Creating a Memorial Fund

Honoring the Memory of a Loved One

If you have recently lost a loved one, we extend our sincere condolences. Our team understands that dealing with arrangements during a time of grief can be overwhelming. We want to make the process of establishing a memorial fund to honor your loved one as easy as possible. 

Creating a Memorial Fund allows you to solidify the legacy of a loved one by supporting the causes and charities they were passionate about. You can raise funds over time and request donations in lieu of flowers, which will be used to establish a scholarship or invest back into the community – all in the memory of someone who is special to you.

Donor Benefits

• You may choose to name the fund after your loved one, honoring their legacy in the community for years to come.
• You will receive a donation link, allowing easy access for friends and family to give to the fund in lieu of flowers.
• All gifts made to your fund are fully tax-deductible.
• Our expert staff will work with you to help identify giving opportunities that fit the purposes of your fund and the individual you are honoring.
• The Foundation will handle all the administrative and processing tasks associated with your scholarship awards and gifts to your fund.
• There is no minimum initial contribution required for Memorial Funds. Our team will work with you to determine the type of fund that is best for you and your family at the time.

Getting Started

Contact the Foundation:
Click on the Fact Sheet button below or contact us directly at (570) 463-4040 and let us know you want to establish a memorial fund. All you need to do at this point is select a simple name for the fund (example: the Jane Doe Memorial Fund). This allows our office to establish the fund in our system to be ready for the donations.

Encourage donors: 
We recommend printing a statement in the obituary and memorial service program: “Memorial donations can be made payable to the <Name of the Fund> and mailed to: Mansfield Foundation, 54 S. Main St., Mansfield, PA 16933. Donations can also be made securely online at give.mansfieldfoundation.org."

What can wait for later

Completing fund documents: 
There will be fund agreement paperwork to complete. If we have not heard from you within a month, a member of our team will reach out to you to begin the paperwork process.

Deciding your funds goals: 
As we work with you to complete the fund documents, we will discuss the charitable intent of the memorial fund. Memorial funds can distribute grants to 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, or provide critical student scholarships.

Sending donor acknowledgments: 
The Mansfield Foundation will send the official tax acknowledgment letters by mail for check donations within a few days of receipt of the gift. Credit card gifts receive an automatic thank you email. If you wish to send personalized notes to thank donors, the Foundation maintains a list of contact information of the donors, allowing you to send notes whenever you are ready. In the event of an anonymous donation, the Foundation will notify you a gift has been made and if you wish to write a note, we will be happy to mail it directly to the donor on your behalf.

Download Fact Sheet