How to Add a Donation Link to a Memorial Page

After someone dies, well-meaning people want to do something. They'll ask "Is there anything I can do?" and mean it. A memorial donation link gives them a concrete answer — and a way to channel that impulse into something the family actually wanted, rather than flowers that wilt in three days.

To add a donation link to a memorial page: paste in the URL from the charity's website or your fundraiser page, write one sentence explaining what it supports, and keep it as a secondary section after the biography and photos. The link should feel like an option, not the main event.

Start With the Purpose

Before adding a donation link, be clear about what you want it to do.

In most cases, families choose one of these:

• a charity or nonprofit the person cared about
• a church, school, or community organization
• a funeral-expense fundraiser
• a family support fund after a sudden loss

The strongest memorial pages don't include a donation link just because it's available. They include one because it feels connected to the person's life or the family's real needs.

Use a Clean, Direct Link

When someone clicks a memorial donation link, they should land in the right place immediately.

That means the link should:

• open on mobile without trouble
• clearly name the organization or fund
• match the wording on the memorial page
• avoid making visitors search around after clicking

If the link is long or confusing, add one sentence on the memorial page explaining what it is and where it goes. Visitors shouldn't have to guess.

Add a Simple Title

Most donation sections work best with a short title such as:

• Donate in their memory
• Support the family
• Donate to a cause they loved
• Give in honor of [Name]

You don't need anything more elaborate than that.

Add a Short Note

The note is where families add warmth and clarity.

Examples:

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the hospice team that cared for Joanne with such kindness.

If you would like to help the family during this time, contributions may be made through the support page below.

Donations in Michael's memory may be made to the animal rescue he volunteered with for many years.

Short and specific is better than long and formal. If you need more examples, these memorial donation wording examples cover a wide range of situations.

Decide Between Charity and Fundraiser Carefully

If the person had a cause they truly cared about, a charity link often feels most natural. It connects the donation to their actual values rather than to the family's immediate circumstances.

If the family is under financial strain after the loss — especially after a sudden death — a fundraiser may be more helpful in practical terms.

If you're torn between those two choices, this guide to charity vs family fundraiser on a memorial page walks through the decision carefully.

When to Add the Donation Link

Timing matters more than most people expect.

Before the funeral: If you're sharing service details through the memorial page, you can include the donation link at the same time. Many families add the "in lieu of flowers" note early because guests often want to know before they arrive.

After the service: Some families wait until they've had a day or two to decide. That's fine too. The memorial page can be updated at any point — you don't have to have everything in place at launch.

Weeks later: If a family is setting up a longer-term fundraiser to cover medical bills or funeral costs, they often add the link once the fundraiser is live. Visitors who bookmarked the memorial page will see it whenever they return.

Keep the Memorial Centered on the Person

The donation link should support the memorial, not overpower it.

That usually means:

• keeping the biography and photos first
• placing the donation section as a secondary part of the page
• avoiding overly promotional wording
• explaining the purpose with calm, human language

The page should still feel like a tribute first.

A Memorial Page Is Often Better Than Scattering the Details

When families place donation information only in texts, emails, and social posts, people often lose the link within days.

A memorial page solves that by keeping everything together:

• the story
• the photos
• service details
• the donation link

Anyone who visits the page — now or six months from now — finds everything in the same place.

One Important Detail

If your memorial platform doesn't process payments itself, say that clearly on the page.

That protects trust. Visitors should understand that the money goes directly to the external organization or fundraiser they're visiting — not through a middleman they haven't heard of.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I link to any external charity or fundraiser?

Yes. Most memorial platforms let you paste any external URL — a charity's donation page, a GoFundMe, a hospital foundation, or a community fund. The memorial page just holds the link and the context; the actual donation happens on the destination site.

Should I add the donation link before or after the funeral?

Either works. Many families add it before the funeral so guests know in advance — especially useful for "in lieu of flowers" requests. Others wait until after the service when they've had more time to decide. The memorial page can be updated anytime.

What do I write next to a donation link on a memorial page?

One sentence is usually enough. State the name of the organization or fund, and optionally add why it was meaningful to the person or family. For example: "Donations may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, a cause Carol supported every year." Anything more than two sentences starts to feel like a fundraising pitch.

What if the family doesn't want donations?

Then don't include a link. A donation section is optional, not expected. If the family prefers no donations, or simply wants people to attend and remember, the page works fine without one. You can always add it later if the family's wishes change.

Can I add more than one donation link?

You can, but one is almost always better than two. Multiple links create a decision point for visitors and dilute the impact of each. If there are two real options — say, a charity and a family fund — pick the one that matters most, or include a brief note explaining the difference between them.

If you want to add a donation link cleanly alongside the tribute itself, QuickMemorial's create flow makes it straightforward to include an external donation section. Here is what a finished memorial page with a donation link looks like.