How to Write a Donation Gift in Lieu of Flowers
Often funeral announcements will state that charitable donations can be made to a particular charity in lieu of flowers. Flowers are costly and must be removed after the funeral and, unlike a charitable donation, they don't last. Asking for donations is special way in which people choose to honor their loved ones, and it should be respected.
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Instructions
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Read the funeral announcement to find out which charity the family has specified to receive the donations.
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Decide on an amount that you would like to donate. You can simply donate whatever you would have spent on flowers, or you can choose to donate more. There is no etiquette that says how much one should donate, and the family usually will not specify an amount.
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If you are not sure to whom to make the check payable or where to send it, you may contact the charitable organization for that information.
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Write the check, mail it and include the family's name and address, so that the charitable organization can notify the family about the donation. You do not need to tell the family yourself. The charitable organization normally will not tell the family how much you donated, just that you made a donation.
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Tips & Warnings
If a funeral announcement asks for charitable donations, etiquette states that you should always obey the request. Do not send flowers on top of a donation.
If you feel that you would like to give the family a gift or memento, etiquette states that you may do so in the days, weeks or even years, following the funeral.
