Arranging a Funeral: Supporting a charity
Supporting a charity in memory of a loved one
Honouring your loved one by supporting a cause close to their heart.
Many families choose to honour their loved one by supporting a charity in their memory. Donations can be a meaningful way to celebrate their life, while also providing support to a cause that was important to them. Whether it’s a charity related to an illness they faced, a local organisation they cared about, or a cause they were passionate about, we’re here to help you arrange donations in a respectful and thoughtful way.
How to Arrange Donations
There are a few ways you can encourage donations in memory of your loved one. You may choose to set up a collection at the funeral or invite people to donate directly to a chosen charity. If you would prefer, we can manage the donation process on your behalf and ensure that all contributions are handled with care.
Many funeral directors will have a donation website specifically for this purpose. Freeman Brothers’ site is created in partnership with MuchLoved and also enables tribute messages to be left, and this is our preferred means of donations being made as it is secure and the money is sent to the charity very quickly: it also offers the opportunity for taxpayers to ‘GiftAid’ their donation, which increases the amount of money the charity receives at no cost to the donor.
We keep collections open for at least five weeks, after which we will update you on the total raised and the names of donors.
If you’d like to include details about donations in the Order of Service or have the officiant announce it during the service, just let us know, and we can help organise this.
Choosing a Charity
Deciding on which charity to support can be a personal choice, and many families opt for organisations that align with the values or experiences of their loved one. This could be a national charity, a local organisation, or even multiple charities. If you’re unsure where to start, we can help guide you through the process, ensuring the charity you choose reflects your loved one’s passions and legacy.
Some of our most popular charity beneficiaries are below:
St Catherine's Hospice
Our local hospice, based in Crawley, West Sussex. A charity dedicated to providing specialised end-of-life care and support to local people and their friends, families and carers.
Cancer Research UK
Cancer Research UK is the world’s leading charity dedicated to beating cancer through research.
British Heart Foundation
The nation’s heart charity and the largest independent funder of cardiovascular research. Their pioneering research has helped to transform the lives of people living with heart and circulatory conditions.
Alzheimer’s Society
Living with dementia brings challenges. Alzheimer’s Society is the UK’s leading dementia charity, campaigning for change, funding research and supporting people living with dementia today.
Parkinson’s UK
Powered by people and funded by you, Parkinson’s UK’s local teams work to support people with Parkinson’s, their families, friends and carers, across the UK.
Mind
Providing advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem, Mind campaigns to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding.