Charities That Help with Funeral Costs – Top 10

Are you searching for charities that help with funeral costs? If yes, this is absolutely a perfect page for you.

With an average cost of thousands of dollars, the traditional funeral can be expensive for many low-income families. This financial burden can create immense stress amid suffering the loss of their loved ones.

However, many charities play a key role in helping economically distressed families in such difficult times by providing grants, financial assistance, or covering specific funeral costs.

In tough times, like when you don’t have much money, it’s really hard to say goodbye to someone you love at their funeral.

Let me tell you a story about how my family and I faced this challenge. We didn’t have much money but wanted to give our grandpa a proper farewell. That’s when local charities stepped in to save the day.

Although it did take me lots of research and contacting multiple charities, luckily, I found a local charity that allowed us to say our goodbyes to Grandpa without worrying about the costs.

This article has information about such charities that help with funeral costs and offer other assistance to families who have lost their loved ones and are struggling to afford their cremation.

So, without further delay, let’s begin.

What Is Funeral Financial Assistance

Funeral financial assistance is a grant or financial aid to help pay for the funeral, cremation, or burial costs.

It is provided by various non-profit organizations, charities, and government programs to low-income families who struggle with funeral costs, including burial or cremation, caskets or urns, memorial services, and related expenses.

How Do I Find Charities That Help With Funeral Costs Near Me

Many charities offer funeral assistance to needy people at the state or national level. You can find one by contacting your local social services department or welfare office.

They can help you connect with charities or organizations that provide funeral assistance.

You may also find charities by typing “Charities That Help With Funeral Costs Near Me” on search engines such as Google, Yahoo, Bing, etc.

You can learn about some charities that help with funeral assistance in the next section.

Charities That Help With Funeral Costs – Top 10

Here are top charities that help with funeral costs.

Children Burial Assistance (CBA)

Children Burial Assistance is a non-profit organization that supports eligible families who have lost a child aged 1 to 17 years old.

The organization does not provide monetary assistance to parents but donates burial pots, cremation urns, and a resource database including information on funeral homes, cemeteries, crematories, florists, and companies providing headstones, grave markers, and caskets.

Some of these providers offer discounted services to CBA referrals.

Final Farewell

Final Farewell is a charitable organization that provides funeral assistance to families who have lost children under the age of 18. It offers financial aid covering expenses of funeral home services, cremation or burial, transportation, and memorial services.

Additionally, the organization guides families in making affordable funeral arrangements.

The Tears Foundation

The Tears Foundation is a non-profit organization that supports low-income families by directly paying the funeral home or the cemetery. The organization offers financial assistance only when an outstanding balance is due for funeral expenses. It helps families of deceased children in the age range of 20 weeks gestation to 12 years age.

Funeral Consumers Alliance

Funeral Consumer Alliance is a national non-profit organization that is dedicated to protecting consumer rights for funerals. It supports more than 50 funeral planning societies to help people with reasonable funeral arrangements in the United States. The organization partners with local mortuaries and multiple funeral-related businesses to provide low-cost service to its members.

The Hebrew Free Burial Association (HFBA)

HFBA is an organization in New York that was founded in the 1880s. It provides funeral assistance to Jews of all financial backgrounds, ensuring all people can have traditional funerals. The organization provides several services, including burials, pre-funeral needs, caring for cemeteries, kaddish services, etc.

Funeral Service Foundation

The Funeral Service Foundation was founded in 1945 to provide funeral services. It works with several funeral professionals, funeral service leaders, businesses, and organizations to support low-income families with low-cost or free funeral services.

The organization also offers programs, resources, and scholarships to funeral professionals to enhance their skills to help uplift grieving communities and families.

Family of God Ministry

Family of God Ministries is a charitable organization that supports homeless children and underprivileged families in Arizona with funeral and burial assistance. The organization was founded by Christina Aguilar in 2014.

Jewish Federation

Jewish Federation (JFED) is a Jewish non-profit organization that provides human services, including funeral assistance, to all communities in the United States.

American Red Cross

The American Red Cross is another organization that helps people afford the funeral costs. It works in partnership with Military Aid Societies to provide financial assistance for emergency travel, food, shelter, and burial of loved ones.

Angel Fund

The Angel Fund is a non-profit organization in Wakefield, Massachusetts that provides financial assistance through one-time grants to cover funeral burial or cremation expenses.

How Do I Apply For Charities That Help With Funeral Costs

Using the following steps, you can apply for charities that help with funeral costs.

• First, you need to search for a charity in your region that provides funeral assistance. You can do so by simply searching for the Charities That Help With Funeral Costs on Google.
• Once you find a charity, you next must open their website or call their helpline number to find out about their eligibility criteria and application process.
• You should collect the legal documents that verify your eligibility to get funeral assistance for the deceased member of your family.
• The last step is to complete the application form as directed by the charity offering the assistance.
• Once the charity is assured of your eligibility, you will be provided with their funeral support.

Eligibility For Charities That Help With Funeral Costs

The eligibility to get funeral assistance can vary depending on the charities. Your eligibility may be determined by the following.

• Some charities offer funeral assistance only to the residents of a particular state. You may also receive assistance from a state government program.
• Some charities and organizations offer funeral assistance to the families of deceased of specific age groups.
• Some charities or programs have income limits as an eligibility to offer funeral assistance to families.
• Some charities offer funeral assistance for deaths related to certain causes or service-related deaths for veterans. For example, the US Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) offers Funeral Assistance to those who have incurred funeral expenses due to COVID-19.
• Sometimes, eligibility can be based on your relationship with the deceased person, such as a spouse, child, parent, or close relative.

