Planning a Funeral Additional Resources
National Funeral Directors Association
The National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) is a nonprofit that offers the public resources to help families make thoughtful decisions about funerals and tributes. Their consumer site, Remembering A Life, educates people on funeral planning, grief support, and honoring loved ones. NFDA also produces public service announcements and brochures to guide families during difficult times, and connects them to certified funeral professionals dedicated to ethical service and community support.
Funeral Consumers Alliance
The Funeral Consumers Alliance is a nonprofit organization that assists the public with funeral planning, finding goods and services and solving issues with funeral directors and funeral homes. As an industry watchdog, it also helps monitor the funeral industry to ensure that consumers are treated equitably and fairly and works with the media, regulators and legislatures throughout the U.S. to raise awareness of industry practices and trends. The organization has a network of affiliates across the United States. as well as numerous online and print resources to help consumers “choose a meaningful, dignified, affordable funeral.” You can contact the Funeral Consumers Alliance online for more information.
Home Funeral Alliance
The Home Funeral Alliance is a national nonprofit dedicated to educating consumers about their legal right to care for their own dead in the home. The organization offers free information to the public about the process of natural death care and the logistics of home funerals, as well as an extensive directory of home funeral guides, death doulas and other professionals who can help. It also offers a state-by-state directory of funeral laws pertaining to home funerals. You may contact the Home Funeral Alliance using their online contact form or by emailing them at info@homefuneralalliance.org.
Green Burial Council
The Green Burial Council (GBC) is a volunteer-led, nonprofit organization and the primary regulatory body for eco-friendly end-of-life care in North America. Rather than offering services directly, the GBC establishes strict ecological standards to prevent “greenwashing” in the funeral industry. Their website is an invaluable educational hub for planning a natural burial, which avoids toxic embalming fluids, concrete vaults, and non-biodegradable caskets. It features planning guides, environmental resources, and a comprehensive directory to help you find GBC-certified funeral homes, cemeteries, and eco-friendly products.
Better Place Forests
Better Place Forests offers a sustainable, nature-focused alternative to traditional cemeteries for those who choose cremation. The company establishes and protects “conservation memorial forests” across the United States. Instead of purchasing a traditional grave plot and tombstone, families select a specific, protected tree within one of their forests.