Updated at: 17-10-2022 - By: Sienna Lewis

Exactly how does one go about making a memorial gift? It’s human nature to worry about another person when they’re in need, regardless of whether or not you personally know them well. That motivates you to pitch in however you can. But how could you possibly accomplish that? Is there something you can do to accomplish your goal without encountering any sort of difficulty? Don’t fret; we’ll resolve that for you.

There are a lot of people in need in the globe right now, and there are lots of methods to help them out, yet some individuals still don’t know how to donate. This article will examine memorial donations in greater detail. It may be a lengthy procedure, but the results will be well worth the effort.

We need to know why we’re doing this and why we’re doing this in the first place. Many people have fallen into poverty since the pandemic began a year ago; as you know, the number of reported cases has been steadily climbing. The advent of social media has made it simpler to get in touch with certain individuals quickly and easily. You can count on it, it really works. Without further ado, then, let’s examine this in greater depth and talk about the specifics of what you should do. Some of the terms and concepts you encounter while reading may prove useful in the future. So, without further ado, let’s have this talk on this subject. If you keep an eye out, you might find the solutions to your problems.

1. Understand Why People Donate

Before discussing how to go about making a charitable donation in a loved one’s name after their passing, it’s crucial to understand why people do so. Donations in lieu of flowers are always appreciated, but it’s always OK to contribute because you feel like it. Following a loss of a loved one, below are the most prevalent motives for making a donation:

  • Funeral expenses – One of the most common reasons is to help with funeral costs. If the individual didn’t have the time to plan financially for their own funeral, these costs fall on the family. Donations for funeral expenses offer support in a time of need.
  • Aid with funeral fees is a regular request. The deceased’s loved ones are responsible for paying for the funeral expenses if the deceased did not have time to make those arrangements. Donations made toward a deceased person’s funeral costs are a comfort to loved ones.
  • Honoring a worthy cause – We all have causes we feel especially strongly about. If the deceased had a strong commitment to animal rights or environmental protection, a memorial gift to that cause would be a fitting way to honor their memory.

Women more likely to donate than men - Bizwomen

2. Check the Family’s Wishes

The moment to begin the donation process has come now that you know the reasons why individuals give. Prior to anything else, you should verify the family’s desires. They might have a preferred charity in mind if they make a donation. As an added gesture, they may pool their resources to give a more substantial contribution in the deceased’s name.

Looking over the memorial, obituary, or funeral invitation is the best method to find out what the family wants. Messages asking for donations “in place of flowers” will be posted here. Always consider the family’s desires when choose which charity to support with your gift.

Donating to the family’s chosen cause is as easy as handing over your money to whoever is in charge of fundraising. This is usually a close relative. You should use a secure method of payment and retain a record of your donation for tax purposes. Read on if you’re interested in donating to a cause that hasn’t been chosen yet or if you’ll have to pick one yourself.

3. Choose a Charity

Occasionally, the family does not select a beneficiary organization for memorial contributions. They may specify a monetary amount or a specific charity to receive the gifts, or they may leave the choice up to the guests. Consider these steps carefully if you must decide on a charitable organization on your own.

While you may care deeply about many issues, this is about the person who has passed away and honoring their memory. Unless the family has asked you to, this is not the time to advocate for your pet causes. As a means of putting things in context, think about:

  • The dead person’s life revolved on what?
  • What ailment or medical issue ultimately claimed the life of the deceased?
  • Was the decedent a member of any local groups or charities?

Give to a charity that represents the values of the person you’re honoring. Always go back and tell mom and dad if you’re unsure of what to do. They may think of more possibilities that point you in the right way.

4. Research the Organization

But alas, not all charities are created equal. As much as we’d like to think otherwise, the reality is that not every charity or cause is doing things properly. Before giving someone your money, there are many factors to consider. Before giving money to a charity, make sure they are legitimate and won’t steal your money.

