What does 'donations in lieu of flowers' mean at a funeral?

'Donations in lieu of flowers' means that instead of — or as well as — sending floral tributes, guests are invited to make a charitable donation in memory of the person who has died. The phrase 'in lieu of' simply means 'instead of'. It is one of the most common ways families in the UK ask for charitable giving at a funeral, and it is typically included on the funeral notice, order of service, or any announcement about the service.

How do I set up a charity donation page for a funeral in the UK?

The two most popular platforms for funeral donation pages in the UK are JustGiving (justgiving.com) and MuchLoved (muchloved.com). Both allow you to create a memorial page linked to a registered UK charity. You can add photos, a personal message, and a fundraising target if you wish. The link can then be shared on the funeral notice, order of service, and via email or social media. Gift Aid can be claimed on eligible donations, increasing each gift's value by 25% at no cost to the donor. Your funeral director may also be able to set up or host the page for you.

Can I collect cash donations at a funeral service?

Yes. Physical collection boxes or envelopes are commonly placed near the entrance or exit of the venue. Using envelopes is recommended, as it allows guests to include their name and address for Gift Aid purposes, which can significantly increase the total amount raised. Many charities will supply Gift Aid envelopes free of charge — contact your chosen charity before the funeral to request them. Your funeral director can manage the collection, count the cash, and arrange for it to be forwarded to the charity on the family's behalf.

How much should I donate instead of sending flowers to a funeral?

There is no set amount, and no donation is too small. A helpful guide is to think about what you might have spent on a sympathy bouquet — typically between £10 and £30 for a standard arrangement. If you were particularly close to the deceased or their family, you may choose to give more, but there is absolutely no expectation to do so. The gesture itself is what matters most to a grieving family.

Can I ask for donations to two different charities at a funeral?

Yes, it is perfectly acceptable to split donations between two charities, particularly if your loved one had strong connections to more than one cause. Most online donation platforms, including JustGiving and MuchLoved, support multiple charity fundraising. In your wording, simply name both charities — for example, 'donations in memory of [Name] to [Charity A] or [Charity B] would be gratefully received'. Collection envelopes at the service can also be labelled to allow guests to indicate which charity they would like their donation to go to.

What happens to funeral donations — how does the money reach the charity?

For online donations made via platforms like JustGiving or MuchLoved, funds are transferred directly to the charity, usually within a few weeks of the page closing. For cash collected at the service, your funeral director will typically count and bank the money and arrange for it to be sent to the charity, along with any Gift Aid paperwork. The charity will usually send a formal acknowledgement to the family confirming the total received. If you are unsure about the process, ask your funeral director — NAFD member funeral directors are experienced in handling charitable collections and will ensure everything is managed properly.

Donations Instead of Flowers: How to Arrange Funeral Donations

Choosing donations instead of flowers is a meaningful way to honour a loved one's memory. This guide explains how to word the request, set up a charity collection, and thank donors.

When someone we love dies, flowers are a traditional and beautiful way to express sympathy. But many families today are choosing to ask for donations instead of flowers — directing the generosity of friends and family towards a cause that meant something to the person who has died. It is a deeply personal decision, and one that can leave a lasting legacy far beyond the funeral day itself.

Whether your loved one had a favourite charity, a cause connected to their illness, or simply preferred something practical over floral tributes, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know — from how to word the request to setting up an online donation page, collecting money at the service, and thanking everyone who gives.

Why Choose Donations Instead of Flowers?

There is no right or wrong choice — some families want both flowers and donations, and that is perfectly fine. But there are several reasons why funeral donations are increasingly chosen:

A lasting legacy: A donation to a meaningful charity continues to do good long after the service.
Personal connection: Many people choose a charity linked to the condition their loved one lived with, such as a cancer research charity, a dementia organisation, or a hospice that provided care.
Practicality: Flowers require disposal after the service, which can feel difficult for the family. Donations sidestep this entirely.
Guest comfort: Some mourners — particularly those attending from a distance or on a limited income — appreciate a small donation being just as meaningful as an elaborate floral tribute.

In 2026, online giving has made this easier than ever, with dedicated platforms built specifically for funeral collections making the process straightforward for families and guests alike.

How to Word the Request: 'Donations in Lieu of Flowers'

The phrasing you use matters. You want to be clear and warm without sounding dismissive of those who may still wish to send flowers. The most widely used phrase in the UK is:

"The family requests donations in lieu of flowers to [Charity Name]."

Here are a few variations to suit different tones:

"In lieu of flowers, donations to [Charity Name] would be gratefully received in memory of [Name]."
"[Name] had a special connection with [Charity Name]. The family would welcome donations in their memory rather than floral tributes."
"If you wish to make a donation in [Name]'s memory, the family have set up a page at [URL]. Flowers are also welcome."
"Family flowers only, please. Donations in memory of [Name] to [Charity Name] may be made via [URL] or at the service."

If you are open to both, simply add "Flowers are also welcome" to any of the above. This wording typically appears on the funeral notice, the order of service, and any announcement shared online or in a newspaper.

Where to Include the Wording

The death notice in a local newspaper or online
The order of service booklet
Any social media announcement
The funeral director's website listing (if applicable)
Email or text messages to close family and friends

Your NAFD-accredited funeral director will be very familiar with this wording and can advise you on the best way to communicate it to guests.

Choosing a Charity

Sometimes the choice is obvious — a hospice that provided end-of-life care, or a charity whose work the deceased championed throughout their life. In other cases, you may need to think it through.

Questions to Help You Choose

Was your loved one affected by a particular illness or condition? Many families choose a charity linked to that cause.
Did they volunteer, fundraise, or donate regularly to any organisation?
Was there a local cause — an animal rescue, a community project, a foodbank — they cared about?
Did they mention any wishes about where money might go?

