Etiquette for Donating In a Loved One's Name

By: Matthew Funeral Home
Thursday, September 12, 2024

Some individuals or their families request donations to charity in place of flowers during the bereavement period. Most families will appreciate the donation in their loved one’s name. Especially if your donation is to a charity close to the heart of the deceased. This article will explore the etiquette expected when making a memorial donation in honor of the deceased. 

Making a Donation in the Deceased’s Name

When donating in a loved one’s name, be sure to include “In memory of” or “In loving memory of” as part of the donation. Many online services for donations will include a place to denote memorial donations such as this. It is generally proper etiquette to the chosen charity within 10 days of the funeral service. This allows the family to include you in the thank you notes after the funeral. Be sure to inform the charity of the name and address of the deceased’s family, so that they can be notified of the donation. You should include their address even if you are donating anonymously. 

The Family’s Choice of Charity

Most families will designate the charity, or a group of charities, to whom they would like the donations to be sent to. If any charities are designated, it is best not to deviate from those. Many families will pick a charity that is close to the heart of the deceased. The deceased may have left specific choices of charities to support, as well. If the deceased was lost to a specific ailment, it is common for families to choose charities focusing on treatment and care. An example of this might be a cancer research facility or an ALS support charity.

Choosing a Charity Yourself

However, if no charities are specified, you could pick one yourself. In this case, it is important to do some research. You want to ensure that you are giving to a good organization and one that would fit the wishes of the deceased. Remember that you are donating in their name, not yours. Several websites can help you. The Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance provides info on charities, including 20 Standards for Charity Accountability. Charity Watch also provides a similar service in researching charities. These tools can help you make an informed decision for your donations.

Should I Donate Anonymously?

Most charities will allow you to donate in memory of a loved one anonymously. It is up to you if you want the bereaved to know that you donated in their loved one’s name. While it can be good to show your love and support through donations, you may choose to remain anonymous. It is ultimately up to you. At the end of the day, the important thing is that you are donating as a tribute to a loved one. 

Sympathy Cards for your Donation

Some people prefer to inform the family of the deceased via a sympathy card. In addition to your own words of sympathy, consider including a message such as “Our family remembered (Name) by donating to (Charity)”

Matthew Funeral Home does not provide medical, legal, or financial advice via articles. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only. It is not intended to provide, and should not be relied on for legal, financial, or medical advice.
For over 50 years, Matthew Funeral Home has been serving the Staten Island community. We can help with almost every aspect of your loved one’s memorial service. Our family is here to serve yours, every step of the way.

Leave a comment
Name*:
Email:
Comment*:
Please enter the numbers and letters you see in the image. Note that the case of the letters entered matters.

Comments

Please wait

Previous Posts

Alcohol Use and Coping with Grief

While in grief, many people turn to things that can comfort or distract them. It is not uncommon for some people to reach for alcohol in this way. For many people, alcohol can serve as a way to avo...

Apathy and Grief

On this blog, we often talk about how grief is a complicated emotion, and how everyone experiences it differently. However, we don’t often talk about grief and apathy. Apathy is a state of numbness...

Grief and Losing Online Friends

In our technology-based world, more and more people have developed friendships completely in cyberspace. Consistent communication with gaming partners, online community members, and more allows us ...

Sending Sympathy Meals to a Loved One

When a friend or family member passes away, it is a common practice to send sympathy meals to the immediate family. Sympathy meals show your support for the family while providing them with food. W...

Validating Feelings of Grief

Grief is one of the most complex and misunderstood emotions for people to experience. One way to help your loved one cope with their grief is to validate their feelings. Supporting a loved one who ...

When a Loved One Receives a Terminal Diagnosis

When a loved one finds out that they have a terminal illness, it can be overwhelming to navigate the next steps. It can be difficult to know where to start. Preparations for care, end-of-life servi...

Choosing Your Loved One's Urn

When choosing an urn for your loved one’s cremated remains, there are many aspects to consider. Urns come in an array of shapes, sizes, colors, styles, and materials. It can be difficult to figure ...

Preplanning: Taking Charge of Your Own Funeral

There are many reasons to preplan your funeral, from mitigating costs to making your funeral easier for your loved ones upon your passing. But one important aspect of preplanning your funeral is es...

When is Grief Good?

Grief can make us feel like a great weight rests on our shoulders. Grieving can be a challenging, and often overwhelming, experience. Although grief is brought upon us by loss and sorrow, is it tru...

Grieving Pets

When a loved one passes, every member of the family is affected, even your pets. Dogs, cats, and other family pets can experience grief and can even mourn for a loved one. Below, we will discuss gr...