Losing a loved one is the most significant challenge in life. In addition to experiencing grief in all its complexity, you may be responsible for raising money for funeral donations or a memorial fundraiser. 

While you may feel proud to collect donations in honor of someone, these tasks may feel overwhelming, too. It would be best if you had a clear plan now, and that’s what this blog post provides.

Contents:

  • An overview of memorial fundraisers
  • 8 memorial fund ideas 
  • The etiquette for memorial donations, including how to use Braid to collect memorial contributions conveniently 
  • An overview of funeral expenses, and
  • Tips for raising money for a funeral

Let’s begin. 

What is a memorial fundraiser?

A memorial fundraiser is when you accept donations for a memorial fund. Memorial funds honor the life and legacy of a deceased loved one. Here are eight common memorial funds to consider.  

8 poignant memorial fund ideas

How would you like to commemorate your loved one? The following eight categories are often used to honor the memory of those who have passed. You may find one that resonates perfectly. 

1. Support their favorite cause

If you could pick one cause to donate to, which would bring the biggest smile to your loved one’s face? Whether they were passionate about the arts, animal welfare, childhood education, or veteran support, a memorial fund is a powerful way to do good on their behalf. 

2. Fund scientific research

Memorialize the life of your loved one by assisting others who struggle with the same condition.

3. Create a lasting memorial 

Physical memorials are a touching way to keep someone’s memory alive. For example, you could purchase a memorial tree, park bench, plaque, or stone memorial in their favorite park. 

4. Unexpected expenses

The sudden loss of a family member may leave you with unexpected financial obligations, like funeral costs, medical bills, mortgage payments, or outstanding debt. 

Instead of flowers, consider asking for donations to alleviate financial hardship. 

For more information about raising money for a funeral, please keep reading. We cover that in greater detail below.

5. Scholarship fund 

If education and academia were near and dear to their heart, a scholarship fund would be an excellent way to support avid learners.

6. Childhood, high school, or college initiatives 

What organizations shaped your loved one as a child, teenager, or adult? Some examples include summer camps, the Boy or Girl Scouts, 4H, sports teams, high school, or higher education. Donating to one of these organizations may feel fitting. 

7. Nonprofits  

Did they actively support nonprofit organizations? Or are there any specific nonprofits that embody their interests? For example, if they always had a tray of delicious homemade treats ready for every visitor, you could donate the memorial fund to a local food bank.

8. Local community 

Was your loved one proud of their city or town? Collecting funds for the local community is a meaningful way to use their memorial fund, and it could help preserve historical architecture or finance a new playground. 

Each memorial fundraiser is different. But no matter your choice, you can easily collect donations with Braid Money Pools. 

Prepare your memorial fundraiser with Braid. Click here to learn more.

How to collect memorial donations with Braid

Sometimes, giving cash gifts to the surviving family members is customary. Often, people place money in an envelope, leave it in a designated box, or give it to immediate family members at the wake, memorial service, or funeral reception. 

Some people dislike this custom because:

  1. It can be stressful to keep track of cash donations, and
  2. It’s difficult for out-of-town acquaintances to donate.

You can avoid both problems with Braid Pools and Pool Links. 

  • Braid Pools are where you collect and manage memorial donations, and
  • Pool Links are how you collect them.

Let us explain both in more detail so you can use them confidently.

What are Braid Pools?

After losing someone dear, all aspects of life, including finances, may feel chaotic. With Braid, memorial donations feel orderly, and here’s why.

Braid Pools are a dedicated place to collect, manage, and spend cash-free memorial donations online.

Every contribution remains in this separate place until you spend them. They never mix with money in your checking or savings account, preventing financial stress and making it easier to track everyone’s donation. 

Your memorial fund is secure, too, because Braid uses best-in-class security and compliance practices. You can read more about them here.

Braid Pools are a swift and straightforward alternative to more tedious platforms, like GoFundMe, which cost time and money. You can set up a free Braid Pool in 10 minutes or less and use it for as long as necessary.

With Braid, you don’t have to manage the memorial fundraiser alone; other family members can help. Simply send an invitation link so they can join the pool and co-manage donations with you. 

With Braid, you don’t have to worry about deadlines, either. You can keep your Braid Pool as long as you want and give everyone a chance to donate when they can.

When ready, you can use the memorial fund directly with the free Braid debit card. Or, you can send money to a bank account for free with standard transfers. If you need funds sooner, you can send money in minutes with Instant Send for a 1.75% fee.

Now that you know how to set up and use your Braid Pool, let’s talk about preparing your memorial fund description and Pool Link so you can start collecting donations. 

