The death of a loved one is always difficult. When families cannot afford the high costs associated with funeral expenses, churches can often provide compassionate financial assistance.
Churches that help with funeral expenses understand the emotional and financial burden of losing a loved one. Many churches have funds allocated specifically to help grieving families struggling with burial and funeral costs.
Whether it is help paying for the funeral service, burial plot, cremation, or other final expenses, churches want to support members during this difficult time.
You can request funeral expense assistance from your church community, which can ease some financial stress and focus on healing. In this guide, we will explore some of the top churches and faith-based charities that help with funeral costs.
According to the National Funeral Directors Association, the average cost of a funeral with burial in the U.S. is now over $7848. For low-income households, it can be extremely difficult to afford this expense.
Fortunately, there are churches, charities, and government programs that provide funeral financial assistance for those in need. If you are struggling with funeral expenses, the organizations below may be able to help.
List of Churches that Help with Funeral Expenses
If funeral costs become too much to bear for a grieving family, there are churches across the country that offer financial help. Below is a list of churches that help with funeral expenses.
1) United Methodist Church
The United Methodist Church encourages members to utilize their facilities and resources for funeral services. Local UM churches have sanctuaries available for the funerals of members as well as other Christians in the community.
The United Methodist Church helps pay for the funeral home service, burial plots, or cremation costs. The church may also organize meal trains, collect donations, and provide other support.
UMC can provide many services to support grieving families during the visitation and funeral:
- Guest Visitation – The church can host visiting hours the evening before the funeral.
- Military Honors – If the deceased was a veteran, the church will coordinate military honors like flag folding.
- Pall for Casket – They have palls to respectfully drape over the casket during the service.
- Funeral Music – They will arrange appropriate music like hymns or solos.
- Decorations – The church can be decorated with flowers and other touches.
- Closed Casket Option – Families may choose to have a closed casket during the service.
- Family Meal – A meal for family and guests can be provided at the church after burial.
- Memorials – UMC can assist with setting up donations and memorials in honor of the deceased.
For example, Pendleton Center of United Methodist church, New York, and Los Altos United Methodist Church offer various types of funeral assistance.
If you are a member of a United Methodist Church and cannot afford funeral services, don’t worry. You can still have a service at your church.
Talk to your pastor to see if the church can help with funeral expenses. They may be able to cover or arrange for some of the costs.
2) Jewish Federation
Jewish Federations across the U.S. and Canada often have burial societies or funeral funds to help local Jewish families.
When a community member passes away, the Jewish Federation may provide a funeral cost allowance to those in financial need. The funds depend on the local Federation’s resources and budget.
For example:
1) The Greater Miami Jewish Federation offers an Indigent Burial Program to help those who cannot afford a proper Jewish burial.
The program collaborates with local cemeteries, funeral homes, and monument makers to provide burial plots and Jewish interment.
Donations to the Tzedakah Fund support the program.
2) The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles offers Burial Assistance to Holocaust survivors and older adults
If you cannot afford burial costs, as a Jewish community member, this service is available to you.
3) The Jewish Federation of Northwest Indiana helps with funeral expenses.
To get help with funeral expenses, Contact to the nearest Jewish Federation office and discuss your situation with them. If you’re an active member of the Jewish community in that area, they can help arrange affordable or free Jewish burial services.
3) Lay Them to Rest: Program by Diocese of Madison
The Diocese of Madison in Wisconsin provides a funeral expense assistance program called Lay Them to Rest. It offers financial help to low-income Catholic families who cannot afford burial and funeral costs for loved ones.
Some dioceses offer free interment services to encourage proper burial of cremated bodies. The “Lay Them to Rest” program in Madison and Wisconsin is also available in several cities, including Madison, Milwaukee, Detroit, Seattle, Denver, and Lincoln.
To apply for aid, contact the parish where the funeral will be held. Ask to speak with the pastor regarding the Lay Them to Rest program.
