How to Set Up a Donation for Funeral Expenses

1. Discuss the process for donation acceptance at the funeral home with the funeral director. Many funeral home directors accept donations and apply them to the bill. You will then receive a record of the names of each person who donated and the amounts donated.
2. Contact your local bank and set up an account specifically for acceptance of donations for funeral expenses. You can set this account up prior to or after the death of your loved one and family or other can donate at their discretion.
3. Ask the pastor, priest or other local church, temple or other religious institution leader to help you with accepting donations to cover the cost of the funeral expenses. Many religious leaders, like funeral home directors, will accept and record a donation, apply it to the costs and then provide you with a list of donors to thank.
4. Speak with local businesses and any clubs you’re a member of about setting up avenues to accept donations from the community. Businesses or clubs may permit you to set out donation jars or may sponsor an event to raise funds to cover the costs.
5. Go to a memorial and donation account website such as GoFundMe, or a general donation request site such as Wish Upon A Hero or GiveForward, and follow the on-screen instructions to set up a place for people to make donations online (see Resources).
6. Set up donation acceptance through a payment company such as PayPal or WePay. Add a donation payment button to a personal or memorial website you already have set up or set up a donation page on the company's website.
7. Add a line about donations to the obituary or death announcement provided to your local newspapers or news stations explaining your preferred donations method. For example, “In lieu of flowers, the family of (decedent’s name) has asked for donations to help cover funeral expenses. Donations accepted at (location).”