TMJ Diseases & Disorders - Treatments - Pain
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Contribute - How We Put Your Contributions to Use
Regular visitors to our web site know that The TMJ Association (TMJA) asks for financial contributions to fund our activities and services. We would like to let you know how much we typically raise each year and how the money is used.
In 2007, The TMJ Association raised approximately $123,000 - almost all in small sums by individuals. The TMJ Association received a grant from the National Institutes of Health for $51,000 which was used to help offset half of the expenses associated with our Fifth Scientific meeting in June 2008. Day-to-day operating expenses total more than $85,000 per year. Expenses include office rent, telephone, mail, office equipment expenses, liability insurance, a year-end financial audit, web site maintenance, and salary for our one part-time employee. The TMJ Association relies heavily upon its volunteers who provide bookkeeping, fundraising, technical and scientific support, and assistance with writing, editing, and communication.
Due in part related to the complexities of TMJ diseases and disorders, The Association has generally been unsuccessful in obtaining financial support from corporate sponsors and foundations. There are currently no pharmaceutical studies being conducted on TMJ diseases and disorders. Because of the lack of scientific research underlying any TMJ treatments, The TMJA will not endorse any TMJ products, services, or devices. As a result of these circumstances, raising corporate and foundation dollars has been extremely challenging. There is still no standard of care and effective treatment for TMJ diseases and disorders in the medical profession. This is why we desperately count on contributions from individuals like you!
WE NEED YOUR HELP! Your contributions, regardless of size, will have a direct, immediate, and positive effect on our efforts to change the face of TMJ. Please consider helping with a donation today!
OUR GOALS AND SPECIAL PROJECTS FOR 2007-2009:- TMJ Brochures
- Purpose: Educational material that is distributed to better inform TMJ patients and other interested parties about temporomandibular joint and muscle disorders (TMJDs). We need to develop new brochures and update existing ones.
- Costs: Approx. $5,000 to develop each new brochure.
- TMJ Newsletters: The TMJ Communique
- Purpose: Educational material that provides up-to-date information, support, and comfort to TMJ patients.
- Costs: Approx. $5,000 per issue to produce and mail out. This does not include staff and volunteer time.
- TMJ Patient Support
- Purpose: We would like to expand our current patient support network by adding a patient forum to our web site.
- Costs: Range from $5,000-$10,000.
- TMJ Patient Survey
- Purpose: Conduct regular patient surveys relating to TMJ patients' experiences and perspectives.
- Costs: $5,000+ per year.
- TMJ Public Awareness Campaign "The TMJ Association - Giving TMJ Patients a Voice"
- Purpose: Educate the public about the complexities and severity of TMJDs.
- Costs: Range from $2,500 for a 100-word article circulated nationwide for a year to $200,000+ full PR/marketing campaign.
- TMJ Research
- Purpose: Offer our own research grant that will provide funding to a scientist or young investigator interested in expanding the knowledge base of TMJDs.
- Costs: Range from $15,000-$30,000.
- TMJ Science Journal
- Purpose: Scientific journal, with monographs accessible to laypeople and general readers, which relays the results of our scientific meetings to the public, including health professionals, government agencies, scientists, educational institutions, and TMJ patients and their loved ones.
- Costs: $10,000-$15,000 per journal (includes publication and dissemination costs)
- TMJ Science Meetings
- Purpose: Increase knowledge and understanding of TMJDs among research scientists, including but not limited to credible treatment options, current research findings, emerging research and suggestions for future research, and feedback and findings from TMJ patient surveys. Encourage young and emerging scientists to pursue research in the TMJ field and recognize contributions by pioneering researchers.
- Costs: Approx. $60,000-$100,000 per meeting.
- TMJ Web Site Redesign
- Purpose: Update our existing web site in terms of design, structure, and information mapping, including the addition of better usability and search features
- Costs: Approx. $5,000-$20,000+ (depending on the type of services).