The pastor will go over eligibility and assist with the application process. Funds up to $1,000 may be available for funeral costs.
4) Roman Catholic Church
Like the United Methodist Church, many Roman Catholic parishes also have funds allocated to help parishioners pay for funerals.
Local Catholic Churches may assist with costs like the funeral mass, burial plots, cremation, and burial containers. Speak with your priest to see if funeral assistance is available.
Catholic Charities also has offices across the U.S. that may provide some funeral expense aid for struggling families. Contact your local Catholic Charities branch to inquire about funeral funds.
5) Catholic Church Charities
There are many nationwide Catholic charities that may help families pay for funeral and burial expenses. These include:
- Society of St. Vincent de Paul – SVDP conferences associated with local Catholic churches dispense funds for burial costs based on need.
- Catholic Charities USA – Some local Catholic Charities agencies offer funeral grants or loans to the poor.
- Knights of Columbus – Local K of C chapters may assist with funeral costs for members and their families.
- Catholic Cemeteries – Operated by dioceses, Catholic cemeteries sometimes have indigent burial funds.
Contact local branches to access aid from Catholic charities and explain your funeral expense situation.
Charities that Help With Funeral Costs
There are also many non-profit organizations and charities that help with funeral costs. Here are some top charities that provide funeral financial assistance.
6) Funeral Consumer Alliance
The Funeral Consumer Alliance (FCA) provides discounted funeral services and financial assistance to needy families. They negotiate with local funeral homes to offer lower-cost funerals for members.
The Funeral Consumer Alliance is a group that helps protect people’s rights when planning a funeral. They work with over 50 funeral planning societies and have affiliate groups in different parts of the US.
They provide a list of resources and memorial societies that people can use. A memorial society is a non-profit group that helps members plan affordable funerals for burial or cremation.
These societies work with local mortuaries and other businesses to get the best prices for their members.
For instance, the San Diego Memorial Society charges a one-time, non-refundable fee of $55 for individuals, $100 for two family members, and an extra $45 for each additional family member. The fees may vary depending on the society.
7) The TEARS Foundation
The TEARS Foundation will pay the funeral home or cemetery directly. They do not give funds to the family, and there must be an unpaid balance for them to provide help.
The TEARS Foundation provides financial assistance to families grieving the loss of a child who are struggling to afford funeral and burial costs. Their programs include:
- Infant Funeral Assistance – For infants 20 weeks gestation up to 1 year old, TEARS offers up to $500 for burial services and $250 for cremation services. Additional funds may be available for special urns or keepsakes.
- Charlie and Braden Project – For children ages 1-12 that pass away unexpectedly, TEARS provides up to $500 in funeral financial aid.
- Jesse’s Grant Program (20 weeks gestation up to one year old)– TEARS purchases granite grave markers for infants who qualify for their funeral assistance program. Up to $500 can be granted if the cemetery requires a different marker.
How to Apply:
You can apply for aid from The TEARS Foundation in three ways:
- Email the application and supporting documents to [email protected].
- Fax the application and documents to (253) 848-0299.
- Submit the application online through their website.
The application must include:
- Itemized funeral bill
- Death certificate or fetal death certificate (both pages if fetal)
- Income verification
If waiting for the final death certificate, send the preliminary copy to start the process. Applications are reviewed within 5 days and approved funds go directly to the funeral home.
8) Children’s Burial Assistance
The Children’s Burial Assistance (CBA) organization helps children aged 1-17. They don’t give money to parents or guardians, but they offer donated burial pots, cremation urns, and a resource database.
The database has useful information about funeral homes, cemeteries, crematories, florists, and companies that provide headstones, grave markers, and caskets.
Many of these providers offer discounted services to CBA referrals. Some even give services at cost to help families pay for the funeral.
9) Final Farewell
Final Farewell provides financial assistance, advice and guidance to grieving families from all religions and backgrounds so they may provide an affordable and decent funeral for their loved child.
