How do you make a visible donation for a funeral?

I know how to donate, but how do you let the bereaved family know what you've done - or should you even? What is the etiquette? With flowers/wreaths there is a visible indication of your sentiments, but if you just send money to a charity how to people know you've done it? Or does it not matter, it's the donation that is important?
How do you make a visible donation for a funeral?
You send a nice sympathy card, and at the bottom of the inside of the card you write "donation to _____ was made in memory of ____ " (do not write amount, of course).
Reply:Make sure someone sees you hand the money over
Reply:As a Funeral Director with 7 years of experience, i've never seen anyone stand up and say "Hey everyone, i gave money to charity"

The best way is quietly. You leave a card for the family. Funeral directors usually take all the cards and hand them to the family in a bundle. In the card, give your sincere regrets or feelings, and say in a non condescending manor that you have or would like to make a donation in the deceased's name.

Same with flowers, don't send a big arrangment with a banner saying "Smith Family sent this" You fill out the little card.

Good luck.

P.S. If you are pretty close to the family, you may suggest to them that in the obituary they say "Instead of flowers, please make a donation to..."
Reply:I wouldn't want others to know how much I donate. The deceased probably has made a request that donations be made to XXX charity. Some have envelopes at the door of the funeral parlour, but if not there are other ways to pass funds over. You will know in your heart that you will have done the right thing - isn't that enough?
Reply:if you really want the family to know that you donated to a certain charity, why dont you just prepare a check payable to the charity of their choice , with a note "in memory of ---name of deceased--- and hand them over the said check? this way, they would certainly know you've made a donation.



in any case, if all you're after for is to help out, then there's no need to let them know. im sure the institution will be the one to inform them of your act.
Reply:The national assoc of most charities sends a note to the family, telling them of the donation, and one to you thanking you. Usually, the family has picked a charity, and nominated someone to sit and help fill out cards, and recieve and mail the donations, they should be prepared to answer questions.

But, it shouldn't matter, if you feel good about your donation, that should be enough.

There is some controversy if a person should give to the charity of the family's choice, or one of the givers. I vote the family should choose. And another controversy about what to do if the family does not choose a charity, then what do you do? On that, I vote give the money to the family, and let them choose what to do. Just note on the card with the money in it that fact, "please use this money for whatever you need, to offset expenses, give to charity."

Sorry for your loss, hope this helps.
Reply:Why give to charities? They are leaches for wanting money donated at funerals. Where is that money going to go? To pay the wage of doctors. I don't know about you, but I don't want to be paying some rich doctor money when I die. I'd rather give money to the family to pay for the funeral. I'm not going to feel guilty for wanting flowers, when the bloated charities are weasling their way into a private moment.
Reply:I think the family would like to know about your donation. I know I did. The charity may send a recite stating your donation to the family if you ask for this. I think this is a very good idea.
Reply:They don't care if you did it or not, they are not there to police everyone who did it or not.
Reply:When my Dad died, we recieved many cards from various charities, telling us the name and address of those who had donated. We sent thank you cards to everyone who made donations, sent flowers and plants, brought meals, visited Dad during his illness, etc.



When you make a donation in memory or in honor someone, the charity will always send a card to tell family that a donation has been made.
Reply:get a big flower display and put a note on it..that's pretty visible
Reply:You could do it via the funeral director, or place a cheque inside the sympathy card, or just hand them over the cheque.

(Made out to the charity) The funeral director normally hands the cheques over to the next of kin after a few weeks, and it can be handed into the bank.
Reply:notify the funeral director of your actions/intentions i just lost my brother beginning of october and almost everyone gave me money instead of flowers. the funeral director gave me a card with peoples' names on them who had mad a monetary donation also the greeting card store sells money envelopes for sympathy if you give to charity generally the charity will notify the family if you ask them too.
Reply:you can do both ie flowers and a donation to the charity chosen. everyone benefits.
loops