Guide to Raising Money for Memorial Fundraisers & Funeral Donations

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 Pool to collect memorial contributions conveniently
• An overview of funeral expenses
• Tips for raising money for a funeral

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.
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 Pool.

How to collect memorial donations with Pool

Sometimes, giving cash gifts to 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 families find this approach challenging because:

• It can be difficult to keep track of monetary gifts and memorial funds.
• Cash and checks may become difficult to organize during an already stressful time.
• Multiple family members may need visibility into memorial-related finances and expenses.

Pool helps families keep memorial funds organized in one dedicated place. Instead of managing money across cash envelopes, personal accounts, or spreadsheets, families can track funds, manage expenses, and collaborate with trusted relatives while keeping everything separate from personal finances.

What is Pool?

After losing someone dear, all aspects of life, including finances, may feel chaotic. With Pool, memorial donations feel orderly, and here's why. 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 it. 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 Pool uses best-in-class security and compliance practices.

With Pool, you don't have to manage the memorial fundraiser alone — other family members can help. Simply invite other family members so they can join the Pool and co-manage memorial funds with you.

With Pool, you don't have to worry about deadlines, either. You can keep your 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 Pool 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.

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?" Let family, friends, and community members know about the memorial fund through the communication channels already being used for the service and related updates.

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 organizing a memorial fund, finding the right words can feel difficult. But it doesn't have to be.

Start by thanking family and friends for their support, sympathy, and condolences. If you'd prefer memorial donations in lieu of flowers, communicate that request clearly and respectfully. You can refer to contributions as "memorial donations" or "memorial gifts."

Many people want to help but aren't sure how. By providing a dedicated place for memorial contributions and explaining how the funds will be used, you make it easier for loved ones to support the family during a difficult time.

How do I start with Pool?

Personalize your memorial fund

Creating a memorial fund is about more than organizing donations—it's an opportunity to honor a loved one's life and legacy.

Give your Pool a meaningful name that reflects the person you're remembering. You can also add a photo and write a description explaining the purpose of the fund and how donations will be used.

Include a memorial fund description

A thoughtful description helps family and friends understand the purpose of the fund and the impact of their support. Whether donations will help cover memorial expenses, support surviving family members, contribute to a charitable cause, or honor a loved one's wishes, sharing that information provides helpful context for those who want to contribute.

For example:

"To honor Renee's life, we are collecting memorial donations to support Alzheimer's patients and their caregivers. Thank you for your kindness, support, and generosity during this difficult time."

A personalized memorial fund helps keep everyone aligned around a shared purpose while honoring the memory of someone special.

How much money should you raise for a funeral?

If you need financial help covering funeral expenses, don't hesitate to ask for support. During difficult times, friends, family, and community members often want to help—they simply may not know how.

Creating a dedicated funeral fund can make it easier to organize contributions and manage expenses during an already stressful period. When communicating about the fund, consider briefly explaining how donations will be used, whether for funeral costs, memorial services, burial expenses, or other related needs.

Pool provides a dedicated place to organize funeral donations separately from personal finances, helping families manage contributions and expenses in one place while focusing on what matters most: honoring their loved one and supporting one another.

How do I start a fundraiser for a funeral?

Follow these four 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: funeral home, embalming, flowers and wreaths, funeral plot, headstone/grave marker, casket, and cremation/burial. 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 fundraiser. Share these goals with your donors so they can feel like they're helping you more tangibly.
2. Create a dedicated funeral fund — Keeping donations separate from personal finances can make it easier to stay organized during an emotional and stressful time. A dedicated fund allows you to manage contributions, monitor expenses, and keep track of available funds in one place.
3. Communicate the purpose of the fundraiser — Let family, friends, and community members know how donations will be used. Whether funds will help cover funeral expenses, support surviving family members, or honor a loved one's wishes, a clear explanation helps people understand the impact of their support.
4. Bring people together in support — Many families choose to organize memorial gatherings, community events, or other opportunities for loved ones to come together. These moments can provide emotional support while helping raise awareness of the fundraiser and its purpose.

If you are collecting memorial donations or raising money for funeral expenses, having a dedicated place to organize funds can help reduce financial stress and make it easier to focus on honoring your loved one's memory. Sign up today at poolmoney.com to start.