How to ask for a donation for funeral expenses: three sample templates

When experiencing a loss, the last thing you want to think about is how to pay for the funeral. The cost of funeral services increases every year, and many families find themselves struggling to pay for the service to honor the life of their loved one. While there are many organizations that help cover the cost of a funeral, finding help to cover all the expenses can be a challenge.

At this difficult time, it is important to remember that you can find help. This guide will introduce you to how to ask for a donation towards funeral costs and offers some useful templates for requesting a funeral donation.

Fundraising for funeral expenses

Online fundraising can be a quick and easy option for finding help with funeral costs. Fundraising for a funeral can provide families with a way to connect and comfort themselves together while paying tribute to their loved one.

Crowdfunding (aka group fundraising) can help cover funeral costs

Crowdfunding can be a great way to honor your loved one's memory and provide them with the memorial service they deserve. For those wondering how to pay for a funeral without money, crowdfunding may be the answer.

Fundraising means more money for the funeral service

Although starting a fundraising campaign for a funeral can help offset expensive funeral costs, some platforms charge a fee and take a percentage of every dollar raised. In contrast, the PavelAndreev.ORG platform does not keep any percentage and pays the full amount that is raised.

Start a campaign now on PavelAndreev.ORG.

Check out our help center. There you will find the most frequently asked questions and What are the conditions for starting a campaign?

Tips on how to ask for donations for funeral expenses

Knowing how to ask for a donation can be difficult, especially when having to deal with grief or loss. Requests for funeral donations are usually made when informing others of the loss, in your loved one's obituary, or during the funeral service itself. The following tips will help to relieve you of the uncertainty of requesting donations for funeral expenses.

Tell your loved one's story honestly

Making a personal connection with your campaign will inspire more people to donate. Tell the story of your lost loved one and point out why each donation is so important to you and your family.

Explain the urgency of raising funds for a funeral

Funeral expenses add up all at once, and many families wonder how to cover them. Create a sense of urgency within the funeral fundraising campaign by explaining what might happen if the funds are not raised by a certain date.

List specific funeral costs

Break down the individual costs of the funeral service so that people understand exactly how their donation will be affected. Writing out a breakdown of costs will also clear up any confusion about why you have chosen a particular fundraising target.

Three funeral donation request templates to use

The templates provided below can help you navigate the process of requesting donations for a funeral, regardless of who you approach. Knowing the correct wording for a funeral fundraiser will help you feel confident when making a request.

1. How to ask for a funeral donation from friends and relatives

Maintain a conversational tone while explaining why and how the donation will help. Including a detailed list of funeral service costs will help donors understand exactly how their donations will be used.

Subject: Funeral of [name and surname]

Dear [friend or family member],

I am writing to you today to inform you of the loss of [first name]. [Brief information about your loved one's death, whether expected or sudden. ]

[First name]'s obituary can be found here (URL link). The funeral service will be held at [location], on [date and time].

We are absolutely devastated by the death of [first name] and are struggling to find funds to cover the cost of the service. Based on [research costs or quotes received], here is a breakdown of all costs associated with the funeral service for [first name]:

[detailed list of costs]

We will need to pay all funeral expenses by [date]. I've started a fundraising campaign to collect donations for [first name] funeral service -here's the link. [Insert fundraiser URL]

Please consider donating if you are able to do so. We are extremely grateful for any donation at this difficult time.

Love,

[Your name]

2. How to request a funeral donation from strangers

Asking for donations from strangers can be startling, but it doesn't have to be. Tell your loved one's story and emphasize how important the funeral service is to your family. Below is a sample template you can use to share your funeral fundraising campaign on social media. Be sure to include at least one high-quality photo.

Our beloved [first name] passed away recently on [date]. [First name] was a wonderful [sister/brother, mother/father, friend, etc. ] who touched the lives of those around him/her. [He/She] leaves behind [family members].

[First Name] dedicated his/her life to. . . tell your loved one's story in one or two sentences. Emphasize how they have influenced and share their goals, interests, or accomplishments].

We are all devastated by the loss of [First Name] and were not prepared for the large cost of a funeral service. We want to give [First Name] the memorial that [he/she] deserves, honor his/her memory and take a final farewell.

I am currently asking for donations to help cover the cost of [First Name]'s funeral. We need to raise [fundraising goal] by [date] to be able to afford the funeral service.

Here is a link to the fundraising campaign for [first name]. [Insert fundraiser URL] Please consider donating as any amount will really help our family at this difficult time.

Thank you so much and have a wonderful day.

[Your Name]

3. How to request funeral donations from members of your entourage

If your loved one was an active member of your company, whether in the church or volunteer organization, use the following template to contact those you know.

Subject: The loss of [organization name and role] [first and last name]

Dear [Community Member],

You may know [first name] from [his/her] work with [describe involvement in group or organization in one or two sentences, include accomplishments and impact].

Sadly, [first name] passed away recently on [date].

In my capacity as [his/her] [relative of your relative], I have started a funeral fundraiser to help defray [his/her] funeral expenses. Our family was not prepared for the high funeral costs and at this difficult time we are reaching out to your community for help.

The fundraising campaign can be found here: [Enter fundraising campaign URL]. Please consider donating if you can as any amount will really help. We need to raise [fundraising target] by [date] to cover the cost of [first name]'s funeral service.

(Optional) [First Name] deeply appreciated the work [he/she] did with [group or organization]. If we exceed our goal, any additional funds will be donated to [group or organization].

It would mean a lot if you could share the fundraiser for [first name]'s funeral with other people who knew him/her.

Thank you very much for your consideration,

[Your name]

Find help with the high cost of burying your relative or acquaintance

If you need help with funeral costs, online fundraising can provide financial assistance. Knowing how to ask for donations for funeral expenses can give you peace of mind and honor your loved one's memory. Contact me to set up your fundraising campaign.