What is the etiquette for memorial donations?

Do you feel unsure how to ask for donations? These four guidelines show you how to manage the memorial fund with both tact and taste.

Share your memorial fundraiser

Bereaved family and friends may ask, "Do I give money for a memorial?” To ensure everyone knows about your fundraiser, post it online via email, social media, a group chat, or a website. Create a simple print-out or poster and display it at the memorial service, wake, or funeral reception.

What do you write in a memorial fundraiser? 

Your memorial fund description explains how the memorial fund honors your loved one’s legacy. It also shows well-meaning friends and family how they can support surviving family members. 

How to confidently request donations 

Asking for money may feel awkward. And if this is your first time running a memorial fundraiser, finding the right words might feel tricky. But don’t worry; it’s easier than you think. 

Start by thanking everyone for their sympathy and condolences. Secondly, let them know that you are gratefully accepting money instead of flowers. 

But what is a memorial donation called? You can say you are accepting "memorial donations” or “memorial gifts.”

Once bereaved family and friends learn about your memorial fund, they ask, “How do I donate in memory of someone?”

This is where your Pool Link comes in.

Here is everything you need to know to use Pool Links and confidently collect donations online for memorial fundraisers or funeral expenses. 

Your Braid Pool has a customizable link that you can rewrite, so it says exactly what you need it to. For example, braid.co/p/Nanna's-Memorial-Fund or braid.co/p/Honor-Laurel's-Memory.

Your Pool Link allows people to make a cash-free memorial donation from their mobile devices. Debit card contributions are free, and contributors using a credit card pay a 3% + $0.30 fee.

Share it to accept cash-free memorial donations online. You can share it via text, social media, web pages, email, etc. Family and friends can share it, too, and ensure no one is missed. 

If you have a poster for the memorial fundraiser at the memorial service, wake, or funeral reception, share the Pool Link as a QR code so people can donate easily. To generate a QR code, all you need to do is tap “Collect $” and “Show QR code” after you make your Pool Link.

In addition to sharing the Pool Link, consider providing a traditional donation box for people who prefer to leave a cash gift.

Include your memorial fundraiser description

Your Pool Link also has space for your memorial fundraiser description. This way, when people click on your link, they know exactly what it’s for and what they need to do. 

Here’s an example of what a memorial fund description can look like in your Pool Link:

“To honor Renee’s life, we are collecting memorial donations for Alzheimer’s patients and their caretakers. If you would like to donate, you may do so here. Thank you for your love and support.”

Are you ready to set up your memorial fundraiser? Click here to create your Braid Pool and Pool Link.

How much money should you raise for a funeral?

Do you need to raise money to pay for the funeral? Please don’t hesitate to ask for donations. In difficult times, people want to help. However, they don’t always know how.

Asking for funeral donations ensures you receive the financial support you need while allowing others to provide meaningful assistance. 

You can use Braid Pools and Pool Links to collect funeral donations like you would collect memorial contributions. The only difference is that your Pool Link and description briefly explain that you are raising money for funeral expenses.

How do I start a fundraiser for a funeral?

Follow these five simple steps to start a fundraiser and collect funeral donations smoothly.

1. Calculate funeral expenses and identify fundraising goals

How much money should you raise for a funeral? The average funeral costs $7,000 - $9,000, and this covers the following: 

  • Funeral home
  • Embalming
  • Flowers and wreaths
  • Funeral plot
  • Headstone/grave maker
  • Casket 
  • Cremation/burial

What is the biggest expense of the funeral? Usually, the casket is the most significant expense, costing anywhere from $900 to $3,000.

Whatever your funeral expenses are, take a moment to identify your fundraising goals before launching your fundraising. Share these goals with your donors, so they can feel like they’re helping you more tangibly. 

2. Set up a Braid Pool and create your Pool Link

Use all the tips you learned above to set up your Braid Pool and Pool Link to collect funeral donations.

3. Share your Pool Link

Remember, Pool Links can go anywhere: in emails, texts, social media posts, websites, QR codes, etc. Share them to collect donations, and ask friends and family to share them on your behalf. 

4. Host a fundraising event

You can create a meaningful fundraising event with a small budget. Spaghetti dinners, baked goods sales, auctions, and raffles might be a perfect solution. Remember to share your Pool Link to collect donations at every event.

If you are collecting memorial donations or need to fundraise for funeral expenses, we invite you to use Braid Pools and Pool Links. 

You may find that you collect more than donations. You will likely experience the love and support of those around you, too.