Steps for verifying charities, as suggested by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

  • Verify the website to see if it provides important details about the charity, such as how the money is spent, how much of it goes toward actual initiatives, and so on. A red flag is shown if you are unable to locate this details.
  • Have a look at the reviews — did you realize that nonprofits also have evaluations? Yes, actually. To find out if the charity is reliable, just type in the charity’s name plus the words “review” or “rating” into a search engine.
  • Beware common scams – As sad as it is, many people trick others online by appearing to be a legitimate, well-known charity. Make sure you’re giving to the proper program and using the right website at all times.
  • Where will the money go? – Many organizations explain in detail how the money you give them will be used. Depending on the organization, you may even be able to designate your donation to a particular initiative. Keep an eye out for openness like this.
  • Don’t feel rushed into making a gift or skipping any of these measures; take your time. In order to weigh your choices thoroughly, you should take your time.
  • Put your trust in a charity evaluator like the Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance or Charity Navigator if you’re not sure where your money is best used.

Be careful of online crowdfunding platforms and other social media donation tools. It’s true that sometimes these organizations are doing good work, but they operate with essentially no oversight. The greatest approach to be sure your donation is properly used is to give to a reputable, established organization.

5. Learn How to Gift in Someone’s Name

To make a donation in someone else’s name to the charity of your choice, you’ll need to find out how to do so. Take into account that this is not the same as making a personal donation. To facilitate this process, many organizations have dedicated donation pages.

Once you’ve decided on a charity, visit their website and look for information on making a memorial or honorary donation. Looking up “gift in someone else’s name” is another option. Contact the organization if you have any questions. Representatives will typically assist you in finding the appropriate contribution instrument, and some may even process your donation on your behalf.

6. Make Your Donation

The time has come to make the contribution. This has, thankfully, never been simpler. You can use your bank account or credit card to do this virtually always. When making a donation to a smaller or local charity, you may be required to mail a paper check.

5 Questions to Ask Before Donating to a Charity | HowStuffWorks

When you submit your donation, fill out the deceased individual’s name in the “in honor of” section. You might also include the family’s contact information so the organization updates them about the status of the donation. Depending on the charity, a certificate or other memento might go to the family in the deceased person’s honor.

Do not forget to include the deceased person’s name in the “in honor of” area of your gift form. Don’t forget to give a way for the charity to get in touch with the donor’s loved ones if they have any questions regarding the donation. The charity may send a certificate or other souvenir to the family as a token of their appreciation for the donation made in the deceased’s name.

7. Notify the Family

Send word to the family that you’ve made a donation. In order to let the family know that a donation has been made in their name, some organizations will send electronic greeting cards or other correspondence. The family should be informed of the source of the donation, though, so you should still send a notification on your own.

If you are unsure what to write in a condolence card, just include this. An expression of sympathy through a card is a thoughtful gesture that will mean a lot to the family. It indicates that you care enough to go above and above by including a notice of your donation. This is a donation to be celebrated, so be sure to keep the deceased’s loved ones updated on its progress. You can expect them to write you a letter of gratitude for the contribution.

8. Follow the Charity

The greatest way to feel like your donation is making a difference is to follow the charity’s progress and the initiatives they’re working on. Virtually every charity today maintains a robust internet following, and it wastes no time informing donors exactly how their contributions are being put to use. Join us and witness firsthand how your contributions are shaping a better tomorrow.

Keeping up with the charity’s progress is a great way to keep your loved one’s memory alive. It is a wonderful tribute to them to be able to see their legacy continued via the good works of the organization. In the midst of tragedy, genuine optimism can emerge.

Make a Lasting Memory

There is a wide variety of funeral gifts available, but a donation to charity will have the most impact. Flowers wither, and notes get misplaced or lost. While these are meaningful gestures, a donation made in someone’s honor demonstrates your dedication to make the world a better place, and is therefore more fitting than flowers or other gifts.

Donating to charity is a great thing to do, but it’s important to be strategic about it. Whether you’re donating the money directly or passing it on to the family, use the guidelines we’ve outlined above.

There is no better time than during awareness months like December’s HIV/AIDS Awareness Month to make a gift to a good cause. Remembering a departed family member or friend in this way is a possibility.

After passing on, donations are a wonderful way to continue making a difference. Do you want to inspire your loved ones to make charitable donations in your will? No matter what your heart’s desire is, it’s never too early to start thinking about your death.

What does it mean to make a donation in honor of someone?

When you make a contribution to a charity in someone else’s name, it shows that you are thinking of them while you help those in need. The donor only wants the recipient to know who the money is in honor of, not that the donor is that person.

