The Most Popular Fundraising Idea for Funeral Costs and Memorial Funds
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The Best Fundraising Idea for Memorial and Funeral Costs
Corporate Matching Gifts Double Love and Support When It Matters Most.
The Most Cost-Effective Fundraising Idea for Funeral Costs and Memorial Funds
Other Great Fundraising Ideas for Funeral Costs and Memorial Funds
Host a Memorial Dinner
Hosting a memorial dinner is a simple way to raise money and bring friends and family together after the passing of a loved one. To get started, pick a time, location, and menu. Then, send out invites.
To raise money, ask someone to give a speech to kick off the meal and ask for donations to cover funeral expenses and other costs. You can also set out a collection jar.
If it’s easier, you can opt for a potluck and have each attendee bring a signature dish. Be sure to take some time during the dinner to reminisce with loved ones and begin the healing process.
Engraved Bricks
If you’re building a structure or installation, such as a paved pathway, as a memorial to your lost loved one, you might want to consider selling engraved bricks to donors to help offset the cost.
Sell engraved bricks to donors and either set up the bricks as an art installation or incorporate them into the actual structure you’re building.
Donors will love the permanence of your recognition and you can get creative with how you display them. There are even companies dedicated to providing this kind of fundraising brick.
Tree Planting Fundraiser
If your loved one was an environmentalist, a gardener, or simply loved nature, you can honor their life with a tree-planting fundraising event. For this memorial fundraiser, partner with a local nursery to acquire saplings.
Then, host an event where you can speak about your loved one’s passion for the environment and ask supporters to donate money in exchange for their very own saplings.
Make sure participants know that the trees are being planted in honor of your loved one. To do so, you can also give people the option of purchasing customized plaques to place in front of the growing trees.
Have a Bake Sale
Bake sales are a classic fundraiser for a reason. And the good news is that they’re popular with people of all ages alike. Bake a mix of staples (like cookies) and specialty items (like cheesecake brownies).
You can advertise your bake sale in advance once to recruit bakers and later to promote the actual sale.
To fundraise, you have the option of charging for the treats or collecting donations or even both. Place a sign where you’re collecting donations that honors the person whose funeral you’re raising funds for.
Recipe Book Sales
Selling recipe books is a great fundraising idea because it’s affordable to set up and allows you to ask for donations in exchange for a provided product.
Put together a cook book with the best recipes that you and your supporters have. Then, sell the book within your community.
Depending on your budget, you can either have the book professionally bound or you can do a digital version of the book for free on the computer. Add a dedication within the book to your loved one.
Dog Walking
There are two types of dog walk fundraisers, both of which can be lucrative. The first path is simple, you can walk dogs in your neighborhood in exchange for donations.
The second option combines dog walking and walkathons. Host a traditional walkathon with a twist by asking participants to bring their pooches.
You’ll have to put time and energy into ensuring the event is safe and fun for all involved. Mark out the course and set up water stations for people and pets alike. To honor your love one, consider naming the event after them.
Product Fundraising
When running a product fundraiser, you are selling products in exchange for donations. For example, you might sell a t-shirt with the symbol of your memorial fund on it.
Pick a product (from t-shirts to water bottles to key chains), customize your product design, gather your inventory, and sell, sell, sell.
You can sell via the door-to-door model — think Girl Scouts. Or, you can run your product fundraiser online, much like a crowdfunding campaign. Either way, make sure you have a sales plan in place from the get-go.
Coffee Bean Sales
Consider selling coffee beans to raise money. This can be an especially powerful fundraiser if the deceased was an avid coffee-drinker. You can even name a roast or blend after them.
You can work with a roaster or coffee shop to secure discounted coffee beans and then go out into the community to sell the beans. You want quality coffee at an affordable price.
Once you have your distributor, decide if you’ll be selling the beans in person, online, or through both channels, and then map out your sales plan accordingly.
Successful Memorial and Funeral Fundraising Campaigns
Beth Lancelotta Memorial Classic
This memorial fundraising campaign was created to raise money for a student scholarship in honor of Beth Lancelotta and was tied into a fundraising tennis event. The campaign ended up raising so much money that the organizer was able to increase the goal, raising nearly $10,000 in the process. Check out the fundraiser here.
Memorial for Sandra Witter
This example comes from a campaign that set out to raise money to cover the funeral costs of Sandra Witter. Thanks to a wide-scale community effort, the campaign raised more than $2,000 over the financial goal, ending up with $7,190 for Sandra’s children to use to cover her funeral and additional expenses. Check out the fundraiser here.
Top Resources to Help You Fundraise
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Crowdfunding: The Beginner’s Guide
Crowdfunding is one of our top fundraising ideas. If you’re interested in pursuing it but not sure where to start, this guide will give you all the necessary background.
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Have you requested donations from companies? There are many businesses in your community that might be open to donating. This guide shows you where to look!
Give, Match, Remember: Corporate Matching Gifts Can Increase Your Memorial or Funeral Fund.
