How to raise money for a funeral.

You set up a campaign page on a crowdfunding platform with a photo of the person who died, a short story about who they were, and a fundraising goal (typically the actual funeral cost). You share the link to friends, family, social media, and the obituary. Donations come in over a few days to a few weeks.

Most platforms transfer the funds to a bank account within 2 to 5 business days of donations. The funds can be used however the family decides — funeral costs, travel, lost wages, anything.

Two cost components: platform fees (some platforms charge a percentage; others run on optional tips) and payment processing fees (typically 2.9% + 30 cents per donation, charged by Stripe or a similar processor).

GoFundMe

The largest and best-known. 0% platform fee in the United States; only payment processing fees apply (2.9% + 30 cents). Setup is fast (15 minutes), payouts are reliable, and the search-discovery layer brings in some donations from outside the family network. Best default for most families.

Ever Loved

Built specifically for funerals. 0% platform fee; payment processing only. Includes funeral-specific features: obituary publishing, memorial wall, livestream coordination, and integration with funeral homes. Worth using when the family wants the campaign to double as a memorial site.

GiveButter

Newer entrant. 0% platform fee; runs on optional tips from donors plus payment processing. Adds features like text-to-give and event ticketing. Useful when the family is doing a memorial event and wants ticketing in the same place.

Plumfund

The oldest 0% platform-fee option. Simple, slightly older interface. Works fine but lacks some of the polish of newer platforms. Best when the family wants no surprises.

The photo

One clear, smiling photo of the person who died. Recent if possible; meaningful if not. The photo is the first thing every donor sees. Skip the formal black-and-white portrait unless that’s what feels right; a real photo of the person doing what they loved is more powerful.

The headline

Person’s name and what you’re raising for. Examples that work:

• “Help us lay Maria to rest”
• “Funeral costs for John (1962–2026)”
• “Memorial for our father, Robert”

The story (300–500 words)

Three parts:

1. Who they were. Specific, warm, real. What did they love? Who did they love? Two or three concrete details beat a paragraph of generalities.
2. What happened. Brief. The cause of death only if the family is comfortable sharing it. Donors don’t need clinical detail; they need to know the loss is real.
3. What the funds will be used for and the ask. Direct: “We’re raising $8,000 to cover funeral costs and travel for family flying in. Anything you can give helps.”

The goal amount

Pick something realistic. Match it to actual funeral costs and known travel needs. Goals can be raised mid-campaign if more money comes in than expected. Setting it too high (“$50,000”) is a turn-off; setting it too low limits how much people give.

The first 72 hours are when most of the money comes in. After that, traffic and donations drop sharply. Make a real push in those first three days.

1. Personal text or call to immediate family and close friends — share the link with a short note. Ask if they’ll share it too. The first 5–10 donors set the tone.
2. Post to your own social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn). Pin it. Repost it once a day for the first week.
3. Ask 5–10 friends or relatives to share it from their accounts. Each share roughly doubles the campaign’s reach.
4. Include the link in the obituary — both the funeral home website and any newspaper notice.
5. Add it to the funeral home’s tribute page. Most funeral homes will list a fundraiser link on the deceased’s online memorial page at no charge.
6. Send an email to the deceased’s employer/colleagues if appropriate — many workplaces will pass it around.
7. Update the campaign page with a thank-you message and a status update at day 3 and day 7. Updates re-trigger emails to past donors.

The IRS treats most personal funeral crowdfunding contributions as personal gifts, which are not taxable income to the recipient and not tax-deductible to the donor (because the recipient is not a qualified charity). This is the case for almost all funeral campaigns.

Exceptions:

• If the recipient gives donors something of value in return (e.g., merchandise), that portion may be income.
• If the campaign is run through a registered 501(c)(3) charity, donations may be tax-deductible to the donor.

The platform may issue a 1099-K if total receipts exceed thresholds. Receiving a 1099-K does not automatically mean the income is taxable — consult a tax professional if you receive one.

It works well when…

• The family has an active social network and is willing to share.
• The story has clarity — an unexpected death, a young person, a community member.
• The family is comfortable asking for help publicly.

It works less well when…

• The family is private and doesn’t want a public campaign.
• There’s no person willing to manage the campaign for the first week.
• The death is older — campaigns started months after the death raise less.

Even when crowdfunding does not cover the full cost, it routinely covers a meaningful portion. It is rarely a wasted effort if the family is willing to share it.