Final Farewell serves families of all backgrounds and religions across Pennsylvania and the entire U.S.
Families who meet their Charity Policy and are in great need may receive full funeral services, including burial, at no cost.
Other non-profits that may assist with funeral costs include:
- Local hospices
- Church bereavement funds
- Civic organizations
- GoFundMe memorial fundraisers
Government Organizations That Help With Funeral Expenses
If you have limited income, the government has programs that help pay for funeral and burial costs. Here are some options:
10) Department of Human Services
Your state’s Department of Human Services may help pay funeral or cremation assistance for people enrolled in Medicaid, TANF, or other public assistance programs.
For example,
The Illinois Department of Human Services help pay funeral and burial expenses if the person cannot afford them and meets certain criteria.
The maximum amount that will be paid is $1,370 for a funeral and $686 for a cremation or burial.
Contact your local DHS office.
11) US Department of Veterans Affairs
The US Department of Veterans Affairs offers Veterans burial allowances (sometimes called “Veterans death benefits”) to help cover burial, funeral, and transportation costs.
These include plot allowances, burial in VA national cemeteries, and other benefits.
If a Veteran dies due to a service-connected death, the burial allowance amount is $2,000.
For a non-service-connected death that occurred on or after October 1, 2023, the burial allowance amount is $948, and an additional $948 is provided for a plot.
Call the VA at 1-800-827-1000 to learn more.
12) FEMA Funeral Assistance
FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) may help families with funeral expenses if there is a federally declared disaster.
These benefits include funeral service, burial or cremation, casket or urn, burial plot, headstone, repatriation of remains, and transportation.
For example,
COVID-19 Funeral Assistance by FEMA
The COVID-19 incident period ended on May 11, 2023. FEMA will still offer funeral assistance until Sept. 30, 2025, to those who have lost loved ones because of the pandemic.
So far, FEMA has given $2.8 billion to eligible applicants for COVID-19 Funeral Assistance.
If you are paying for a COVID-19 funeral, you may be able to receive aid from FEMA.
You may qualify for up to $9,000 per funeral to cover expenses.
Call FEMA at 1-844-684-6333 for more information.
13) National Cemeteries
The Department of Veterans Affairs maintains 135 national cemeteries that provide burial plots for veterans and eligible family members for free.
National cemeteries also provide a free interment and don’t pay for the other funeral expenses.
Contact the VA about burial in a national cemetery.
14) Social Security Death Benefit
If the deceased paid into Social Security for at least 40 quarters (A worker can earn up to 4 credits each year), their spouse and dependent children may receive a $255 death benefit from Social Security.
Contact SSA to apply.
5 tips to Get Help With Funeral Costs
If you need assistance paying for a funeral, here are some tips:
1) Research All Options
Explore the various churches, charities, and government programs mentioned in this article. See what funeral funds are available in your area.
2) Ask For Help
Don’t be afraid to explain your financial situation and request funeral expense aid from organizations, social workers, and religious groups. Most want to help.
3) Set Up a Crowdfunding Page
Create a crowdfunding page to collect donations from friends and family. GoFundMe is a popular site used for memorial fundraising.
4) Seek Free or Low-Cost Funerals
Some charities like FCA provide free or very affordable funeral options for those in need. Consider lower cost burials and direct cremations.
5) Get Itemized Price Lists
To save money, get itemized price lists from several funeral homes to compare costs. Only pay for what you can afford.
6) Apply for Government Aid
Take time to apply for any government funeral assistance programs you may qualify for. Every little bit helps.
Conclusion
Losing a loved one is painful enough without the burden of costly funeral expenses. So it is important to find churches that help with funeral expenses to ease the burden of costly funeral.
Other compassionate resources such as charities, Non profit organizations, and government agencies may also provide financial assistance for funeral expenses.
Don’t hesitate to contact for help to grieve without extra financial stress.