If you cannot identify a single charity, it is entirely acceptable to ask for donations to a local hospice — most hospices rely heavily on charitable donations to fund their care, and this is one of the most common choices at UK funerals.

You can also split donations between two charities if your loved one had more than one cause close to their heart. Most online platforms support this.

Setting Up an Online Donation Page

An online memorial donation page makes it simple for guests to give — especially those who cannot attend in person, or who prefer not to carry cash to the service. There are two main platforms used at UK funerals:

JustGiving

JustGiving (justgiving.com) is the UK's largest online fundraising platform and is widely recognised by donors. You can set up a free memorial fundraising page linked to your chosen charity. Gift Aid can be claimed automatically on eligible donations, boosting the value of each gift by 25% at no cost to the donor. JustGiving does charge a platform fee on some transactions, so it is worth checking their current terms when you set up your page.

MuchLoved

MuchLoved (muchloved.com) is a platform designed specifically for funeral tributes and memorial pages. As well as donation functionality, it allows you to create a lasting online tribute with photos, memories, and messages — making it a particularly meaningful choice for families who want something more personal than a standard fundraising page. MuchLoved works with thousands of UK charities and is used by many NAFD member funeral directors as their recommended platform.

Step-by-Step: Setting Up a Memorial Donation Page

Choose your platform — JustGiving for simplicity and reach, MuchLoved for a more personal memorial experience.
Select your charity — search for your chosen charity by name. Check they are registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales, the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR), or the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland.
Create the page — add your loved one's name, dates, a photo if you wish, and a short personal message about why you have chosen this charity.
Set a fundraising target (optional) — some families prefer not to set a target to avoid any pressure; others find a goal motivating for donors.
Share the link — include it in the funeral notice, order of service, and any messages to family and friends.
Enable Gift Aid — make sure your page is set up to collect Gift Aid declarations so eligible donations are automatically increased.

Most pages can be set up in under 30 minutes. Your funeral director may also be able to create or host the page on your behalf — it is worth asking.

Collecting Donations at the Service

Not everyone is comfortable giving online, and some guests will prefer to contribute in person on the day. There are a few practical ways to handle this:

Collection Boxes or Envelopes

A clearly labelled collection box or a basket of envelopes placed near the entrance or exit of the venue is the most common method. Envelopes are preferable as they allow donors to include their name and address, making Gift Aid claims possible on cash donations. Printed Gift Aid envelopes can often be provided by the charity directly — contact them in advance to request a supply.

Who Manages the Collection?

Your funeral director can typically oversee the collection on the day, count the cash, and arrange for it to be sent to the charity. This takes the administrative burden off the family entirely. NAFD member funeral directors are experienced in handling collections sensitively and professionally — ask your funeral director what they can manage on your behalf.

Combining Online and In-Person Giving

Many families find it works well to display the online donation page link on a screen at the venue or print it on the order of service, while also having a physical collection for those who prefer cash. This ensures no one is excluded.

How Much Should Guests Give? A Guide for Mourners

If you have been asked to make a donation in lieu of flowers and are unsure how much to give, there is no fixed rule. A useful guide is to think about what you might have spent on a floral tribute — typically £10 to £30 for a standard sympathy bouquet, or more for a formal arrangement. However, any amount is welcomed and appreciated. The act of giving is what matters.

If you are attending as a close family member rather than a colleague or acquaintance, you may wish to give more — but again, this is entirely at your discretion. There is no expectation, and no donation is too small.

How Your Funeral Director Can Help

Arranging a charity collection at a funeral involves several moving parts, and a good funeral director will guide you through all of them. NAFD member funeral directors in particular are trained to support families with every practical detail, including:

Advising on suitable wording for notices and the order of service
Recommending or setting up memorial donation pages
Providing or sourcing Gift Aid envelopes
Managing the collection on the day
Counting, banking, and forwarding donations to the charity
Providing a final total so you can update donors and the memorial page

All NAFD-accredited funeral directors adhere to a strict Code of Practice and are independently monitored, so you can be confident they will handle donations — and every other aspect of the funeral — with care and transparency.

Thanking Donors: A Simple but Important Step

Once the funeral has taken place and all donations have been collected, it is a kind gesture to thank those who gave. This does not need to be elaborate:

Update the online donation page with the final total raised and a brief thank-you message.
Post on social media if you announced the collection there, sharing the total and your gratitude.
Send a personal note to anyone who gave particularly generously, if you have their details.
Contact the charity — many charities will send a formal acknowledgement letter to the family, and some will plant a tree, dedicate a bench, or add the name to a memorial roll. Ask them what recognition they offer for funeral collections.

A simple message such as "Thank you so much for your kind donation in memory of [Name]. Together, you helped raise [total] for [Charity Name] — a wonderful tribute to someone so dearly loved" is all that is needed.

A Quick Checklist for Families

☐ Decide on a charity (or two)
☐ Set up an online donation page (JustGiving or MuchLoved)
☐ Include donation request wording in the funeral notice
☐ Add the donation link and/or wording to the order of service
☐ Arrange collection boxes or Gift Aid envelopes for the service
☐ Ask your funeral director to manage the collection on the day
☐ Update the online page with the final total after the service
☐ Thank donors with a brief message

Find an NAFD Funeral Director Near You

Arranging a funeral is one of the most significant things you will ever do, and you should not have to navigate it alone. An NAFD-accredited funeral director will handle every detail with professionalism and compassion — including helping you set up a meaningful charity collection that honours your loved one's memory.

Search our directory to find a trusted NAFD member funeral director in your area — every one of our 4,000+ members is committed to the highest standards of care.