Raising Money After a Death: How You Can Help

The loss of a loved one is perhaps the most difficult experience in life. Yet besides the emotional burden and coping with grief, financial challenges often arise: the costs for the funeral and memorial service alone can reach several thousand euros. Consequential costs, such as loss of income, aren't even factored in yet.

In this article, we'll show you how you can support bereaved families after a death – for example, by collecting donations through a crowdfunding campaign. We'll explain the benefits of such an action and how it helps those affected to ease financial worries. This way, they can focus more on what's essential: grieving together and remembering the deceased.

The most important thing: Be there for those affected during this difficult time. Listen and offer comfort. Perhaps you can offer to cook and go shopping for them. Because everyday things are often very difficult for those who are grieving. Besides the emotional pain, in many cases, the bereaved also face financial worries. Many wonder how they can help quickly and easily.

A fundraising campaign after a death can be a good way for the bereaved to have time to grieve without simultaneously worrying about their existence. Additionally, it can be a place on the internet where people can grieve together and have the opportunity to express their condolences while also helping in a very concrete way.

However, it's important that the bereaved agree to crowdfunding. Please always ask for permission first and absolutely respect it if those affected don't want this. Many are relieved and don't have the strength to start a donation campaign themselves. For some, however, it's uncomfortable or they don't want the attention, and you must respect that.

Crowdfunding creates both social and financial opportunities. It offers the bereaved a quick and simple way to receive support from a broad community. Not only do the funeral and a possible memorial service inevitably create costs for the bereaved, but in families, a death is often also associated with a loss of income. This is because often not all parents work full-time. Perhaps the widow or widower is not working and is now a single parent. This creates financial pressure in addition to the emotional pain. This can be alleviated through collecting donations.

The special thing about a donation campaign in cases of bereavement: A common point of contact is created on the internet for close people to express their condolences and simultaneously be able to help the bereaved in a concrete way. For friends who often feel helpless in cases of bereavement, a donation campaign thus offers a possibility to go beyond mere words like "my condolences" or "let me know if you need anything" and actively support the bereaved family members. For example, through their own donations or by sharing the crowdfunding, but also by setting up the campaign for them. Those left behind may be so overwhelmed by the emotional state of grief that they don't have the headspace to create the donation campaign themselves and gladly accept help with this.

We know that losing a loved one is an emotionally turbulent time. Whether you're starting a fundraising appeal as a directly affected person or as a friend or family member: It's important to take a breath and consider several things. For example, if it's not clear what the money is needed for, the campaign won't be as successful. We have therefore summarized the most important points for creating a successful fundraising appeal:

The first step to a successful crowdfunding campaign in case of bereavement is setting realistic goals. Consider how much money is needed for funeral costs, organizing a memorial service, and perhaps for additional support for the bereaved. Be realistic and transparent when stating this amount to build trust with potential donors. Also think about ongoing costs, such as paying off a house, supporting a single parent, or even a vacation or a nice trip to give the bereaved time and space to process.

Start your donation campaign on GoodCrowd.org quickly and easily: First register on the platform to create a new campaign. Within a few steps, you can then provide the required information: Describe exactly who and what the donations are needed for. Definitely upload a suitable image to gain the attention of potential donors. If you're starting the campaign for someone else, be sure to discuss which information can be published and what the bereaved need and want.

An emotionally appealing and informative campaign page is crucial for the success of your fundraising effort. Tell the story of the deceased and the bereaved. Explain what the collected funds will be used for. The donation page can also serve as a point of contact to share your story with multiple people simultaneously and keep everyone updated, instead of having to tell the story over and over again. This too can be a great relief for those who are grieving. It's best to inform donors about the campaign's progress and the use of funds. This builds trust and can even lead to additional donations. In one of our other articles, you'll also find more tips on how to write good text for your campaign.

Start by sharing the link to your campaign in your own network and in the deceased person's network. Consider which communities the person was active in, for example with employers, sports clubs, or other groups where personal relationships existed, and share the donation campaign there. Also ask friends and family to spread the campaign further. Additionally, you can use social media to increase reach. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter) or WhatsApp and email are powerful tools to make the campaign visible. The more people who see your campaign, the higher the likelihood that it will be shared further and you'll reach your goal.

Many people have been able to find urgently needed financial support after tragedies with the help of a donation campaign. Here are some successful examples of GoodCrowd.org campaigns that show how effective collecting donations can be in cases of bereavement:

Example 1: Father died | Help for Laura and her 3 children
Marc is only 50 years old when he dies from the effects of an aggressive type of prostate cancer. Laura and her three children not only have to cope with the loss of husband and father but also face major financial challenges. That's why Saskia & Verena, both friends with Laura since school days, started a fundraising campaign with the goal of helping the bereaved mother and her three children financially. The campaign collected 16,920 euros from 445 supporters. Enough money to better cope with both the funeral costs and a loss of income.

Example 2: Steffi needs our help
Shortly after losing her mother, Steffi's husband also dies completely unexpectedly at just 41 years old. Left behind is a single mother with their three-year-old son, without major financial reserves and facing an impending change of residence due to termination for personal use. A difficult fate. But friends don't want to leave her alone with this and set up a donation campaign. Within a short time, the set donation goal of 10,000 euros is reached thanks to the support of 287 people.

Example 3: Naledi's funeral
Naledi is just 18 years old when he is taken from life far too early through an accident in the swimming pool. Tamika subsequently starts a fundraising campaign and collects money in Naledi's circle to enable a funeral for the boy in the presence of his family in Kenya. The donation appeal is also shared in fan circles of FC St. Pauli, of which Naledi was a big fan. The campaign reached over 20,000 euros from 860 donors for a dignified farewell.

With GoodCrowd.org, you can start your own donation appeal for free. Whether you want to collect money for funeral costs, donations for a memorial service, or financial support for the bereaved – our platform offers you the opportunity to quickly and easily organize the necessary help.

Become active now: Start your own donation campaign on GoodCrowd.org and collect financial support for yourself or for people close to you to make this difficult path a little easier.

Be there for the bereaved: listen, offer comfort, and support in everyday life, e.g., through shopping or cooking. Help with organizing the funeral or memorial service can also be a great relief. If there are additional financial concerns, you can start a fundraising campaign with the family's consent to help collect money.

Crowdfunding is always a good idea when financial support can help the bereaved. Relief from high funeral costs and loss of income helps the grieving focus on their grief without additional financial worries. A donation campaign can also be a place on the internet where people grieve together and, besides making a donation, have the opportunity to express their condolences.

Always ask for permission beforehand. Pay attention to appealing text and a good photo to build trust. Share the campaign in your personal environment (clubs, work colleagues, etc.) and through social networks like WhatsApp, Signal, Instagram, or Facebook.