Create a Memorial Fund in Lieu of Flowers

The experience of losing a loved one is difficult, no matter who you are. It's challenging to express and work through your emotions. Though losing people in your life is a universal experience, the frequency at which it occurs does not desensitize us to the pain.

One of the most descriptive and enduring quotes about the difficulties of expressing pain was penned by Virginia Woolf: "The merest schoolgirl, when she falls in love, has Shakespeare or Keats to speak her mind for her; but let a sufferer try to describe a pain in his head to a doctor and language at once runs dry." So what is there to do when there's nothing left to say?

In the wake of loss, we often try to honor our loved ones and our family's wishes, donate to a favorite charity, or pursue other causes that would have been meaningful to our loved ones. Another way to keep your loved one's memory alive, in lieu of flowers, is to set up a memorial scholarship or fund. A memorial scholarship can both honor your loved one and have a positive impact on your community, preserving their legacy for years to come.

Sign up to be a donor with Bold.org today and create a lasting legacy through a scholarship in memory of your loved ones.

Setting Up a Memorial Fund with Bold.org

At Bold.org, we believe in the influence of compassion and the profound impact of giving back. Creating a memorial fund is more than an act of philanthropy—it's a deeply personal way to celebrate a loved one’s life and ensure their memory continues to inspire others. Being a recipient of a scholarship fund can be just as rewarding as giving and may even inspire others to pay it forward.

Setting up a memorial scholarship is easy, but it should still be approached with care to make sure you're honoring your loved one the way that you and your family want to. Here's a full guide on the practical steps for setting up a memorial scholarship fund, while the rest of this article will explore how a memorial scholarship can be a more meaningful gift in lieu of flowers.

Understanding Memorial Donations

• Memorial donations are a thoughtful way to honor your loved one and support your family during a difficult time.
• They can be made to a charity or organization that is important to your loved one.
• Memorial donations can be a meaningful alternative to sending flowers or other traditional condolences.
• They can also help to support your family with funeral expenses or other costs associated with the funeral or memorial service.

Creating a Memorial Fund or Scholarship in Lieu of Flowers

People often fall back on time-honored gestures to express solidarity in times of grief. Some might send flowers to your home, make a charitable donation in your loved one’s name, or choose other ways to signal support.

You can also direct support into a single, meaningful cause by setting up a memorial fund to help finance a scholarship. The fund allows family and friends to contribute, and the collected donations can then be used to award a scholarship to a student who embodies the values or aspirations of your loved one. In this way, the scholarship becomes a symbol of carrying forward your loved one’s dreams.

Memorial Scholarships and Memorial Funds

A memorial scholarship is a thoughtful way to honor a lost loved one. It's a form of financial aid that is set up in memory of your loved one and provides money for students looking to pursue a higher education. You can specify the scholarship requirements so that applicants must have values, passions, or interests that reflect your loved one’s. That way, you know the money is going to someone who will help keep their dream alive.

A memorial fund is a pool of money set aside to honor your loved one's passion, values, and dreams. You can ask friends and family to donate to the fund in lieu of flowers to help create a lasting tribute that supports a scholarship in their name. This way, their memory lives on by giving others the opportunity to pursue the dreams they once cherished, creating a ripple effect of love and impact that honors their legacy for years to come.

If you wish to start a memorial scholarship fund for your loved one, let family and friends know that their donations are a way to keep their spirit alive. By contributing to the fund, they’re helping to build a legacy that reflects the love, passion, and dreams of your loved one. Each gift becomes a part of their story, ensuring their memory lives on through the lives they touch and the opportunities they create for others.

To learn more about setting up a memorial scholarship fund, including important details and how to ensure it remains tax-free, read our guide on how to create a memorial scholarship.

Memorial Fund Etiquette

When creating a memorial fund, be sure to follow proper etiquette and guidelines.

• Take some time to clearly share your intentions with family, friends, and potential donors, helping them understand how their contributions will honor your loved one’s memory.
• Be mindful of your own feelings and those of close family members, respecting any preferences or guidelines that you’ve all agreed upon during this time of grief.
• If you’re unsure where to start, consider reaching out to a funeral home or reach out directly to Bold.org to help you manage the fund, ensuring it’s handled with the care and respect your loved one deserves.

Alternative Wording Ideas

When asking friends and family to contribute to your loved one’s memorial fund, choosing the right words can help convey your wishes and make it clear that you prefer donations over traditional gifts. This allows those around you to understand how to best support you. 

Here are some alternative phrases you might consider:

• Instead of “in lieu of flowers,” consider using phrases like “memorial contributions to” or “donations in memory of.”
• You can also use phrases like “the family requests,” “in honor of,”  or “the deceased’s family asks that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the memorial fund” to indicate that donations are preferred.
• Other options include “charitable donations in memory of” or “memorial gifts to.”
• Be sure to include the name of the designated charity or organization to make it clear where donations should be sent.

Sharing Your Memorial Fund

• Let family, friends, and potential donors know why you’ve created the fund and what the donations will support.
• Consider using social media or other online platforms to share information about the fund and encourage donations in lieu of flowers.
• Keep in mind the wishes of close family members, and be sensitive to any preferences or guidelines you’ve all discussed.
• If needed, work with a funeral home to help share the fund.

Memorial Contributions Beyond Donations

While memorial donations are a thoughtful way to honor the deceased, there are other ways to pay tribute as well.

• Consider something permanent, like planting a tree, dedicating a bench, or commissioning a memorial piece that symbolizes your loved one’s spirit.
• Participating in a special ceremony can be a powerful way to honor your loved one’s life.

These alternatives add a thoughtful, lasting touch that is valued and appreciated in a way that flowers may not fully convey.

Final Considerations to Honor Family Wishes

When setting up a memorial scholarship or fund, be sure to make it clear what your intent is and how the scholarship honors your loved one. Though a memorial scholarship may have a more lasting impact than a flower arrangement, it’s still important to follow funeral etiquette: be mindful of your family’s feelings during this time, attend the funeral service, offer your support with kindness, and respect their wishes by finding thoughtful ways to honor your loved one beyond the memorial fund.

Frequently Asked Questions About Memorial Funds

How much does a memorial scholarship cost to set up?

Bold.org allows donors to set up memorial scholarships for free. Donors only need to fund the scholarship with the amount they wish to award to their scholarship recipient.

How long does it take to set up a memorial scholarship?

On Bold.org, setting up a memorial scholarship is a quick and simple process. Once you’ve secured funding, you can create the scholarship in just a few steps, allowing the scholarship to be up and running in time for your loved one’s memorial service. If you wish to gather support from family and friends, establishing a memorial scholarship fund is also straightforward. Our Donor Team will help guide you through the process, making it easy to honor your loved one's memory with a meaningful tribute.

How can I make sure the memorial scholarship honors my loved ones?

Scholarships are quite malleable. You can choose criteria for who gets to apply, as well as place other stipulations on the money so that it's only used as you intend it. For example, if you want to honor someone who was artistically inclined and involved in their community, you could create a scholarship exclusively for aspiring art teachers. This way, you can keep your loved one's dream alive and rest easy knowing the money is being used as they would have wanted.

Let our expert Donor Team help you through this difficult time. Sign up today and get started creating a memorial scholarship or fund with a lasting effect.