After a loved one passes away, family and friends are often left to pay the funeral bill, which can be costly. Burial costs, which can include embalming, a casket, a hearse, cemetery fees, a headstone, and other expenses, add to the emotional difficulty of asking friends and family for help. Facing these expenses is usually the last thing we want to think about in the aftermath of a loss.
Raise the funds you need to honour your loved one
Crowdfunding has become a proven and popular way to raise funds for funerals from family and friends who knew the deceased and want to help pay for funeral expenses. We’ve seen many families raise the funds they need on GoFundMe. You’ll find that people are often glad to be able to help in a concrete way. Beyond raising money, your fundraiser can also give family and friends a place to post loving words and remembrances.
- According to SunLife’s 2026 Cost of Dying Report, the average funeral in the UK now costs £3,828.
- For those on qualifying benefits, the DWP Funeral Expenses Payment may help cover some costs.
Help with funeral costs in the UK
If you’re responsible for arranging a funeral in England or Wales and receive a qualifying benefit, you may be eligible for a Funeral Expenses Payment from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Qualifying benefits include Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Housing Benefit, and income support. The payment can help cover burial or cremation fees and death certificates.
You can also get up to £1,000 towards other funeral expenses, such as funeral director’s fees, flowers, or a coffin. You must apply within six months of the funeral. You can apply online at GOV.UK or by phone through the DWP Bereavement Service. A Funeral Expenses Payment isn’t a loan, but it can be recovered from the deceased’s estate if there’s money or property available. It won’t often cover the full funeral cost.
If you live in Scotland, you may be eligible for Funeral Support Payment instead, which is administered by Social Security Scotland and has separate eligibility rules. Crowdfunding can help cover costs not met by government support and give friends, family, and the community a way to contribute. For full eligibility details and to apply, visit GOV.UK funeral payments page.
Four funeral fundraising ideas
1. Benefit sports tournament
One way to honour a loved one while raising funds is to hold a benefit tournament in your loved one’s favourite sport.
- Parks and community centres can make good venues, and space is usually inexpensive to reserve.
- Whatever the sport, organise small games, with four players per side, so many people can participate at once.
- Have participants pay for their spot on a team by making a donation to your GoFundMe fundraiser.
- Bring a phone or tablet so people can donate at the event.
2. Restaurant fundraiser and storytelling night
Partner with a restaurant to raise funds for your loved one’s funeral.
- Ask the restaurant to donate a small percentage of sales from a given night.
- The event brings in new customers, and the restaurant shows its support for the community.
- Invite family, friends, and community members for a night of good food and good company. The event raises funds for your loved one’s funeral expenses and gives others a chance to share memories.
- You can even turn the event into a storytelling night, where family and friends tell their favourite stories about the departed.
3. Community mural project
If your loved one was an integral member of the community, look into creating a public mural on a wall donated by a local business or civic institution. For a less public celebration, you can create a portable mural on canvas. Public parks, fields, or community centres can be good locations.
- Provide paints, tiles, and brushes, or ask art stores to donate supplies.
- Ask for donations to your fundraiser, and bring a phone or tablet so people can donate.
4. Healing together with a ritual
Mourning is a process that involves healing on many levels, both individually and collectively. One way to encourage healing is through an event where family and friends participate in a healing ritual.
- You might decide to make a community quilt, create a scrapbook of memories, read poetry, sing in a circle, or plant a tree.
- If you’d like, offer participants food and drinks.
- Before the event begins, ask for donations to your fundraiser.
Set up your funeral fundraiser
Funerals bring people together to mourn, celebrate, and heal. Although the expense can be high, crowdfunding can be a meaningful way to raise the funds you need while bringing people together for your loved one. If you haven’t already, start your fundraiser and let your community come together in your loved one’s name. For tips on writing your fundraiser and sharing it with supporters, read our guide to funeral and memorial fundraising.