Memorial Donations

More frequently, friends and family may encounter the phrase, "in lieu of flowers, please send donations to..." Appropriate charitable organizations may include a favorite charity of the deceased. If he or she suffered an illness the specified charity may be a medical research organization that works for a cure in that area. Selecting a charity that will make good use of the money is an important consideration. Helpful research can be done over the web at these sites:

• American Institute of Philanthropy (www.charitywatch.org) is a nonprofit charity watchdog and information service that provides donors with the information they need to make more informed giving decisions. AIP's website provides ratings on numerous charities.
• Guidestar (www.guidestar.org) includes a searchable database of over 1.7 million nonprofit organizations. Users can locate specific charities by name, subject, location and other criteria. Guidestar provides financial information and links to the charity's website.
• The BBB Wise Giving Alliance provides financial information and links to the charity's website. The BBB Wise Giving Alliance (www.give.org) is a 501(c)(3)charitable organization, affiliated with the Council of Better Business Bureaus. The BBB Wise Giving Alliance collects and distributes information on hundreds of nonprofit organizations that solicit nationally or have national or international program services. It routinely asks such organizations for information about their programs, governance, fund raising practices, and finances when the charities have been the subject of inquiries.
• Charity Navigator (www.charitynavigator.org) works to advance a more efficient and responsive philanthropic marketplace by evaluating the financial health of over 5,300 of America's largest charities.

See related topics:

What to Say / What to Do
Offering Condolences
Sending Funeral Flowers
Sending Thank You Notes

Go to Learn About Funerals — Index of Topics.