When you lose someone you love the last thing on your mind is who sent what. But once you’re through those first few weeks you might end up with lots of notification cards from a charity telling you that a friend or relative made a donation in your loved one’s memory.
It’s a really moving thing to receive. And it usually leaves you wanting to say thank you even when you have no idea where to start.
Memorial donations are different from other gifts. You don’t get flowers delivered to your doorstep and usually no amount written down.
Someone just gave to a cause in honor of the person you lost which is such a thoughtful gesture. Writing a note to thank them shouldn’t be stressful, though, and it really doesn’t need to be.
When my aunt passed we asked people to donate to the hospice that cared for her instead of sending flowers. I remember being surprised by how many people did and how much it meant to me.
So if you’re struggling then these examples and tips will help you find the right words for thanking someone who made a memorial donation.
How to Word a Thank You Note for a Memorial Donation
You can write your note any way you like, but if you’re stuck this easy structure works well for almost any memorial donation thank you:
- Open by addressing the person – “Dear ______” is perfectly fine and never feels wrong on a note like this
- Thank them for the donation and name the cause or charity if you know it – “thank you so much for your generous donation to the American Cancer Society in Mom’s memory”
- Add a personal touch about what the gesture meant – “it means the world to us that you chose to honor Dad by supporting something he cared about so deeply”
- Close warmly and sign your name, or sign on behalf of the family if that feels more natural – a handwritten signature is a nice touch even if the rest is printed
One thing worth knowing: you almost never have to mention the amount. Most charities don’t tell the family how much was given. The gesture is what you’re thanking them for, not the number.
Thank You Note Examples for Memorial Donations
The examples below are broken down into a few common situations – short and simple notes, notes for when you don’t know the amount, thanking someone for giving to a charity you chosen and a few for groups and companies. You can mix and match parts or change any of them to sound more like you.
Short and Simple Thank You Notes
Sometimes you only need a few sentences to say thank you. These short notes will work when you have a lot of thank you’s to get through.
Dear ______,
Thank you so much for your kind donation in memory of [deceased’s name]. It truly means the world to our family.
With love,
________
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Dear ______,
We were so touched to learn you made a donation in [deceased’s name]’s honor. Thank you for such a thoughtful gesture.
Sincerely,
________
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Dear ______,
Your generosity in [deceased’s name]’s memory has not gone unnoticed. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
Warmly,
________
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Dear ______,
Thank you for choosing to remember [deceased’s name] in such a meaningful way. We are so grateful.
All our love,
________
When You Don’t Know the Amount Donated
This is the most common situation with memorial donations. The charity sends you a card letting you know whoever it was gave but they don’t include the amount. That’s normal and you don’t need to know it to write a thank you.
Dear ______,
The [charity name] let us know that you made a donation in [deceased’s name]’s memory. We don’t know the details and it honestly doesn’t matter – what matters is that you thought of him/her and gave to a cause that meant something. Thank you so much.
With gratitude,
________
******************
Dear ______,
We received word from [charity name] about your generous gift in memory of [deceased’s name]. Your kindness touched us deeply and we can’t thank you enough for supporting something so close to our hearts.
Sincerely,
________
******************
Dear ______,
Thank you for your donation to [charity name] in [deceased’s name]’s honor. It brought us real comfort to know that his/her memory is doing some good in the world.
Love,
________
Thanking Someone for Donating to a Charity You Chose
If your family asked for donations in lieu of flowers these notes acknowledge that the person honored your wishes and supported a place that mattered to you.
Dear ______,
Thank you for donating to [charity name] as we requested in lieu of flowers. It meant so much to have your support directed toward a cause that was close to [deceased’s name].
Warmly,
________
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Dear ______,
We asked that people remember [deceased’s name] with a donation, and you did exactly that. Thank you for your thoughtfulness and for honoring our family’s wishes during such a hard time.
Sincerely,
________
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Dear ______,
Your gift to [charity name] in [deceased’s name]’s name is a gift to our whole family. Thank you for supporting the place that meant so much to us all.
With love,
________
When the Donation Was to a Cause the Deceased Cared About
It’s especially moving when someone gives to a cause your loved one was passionate about.
Dear ______,
Your donation to the animal shelter in Mom’s memory made us smile through our tears. She loved that place and every stray she ever met. Thank you for honoring her in a way she would have adored.
Love,
________
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Dear ______,
Knowing you gave to [charity name] in [deceased’s name]’s honor meant more than you know. It was a cause he/she believed in wholeheartedly, and your gift keeps that passion alive. Thank you.
With gratitude,
________
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Dear ______,
Thank you for your donation in [deceased’s name]’s memory. You chose a cause that was near and dear to his/her heart, and that thoughtfulness has brought our family a lot of comfort.
Warmly,
________
Formal Thank You Notes for a Company or Organization
Sometimes a business or organization will make a donation. A slightly more formal tone works better here although you can still be warm.
Dear [Company/Organization name],
On behalf of the family of [deceased’s name], thank you for your generous donation to [charity name] in his/her memory. Your kindness and support during this difficult time are deeply appreciated.
Sincerely,
The family of [deceased’s name]
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To everyone at [Company/Organization name],
We were truly touched by your thoughtful donation in memory of [deceased’s name]. Thank you for honoring him/her and for your continued support of our family.
With appreciation,
________
Thanking a Group or Coworkers for a Collective Donation
When a group gets together for a memorial donation one note to the whole group is fine.
Dear friends,
Thank you all so much for the donation you made together in [deceased’s name]’s memory. Knowing that so many of you came together to honor him/her has been a real source of comfort. It meant everything to us.
With love,
________
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To my colleagues,
I’m so grateful for the donation you all made to [charity name] in memory of [deceased’s name]. Your kindness has helped carry me through one of the hardest times of my life. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Warmly,
________
What to Do When You Don’t Know Who Donated
Some charities will notify you that a donation was made but because of privacy rules or a donor’s request they won’t always tell you the name or contact details of who donated. If that happens, don’t worry about it. You can’t thank someone you can’t identify and no one will be expecting you to.
A few things that can help:
- Call the charity and politely ask if they’re able to pass along donor names and addresses. Many will, especially for memorial gifts
- Keep an eye on sympathy cards and messages – people often mention that they’ve made a donation
- If someone tells you in person or online that they gave then a quick note of thanks or even a message is more than enough
Tips for Writing Memorial Donation Thank You Notes
- You don’t need to mention the amount and in most cases you won’t even know it. Thank the person for the gesture and the thought behind it
- Try to name the charity or cause if you know it. It makes the note more personal and shows you noticed where the gift went
- Short is fine. A couple of sentences beats a long paragraph that repeats or doesn’t say a lot
- Don’t stress about timing. Sending notes within a few weeks is ideal but people understand that you’re grieving and may need longer. A late note is always better than no note
- If the list feels like too much then ask a family member to split it with you. Signing “from the family of [name]” is acceptable when notes are going out on behalf of everyone
- Handwritten always feels better than printed. But if you have dozens to send then printed notes with a handwritten signature and a short personal line are a good compromise
If you’re also thanking people for other kinds of support you might find our guides on funeral thank you notes, thank you notes for funeral flowers and thank you notes for money helpful too. And if you’re on the giving end this time here’s what to write when making a donation in memory of someone.
A memorial donation is one of the most generous ways a person can honor someone who has died. Hopefully these examples have it easier and helped you say thank you.
