Crowdfunding A Funeral When You Don't Have Any Money

There are four major types of crowdfunding:

Donation-based crowdfunding – This is the type of crowdfunding we will focus on in this guide, as it is the category where funeral crowdfunding falls. Donation-based crowdfunding is a fundraising campaign where people give to charitable causes without expecting anything in return.

Reward-based crowdfunding – As it is the most common type of crowdfunding, reward-based crowdfunding is the one that most people may be familiar. These campaigns are based upon the campaign organizer providing rewards in exchange for money pledged to the campaign.

Equity crowdfunding – This type of crowdfunding is when an organization exchanges shares in a private company for a monetary donation. It is typically used by start-up businesses to raise money for their

Debt crowdfunding – Crowdfunding like this more closely resembles business loans. The campaign organizer borrows money from individuals or groups to fund a business venture. They are expected to repay those “donations” by a specific deadline. There may be interest involved, allowing entrepreneurs to keep control of their new business while still offering some benefit to the investors.

Unlike a loan or purchasing life insurance, there is no application process accompanying most donation crowdfunding sites. You won’t be judged on your income, economic status, or anything of that sort. You won’t need to fill out forms or be trapped in a prolonged waiting period before you can start your fundraiser. You only need to be honest and straightforward about your goals when you begin the process (as we will guide you through below).

While there may be a short waiting period to access the money you’ve raised, this period is not overly long. The money is available when you need it – which may be very soon, depending on your situation. Even more, the process is transparent. It shows you exactly the amount of money you are expected to receive and when you can access it.

Asking for help, even when you need it most, can be difficult. By using a crowdfunding platform, you essentially only need to ask for assistance a single time as you build your campaign’s web presence and then share that campaign with your friends and family. You can also reach a wider network of people, letting your story – and your need – speak for you. You never know how many people you can reach with a simple funding campaign, though you must be prepared to leave your comfort zone to share it.

While it might not seem like much, a few dollars from strangers can add up. These small donations build over time, especially as more people hear your story and want to help. Small donations from a large network of people are more efficient than a single donation from one or two individuals.

While the most obvious advantage of crowdfunding a funeral is, of course, raising money to give your loved one the send-off they deserve. However, it isn't the only advantage out there. Crowdfunding connects you to others across the web, often those in your extended family or community, who may be grieving with you. It can bring solace if only because you know that you are not alone and that your loved one – and how much they meant to you – is known to others.

It also lets others constructively offer their condolences. Grief can be isolating; it's hard to see beyond the onslaught of emotions when we lose someone we love. The best cure for that is often to see that others are there for us. Often, they too have felt loss and want to help you navigate it.

To start a campaign, you will need to provide some basic personal information about yourself. Typically, this is your name and address as part of site registration. You'll need an e-mail address and, eventually, more personal information for the beneficiary of the funds (if it isn't you).

Campaigns like this do well if they are connected to a real person, so use your real name on the forms instead of a moniker or screen name.

For this step, you will want to give some thought to what you want to say. We recommend checking out our tip section below for information on how to craft your campaign. We recommend being upfront and honest about what you need and why.

You will want to add photographs to your campaign. People are visually oriented. Photographs will help make your campaign more personal and garner more attention from the onset.

Most sites require you to add a monetary goal for your donations. This can be tricky, as you want to choose an amount that is achievable while still acknowledging how much money you will need overall.

Fortunately, most campaigns can continue to raise money after you’ve met your goal. You may also want to make sure you are transparent about what will happen to any additional funds if you surpass your funding goals.

You also want to make sure you provide a time frame for the campaign. You won’t want to keep it up indefinitely, especially as most funeral planning should be accomplished within a few weeks of a person’s passing.

To receive funds, you will need to make sure to give the crowdfunding platform a way to "payout." Depending on the site, this may be a direct deposit to your bank account or through a third-party banking app like PayPal.

If you are raising money on behalf of another person, you may want to put their financial information there instead of your own. Make sure the information is accurate to avoid delays in receiving funds.

After you’ve made your campaign page, you will need to start filling out the important details. You’ll want to give some information about your situation. Who are you raising money for? What happened to them?

While adding a link to the person’s obituary can certainly offer the basics of the situation, it doesn’t provide that personal touch. To succeed in your campaign, you must make people care about the situation.

It’s easy to address friends and family who already care about you and the deceased. They may already know the details and feel an attachment to your loved one (or you) that will compel them to donate. But what about the extended family? Or those in your wider circle? Your campaign must include writing in a way that includes them as well.

Funeral expenses are surprisingly complex. There are many aspects to the planning that most people may not realize unless they have experienced this firsthand. Explaining why you need the amount of money and how it will be used helps people grasp how expensive funerals truly are. They are more likely to sympathize and provide help. If you feel comfortable, you can always upload copies of bills and pricing directly from invoices.

Do your research before you choose a crowdfunding platform. You don’t want to be surprised by any hidden fees (like credit card processing payments) attached to your donations. You also want to build those payments into the amount you are trying to raise.

You don’t want to meet your goal only to find yourself short once the fees are taken out of the final amount.

Never underestimate the power of social media. Once your campaign is active, you will be able to share the link to your friends, family, and greater network online. You should utilize all available social media platforms you use: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and any other online platforms you use.

Even then, your work isn’t finished after you post the link once. To be successful, you will want to continue to share it every few days (but not too often!). You want to keep the fundraiser in the public eye without over-saturating your social media feed with it. Asking for “likes and shares” on social media is appropriate and expected under the circumstances. Do not feel embarrassed to ask for help.

Additionally, giving regular updates on your campaign, including how much of the funeral expenses can be paid with the currently donated amount, helps your donors feel more invested in your fundraiser. If they know you are closer to reaching your goal, they may share the campaign with their networks as well, increasing the possibility that you will reach your goal.