Raising a Funeral Fund After the Death of a Loved One
When tragedy strikes with the unexpected death of a loved one, friends and relatives are often at a loss regarding how to afford funeral expenses. Because the average funeral today can cost from $7,000 to $10,000, the grief of losing a loved one is compounded by anxiety about covering final expenses. While some families have resorted to taking out high-interest loans, today’s technology offers an alternative for raising a funeral fund.
In addition to the costs of interment and memorial services, sites such as funeralfund.com allow families to receive memorial donations to cover other expenses. These might include medical bills, transportation and housing costs for mourners, and even college funds for children. In addition to easing the burden of final expenses for the family, seeking online donations to build a funeral fund can be a comfort to other friends and loved ones who are unable to be with the family at their time of loss because memorial donations allow those separated by distance or other circumstances to contribute in a more tangible way than sending cards or flowers.
The process for crowdfunding for funeral expenses is simple. A family member or friend can use the website to set up a memorial fund for online donations by uploading a picture of the deceased and describing what the donations will be used for. The organizer then links directly to a PayPal or WePay account where the online donations will be deposited. Friends and loved ones can help spread the word about the fund via their social media accounts, such as Facebook and Twitter. While fundraising is automatically set to run for 14 days, this can easily be extended an additional 14 days if further funds are required.
When loved ones set up a campaign to raise funeral funds, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, it’s important to set up a PayPal or WePay account through the funeral fund site before beginning the funding campaign. Even more important, perhaps, is to be very specific about how donations will be used, so organizers should be sure to list specific expenses so that donors know how their funds will be spent. Because the fundraising page will often act as a memorial as well as a donation site, it’s important to upload a good picture of the deceased loved one and to add a few lovingly related memories about their life. Finally, ask family and friends to reach out to others on social media with a link to the campaign.
When a loved one dies, the grief already felt by those left behind shouldn't include worry about paying for final expenses. Crowdfunding for funeral expenses, reaching out to friends and family for help, can ease the burden on an already grieving family.