Funeral and memorial fundraising tips
On behalf of all of us at GoFundMe, please accept our deepest condolences for your loss. We understand that you shouldn’t have to worry about how you’re going to pay for a funeral during this difficult time. According to SunLife UK’s breakdown of funeral costs, roughly 12% of those trying to cover funeral costs turned to crowdfunding in 2025, double the percentage from 2024. That’s why it’s so important to know how to fundraise for a funeral and why we’ve put together these funeral crowdfunding tips.
Tips for funeral and memorial fundraiser success
Tell your loved one’s story
When fundraising for funeral expenses in the UK, tell the story of your loved one in the description. Describe your relationship to them and explain what they meant to you. We’ve found that writing your story as a tribute to your loved one and including photos of them at different points in their life is a great way to inspire others to reminisce about the times that they shared with them.
One of the top funeral fundraiser tips here is to make sure to use a clear, recent picture that encapsulates who your loved one was. Joyful, everyday images tend to connect better with communities than formal pictures, so keep that in mind. Try to incorporate images from various points in their life and make sure the main fundraiser image is the first thing supporters see, since it’ll be the image used for social media previews when shared.
If you’re struggling to find the right words, read our blog post your crowdfunding fundraiser story: a comprehensive guide for extra help.
Share specific financial needs
We understand that funerals are expensive, which is where these funeral fundraiser tips come in handy. You can encourage more donations by letting your supporters know exactly what your financial needs are. In your fundraiser description, let potential supporters know about specific expenses, such as flowers and funeral home expenses, and the amount that each item costs, so they know how their donation is making a difference.
It’s important to set a fundraising goal that reflects your actual costs and to keep your supporters and potential supporters up to date on where funds are going and what they’re helping with. You can include things like funeral director fees, burial or cremation costs, flowers, a wake, or any outstanding expenses. If costs increase, your goal can be updated at any time with a fundraiser update explaining the change. If you end up raising more than you need, keep your supporters updated and make sure to explain how any extra funds will be spent so you maintain trust with them.
Keep your supporters involved
Posting fundraiser updates with photos paying tribute to your loved one or publicly thanking supporters will go a long way to keep up the support. Be as clear as possible about what the funds will be contributing to and who will be handling the finances. This helps reduce unnecessary stress and prevents awkward questions at an emotional time.
Since early donations help build momentum and signal to others that the fundraiser is active, it’s important to share your fundraiser with your closest friends and family as soon as it’s live. WhatsApp and email are great ways to connect with the people who were closest to your loved one, while social media is an excellent way to broaden your reach beyond immediate family and friends.
How to ask for donations for a funeral
Knowing how to fundraise for a funeral and how to ask for funds for a funeral isn’t easy, but most people genuinely want to support you and may not know how. Being specific and honest makes it easier for them to help.
- Be specific about what you need. Explain whether the funds are for funeral costs, travel, a wake, or a memorial, and say how much you hope to raise. A clear goal shows what donations will support.
- Share early and in the right places. Start with direct messages to those closest to you, using WhatsApp, texts, or personal emails. Personal messages are a great way to put your fundraiser in front of people you know.
- Do not apologise for asking. A simple request gives people a clear way to help, and donations of any size will contribute towards your goal.
- Use the fundraiser page as the request for contribution. Share the link for your fundraiser rather than explaining everything in a message. For example: “We have set up a fundraiser for [Name]’s funeral, and any support would mean so much to all of us.”
For message templates and wording guidance, see GoFundMe’s guide to asking for donations.
Other ways people can help
Not everyone who wants to support a grieving family can afford to donate, and giving supporters other ways to help can make it easier for them to contribute their time and support in different ways instead. Bereavement guidance from Marie Curie UK suggests everyday help, like shopping, cooking, cleaning, and walking the dog, are equally as valuable financial support.
Consider coordinating a meals rota, helping with the school run or childcare, running errands or doing a shopping trip, walking the dog, or helping with paperwork. Friends and family might also be able to help write an obituary or prepare and deliver a eulogy.
You can list these requests under a section titled “Other ways you can help” in your fundraiser description or an update to give people who cannot make a financial donation a meaningful way to show their support, and can often deepen the sense of community around the fundraiser.
In-person ways to raise support
An online fundraiser can work well alongside in-person support at a funeral or memorial service, and one good option is to print a QR code that links directly to your fundraiser and display it at the service, giving attendees an easy way to donate on the spot.
Word of mouth can also help your fundraiser reach people who may not see it online, so ask close friends and family to share the fundraiser with their own networks, including community groups like a church, workplace, or club the person belonged to. When informing people of the loss, you can also share the fundraiser details verbally along with the online link.
Combining these approaches can help more people find the fundraiser while keeping the focus on supporting the family during a difficult time.
How long should you keep your fundraiser open?
There is no required end date for a funeral or memorial fundraiser, and GoFundMe will let you leave yours live and continue accepting donations for as long as you like. There are many families who choose to keep fundraising open beyond the immediate funeral arrangements when ongoing support is needed, and many supporters choose to donate later on, once the initial shock has worn off.
Posting occasional updates keeps your supporters informed about changes in circumstances and encourages continued engagement with the fundraiser. You can also continue sharing the fundraiser with people who may not have seen it when it was first created.
The basic idea is to allow you to keep the fundraiser open as long as it feels right for you, whether you leave it open for continued support, or close it down when your initial goal is reached. It’s up to you.
Let us know if you need more help
We hope that these suggestions will be helpful for you throughout your funeral fundraising experience. Contact our customer support team with any questions you might have. For more support on how to set up a funeral fundraiser, see our guides on how to get help with funeral costs and how to set up a memorial fund.