Join an Existing Guild
To join an existing guild, please complete and submit our Guild Placement Form.
Learn more about joining a research guild.
Start a New Guild
To learn more about gathering a group of friends and starting a guild for Seattle Children's, please complete and submit our "Start a Guild" Packet Request Form.
Why Join or Start a Guild?
Watch this video to learn more about joining the Guild Association. The video is part of the “I Am Seattle Children’s” video series, which tells the stories of the providers, staff, supporters, patients, families and volunteers who make up the Seattle Children’s community.
Community
Members of the Mitzvah Mama Guild present The Big Spin, a family-friendly Hanukkah party with the Northwest’s largest spinning dreidel.
Whether you join an existing guild or start a new guild, you become a member of the Guild Association and are connected to a community of volunteers dedicated to improving the health of children. As a guild member, you will:
- Receive Guild Association publications and hear the latest news about Seattle Children’s, our guilds and their events and projects
- Be invited to Guild Association membership events
- Have the opportunity to network with other guild members and hear from physicians, scientists and hospital leadership
- Build friendships, make memories and have fun
Support
Every summer, members of the Imagine Guild present Children’s Ride, one of the largest charity motorcycle rides in the country.
Guild Association staff, trustees and committee members make it easy to start and maintain a guild by providing fundraising and compliance support, including:
- Event consulting and fundraising ideas
- Inspirational patient stories and hospital information to share with members and at events
- Training and tips to help you increase your membership and revenue and plan your events
- Advice from a full-time accountant on managing guild finances
- Certification as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, provision of a federal Taxpayer Identification Number and the filing of an IRS Form 990 tax return (when necessary) on your guild’s behalf
- Event liability insurance coverage, when applicable
- Basic event supplies, including banners, posters and credit card–processing machines
- A comprehensive resource guide and website with essential information, forms and tools
Flexibility
Members of the Ned and Kayla Skinner Guild hold an annual wine-tasting party.
Guilds are encouraged to plan at least one fundraising project each year. Beyond this recommendation, guild activity and individual member involvement is flexible.
- Project or event: A guild fundraising event can be as simple as a garage sale or as ambitious as a formal auction. Some guilds host a large signature event each year, and some host a few smaller events throughout the year. Other guilds choose ongoing projects such as selling crafts or jewelry.
- Money raised: Guilds are not required to raise a minimum dollar amount each year. A few guilds support the hospital with “heartwarming projects” by collecting or making items for patients and families instead of fundraising.
- Time commitment: The amount of time you commit is up to each individual member and your guild. Some guilds meet monthly; others meet more often leading up to a major event, then take a break after the post-event follow-up.
- Membership: The Guild Association suggests that each guild start with four founding members – president, vice president, secretary and treasurer. Beyond this recommendation, the number of members and governance structure can vary.