Documents Required

The documents you need for Charities That Help with Funeral Costs, can vary based on the organization you are applying to. However, some general documents that are commonly required include the following.

• A copy of the death certificate: This would show the cause of death and the deceased’s personal information.
• Proof of funeral expenses: This could include receipts from the funeral home showing the incurred expenses.
• Proof of your relationship to the deceased includes your marriage certificate, birth certificate, or any other document showing your legal relationship to the deceased.
• Proof of your income: This includes any document that shows your income to verify that you meet the income limit and need financial aid.

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What Types Of Funeral Expenses Do Charities Typically Cover?

The funeral expenses that charities cover can vary for different organizations and locations. It also depends on the level of assistance you qualify for.

Some general funeral expenses charities cover include the following.

• Funeral director fees
• Casket or urn
• Transportation costs
• Embalming and other preparation
• Cremation fees
• Home or the funeral service location
• Venue rental
• Flowers and other memorial items

Burial Assistance Programs For The Uninsured From The Government

Apart from Charities that help with Funeral Costs and non-profit organizations, the government also offers free burial assistance programs to help low-income, disadvantaged groups of people afford funeral costs.

Here are some government programs that provide funeral assistance.

Social Security benefit

Social Security Survivor Benefits is a government program that provides financial assistance to families struggling with the funeral costs of their loved ones. The program pays a one-time benefit of $225, which can help cover the funeral expenses.

The Social Security Administration (SSA) benefits-eligible family members of the deceased. To qualify, you must be the deceased’s spouse, child, or parent and meet certain requirements.

Military Burial Benefits for Veterans

This program helps veterans and their families cover some funeral arrangement costs. This program allows eligible military veterans and their families to receive burial benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

The Veteran Benefits program eligibility criteria include veteran status, length of service, discharge type, or any other requirement as prescribed by the VA.

The benefits include a gravesite or burial allowance, military honors, and headstones or markers.

FEMA Burial Services Program

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) runs a Burial Services Program offering funeral assistance to people who have lost their loved ones due to federally declared disaster.

FEMA assists eligible individuals with funeral expenses such as burial or cremation, caskets or urns, transportation, Embarking or cremation fees, and other essential funeral expenses.

Burial Services Program by States

Many states offer Burial Assistance Programs to support low-income families financially during difficult times. Each state has its eligibility requirements for these programs. You can research the burial assistance programs available in your state.

Churches That Help With Funeral Costs

In addition to Charities That Help with Funeral Costs, many churches help low-income people facing the burden of funeral costs.

Here are some of them.

Catholic Church Charities

Catholic Church Charities is a network of local charities that provide various social services, including funeral assistance. They offer financial assistance to help needy families with funeral expenses such as burial or cremation fees, caskets or urns, and other related expenses.

The Salvation Army

The Salvation Army (TSA) is a Protestant Christian Church and an international charitable organization in London, England. It offers funeral assistance to families in need, irrespective of their religion.

The Presbyterian Church

The Presbyterian Church offers funeral assistance to its members through its Compassionate Care Fund in the United States. You can contact your local Presbyterian church to inquire about their eligibility for assistance.

The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod

The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod offers funeral assistance to its members through its charity funds. You can inquire through your local Lutheran church about their eligibility to get assistance.

Additional Tips To Get Help With Funeral Costs

You can consider these few useful tips to get from Charities That Help with Funeral Costs.

• You should provide valid eligibility details to charities or organizations while applying for funeral assistance.
• If you are denied assistance by one charity, you should contact other organizations for help.
• It is advisable to contact your local churches or organizations.
• You can contact your local social service office or welfare department to get help with the funeral costs of your loved one.
• You can consider crowdfunding platforms like
• GoFundMe is an alternative way to collect money for funeral expenses.
• You can ask for charity discounts, as some offer funeral discounts to veterans, senior citizens, and other groups.
• It is recommended to choose cremation instead of burial because cremation is less expensive than burial.
• You should choose a simple casket or urn rather than an expensive one.
• You can hold the funeral service at a home or church instead of a funeral home.
• You can ask your friends or family to help with transportation, flower arrangements, and food.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Social Security help with funeral expenses?

Partially yes. SSA (Social Security Administration) pays a small grant to eligible individuals of some beneficiaries to help with funeral costs. The amount referred to as the Lump-Sum Death Benefit is only provided to eligible beneficiaries.

Can I receive funeral assistance if my loved one has no insurance?

Yes. There are options to receive funeral assistance even if your loved one has no insurance. You can get it through your state’s government programs, charities, and non-government organizations.

Are there special funeral assistance programs for veterans?

Yes. There are special funeral assistance programs available for veterans and their families. One is the Veterans Administration (VA) Burial Benefits program, which offers financial assistance to eligible veterans and their families to help them pay for funeral expenses.

Do charities cover the entire cost of a funeral?

Whether or not charities will cover the funeral cost depends on the charity offering the funeral assistance. In most cases, charities do not cover the funeral cost and generally offer financial assistance to help reduce the funeral expenses. Some charities provide one-time aid to cover specific funeral expenses, like burial plots, cremation costs, or basic funeral services.

How can I find local charities that help with funeral costs?

You can find local charities that help with funeral costs through research. You can contact your local social service office to get help with this.