A Letter from Executive Director Casey Husseman Brandt, October 1, 2025

With a heavy heart, I'm sad to announce the Funeral Financial Assistance Fund is closed for now. 

The fund relies on grants and donations from the general public to stay open. If you would like to donate so that we can keep supporting families in need in Washington state, you can Donate to the Funeral Financial Assistance Fund. With the average cost of cremation being $1,685 according to our Price Survey, our fund helps families who are financially struggling and living paycheck to paycheck by no fault of their own. If you would like to support a family in need by making a gift to this fund, please donate to the FFA fund here. Thank you.

There are other sources of financial assistance for those faced with funeral costs. Please read our Non-PMA Financial Assistance Resources page, a list we'll keep updated even with our fund temporarily closed. Don't forget to read our Price Survey to locate affordable funeral services near you, and a PMA Membership can save you 15% on funeral services as long as your purchase membership before your loved one arrives at a funeral home.

We humbly ask our neighbors, representatives, and members to help us with our mission. Everyone deserves dignity, even in death, and that includes getting the funeral they desire. 

Sincerely,

Casey Husseman Brandt

Executive Director

People's Memorial Association's Impact via the Funeral Financial Assistance Fund

In 2024, People's Memorial Association helped 23 families maintain control over their loved one's funeral services through the Funeral Financial Assistance Fund providing each an average of $1,000.

The cost for funeral services increases each year, yet support services have dwindled.  Since 2018, PMA has supported almost 150 families experiencing significant financial hardship dispensing a total of $107,000 in grants.  Although the spirit of this fund is more than just numbers, it’s about the individual people and the friends and family members grieving their loss. Many of those who need financial assistance are young parents who are working hard to provide for their own families.  

Here’s a story of one young mother who applied:

Robin’s professor wrote to us on her behalf, advocating for her student who needed financial assistance for her father’s funeral arrangements.  Robin is a single mother who recently broke the cycle of homelessness and is pursuing an associates degree in Applied Science.  

Working hard to get on her own two feet, Robin wasn’t prepared for the sudden cost of her father’s funeral arrangements after his unexpected death.  As his only next-of-kin, the responsibility of handling his arrangements was hers to handle.  We have the opportunity to show Robin she’s not alone in this.  By providing her with financial assistance so she can pay for her father’s cremation, Robin won’t experience yet another barrier while she tries her best to be a good mother and outstanding student.

PMA is one of the only organizations offering this type of support. There are limited to no resources provided by the state or counties to help in situations like these. If you would like to support a family in need by making a gift to this fund, please donate via this link. Thank you.