but we plan to revive it in the 2015-
2016 chapter year to support chapter educational initiatives in general, not just the
scholarship fund. It will also support a new initiative leveraging the principles of
technical communication to help teach writing at the high school level.