Donation plaques and thank-you letters typically include the phrase “in honor of” or “in memory of,” and most organizations will let you make that selection. An “in honor of” inscription is normally for a live person. The latter, however, usually indicates that the person has passed away.

If you’re making a donation to a breast cancer research group in honor of a loved one who has passed away from the disease, you can write “in memory of” on your check.

Absolutely! Giving in someone else’s name is completely within the law.

Note that this does not necessarily imply that any information you provide while making a gift will be shared with them. In most cases, you’ll be able to designate whose name will be attached to your submission.

Be sure to include your name, address, and credit card or bank account details with any monetary contributions you make.

Can I write off the donation on my taxes if it’s in someone else’s name?

In a nutshell: yeah. If you have the proper documentation, you can deduct charitable contributions that were made in the name of another person. The extent to which your charitable contributions are tax deductible depends on variables such as your location, the nature of your gift, the organization you’re supporting, and so on.

Consult your financial expert before acting on this recommendation, since your unique scenario may necessitate other tools.

How to make a donation in someone else’s name?

Most organizations will ask whether you’d like to honor someone special with your donation, and if so, they’ll provide a place for you to do so.

Make a phone call or send an email to the company if you can’t find this info on their website. When you make a substantial donation, charities are usually more than pleased to accommodate such a request.

18,000+ Donate Pictures

What should the donation letter say?

If you send money to a charity, you’ll probably get a letter in return. Usually, this letter will include the name of the person you are commemorating with your donation if the website allowed for that.

Even if you don’t get a letter acknowledging your generosity, you can always write one yourself and present it to the recipient of the gift.

You may wish to consider include the following:

  • Data on the non-profit organization
  • To what end will the money be put? (i.e. a well, feeding children, etc.)
  • If there is any other use of the donor’s name except the donation of funds, then they should be consulted (i.e. plaque)
  • If it is suitable, please include the total amount of the donations made in honor of [name].

Is making a donation in honor of someone a good gift?

An individual’s age should be taken into account while deciding whether or not to make a donation in someone’s name. Donations made in honor of young children may go unappreciated because of their lack of comprehension of the notion. Give some thought to buying a tiny gift affiliated with the charity if you wish to make a donation for a kid. Get a small stuffed dog, for instance, and give it to a local animal shelter as a donation.

A donation made in someone’s honor may not be the best present for a child, but it can be quite touching if they are older and can appreciate it. Take into account which charity the honoree would be proudest to have their name linked with. Invest a few days in finding out the recipient’s likes, dislikes, and what will truly touch their heart. Once you have this information, selecting a charitable organization that shares their beliefs will be a breeze.

How can I present the gift of a donation to someone?

The next step, after deciding on a charitable organization to donate to in honor of your loved one, is to plan the presentation of your gift.

Depending on what was included with your contribution, you can go one of several ways.

Some charities, for instance, may send you a few freebies like t-shirts or stress balls in exchange for a monetary gift. Always remember to include the letter of donation with the gift you are giving.

Even if all you got was a letter thanking you for a donation, you can put it in a nice envelope and give it as a present. To spice things up, try creating your own letterhead using a free online tool like Canva. You may create a beautiful letter to notify the recipient that a gift has been made in their name or honor with the help of our free and simple templates.

How can I donate to Food for Life?

Getting ready to make a memorial gift?

Do us a favor and chip in to our charity.

Vegan meals are provided by Food for Life Global to help feed impoverished children all around the world. Up to 2 million plant-based meals each day are prepared and served through our global network of 265 affiliate projects in 60 countries. Over seven billion meals have been provided, which is no small effort!

You or the person you’d like to memorialize can feed 50 children with a donation of just $20. If you can afford to give more, know that $100 will provide food for 400 kids.

There will be no confusion over whose name will be attached to a donation if you choose to make it in memory of or in honor of a specific person at the time of the transaction.

Donate now to help save lives!

It’s A Wrap!

Exactly how does one go about making a memorial gift? With your newfound knowledge of how to make donations in the name of another person, you’ll have many more opportunities to help those in need with little to no further effort. This is only one possible approach; perhaps you can use it as a model for something similar in the future. There are a lot of people having a hard time right now, and people with cancer have it particularly tough. Giving them a lock of your hair is one way you may lend a hand. Knowing how to cut hair for donation makes individuals more at ease.