Establish A Memorial Fund

A simple way to honor someone you love.

If you’ve recently lost someone close to you, we are so sorry. In the midst of everything that comes with loss, even small decisions can feel overwhelming.

Creating a memorial fund is one way to honor your loved one in a meaningful and lasting way. It also gives family and friends a place to direct gifts in their memory, especially when people are asking how they can help.

A memorial fund allows you to take your time. You don’t need to decide everything right away. It creates space to reflect on what mattered most to your loved one and how you might carry that forward in the community.

Some families choose to establish a new memorial fund, while others direct gifts to an existing fund or local nonprofit that held special meaning to their loved one. We’re happy to help you explore the options and find the right fit.

What to Do Now

Contact TGF

Give us a call at (203) 640-4049 to let us know you would like to establish a memorial fund. At this stage, all you need is a simple name for the fund so we can begin accepting donations.

Encourage Donations

Many families include memorial giving information in an obituary or memorial service program. Examples include:

Memorial donations can be made payable to the “Name of the Fund” and mailed to The Guilford Foundation, PO Box 35, Guilford, CT 06437. Donations can be made securely online at guilfordfoundation.org/donate. Donors select the fund from the dropdown menu.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the “Name of the Fund” at guilfordfoundation.org/donate or mailed to The Guilford Foundation, PO Box 35, Guilford, CT 06437.

What Can Wait Until Later

Completing Documents

There will be some simple paperwork to finalize the fund, but there is no need to complete everything immediately. We will follow up with you when the time feels appropriate.

Deciding the fund’s purpose

As we work together, we’ll help you determine how the fund can best honor your loved one’s interests and values.

Thanking donors

TGF sends official tax acknowledgment letters to all donors. If you would like to send personal thank-you notes, we can also provide donor contact information.

Why Families Choose a Memorial Fund

  • It honors your loved one in a lasting and meaningful way
  • It gives family and friends a way to show support
  • It creates an ongoing source of giving in your loved one’s name
  • It allows decisions to be made over time, not all at once

We handle the administrative details, making the process simple and manageable.  A memorial fund becomes a permanent endowed fund once it reaches $10,000. Through The Guilford Foundation’s Acorn Fund program, families have up to five years to reach that level, allowing time for gifts to grow while building a lasting legacy in their loved one’s name.

FAQ's

Simply contact The Guilford Foundation and share a name for the fund. We can begin accepting donations right away and work with you over time to finalize the details.

A memorial fund is designed to last forever. Gifts to the fund are invested and grow over time. Each year, a portion of the fund is distributed as grants supporting causes that reflect your loved one’s life and interests, creating a lasting source of community impact in their memory.

Yes. TGF provides a list of individuals and families who have made gifts in memory of your loved one. We also send official tax acknowledgment letters to donors on your behalf. Families may choose to send additional personal thank-you notes if they wish.

Contributions are fully tax-deductible to the extent allowable by law. All types of assets can be donated, including outright gifts (cash, check, credit card) or planned gifts (appreciated securities, designated beneficiary for life insurance and retirement plans, bequests, and more. 

Not necessarily. Some families choose to direct memorial gifts to The Guilford Foundation itself or to an existing charitable fund that reflects their loved one’s passions and values. This could include a scholarship fund, an organization-specific fund, or a field of interest fund supporting causes such as education, the arts, mental health, environmental conservation, or basic needs. We’re happy to help you explore the funds already within our portfolio and find an option that feels meaningful and appropriate.

Hey, Neighbor!

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