570.822.2065    [email protected]

570.822.2065    [email protected]

Memorial Funds2025-03-08T08:45:48-05:00

Memorial Funds

Honoring your loved one through a memorial fund only takes a few simple steps.

If you have recently lost a loved one, we are deeply sorry for your loss. We understand that this is a difficult time, and handling arrangements can feel overwhelming. Our goal is to make setting up a memorial fund in their honor as easy as possible for you.

Honoring your loved one’s legacy through a memorial fund is a meaningful way to celebrate their life. We understand that choosing what to support can be difficult during such a time. With a Luzerne Foundation Memorial Fund, you have the flexibility to thoughtfully decide how best to reflect their passions and interests, while offering an immediate place for contributions. We are here to support you every step of the way.

What To Do Now

  • Contact us: Fill out the form below to notify us that you want to establish a memorial fund or give us a call at 570.822.2065.

  • Encourage donors: We recommend including a statement in the obituary or memorial program to let friends and family know how to direct their gifts. Examples:

    Memorial donations can be made online at luzfdn.org/donate or mailed to The Luzerne Foundation, 34 South River St. Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702

    In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the “John Smith Memorial Fund” at luzfdn.org/donate or mailed to The Luzerne Foundation, 34 South River St. Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702

What Can Wait For Later

  • Completing documents: There will be formal fund agreement paperwork to complete. If we have not heard from you within a month, our staff will follow up to begin the paperwork process.

  • Deciding charitable goals: You may need time to decide the charitable goals of the fund. Our staff can help you work through options.

  • Sending donor acknowledgments: The Luzerne Foundation will send official tax acknowledgements to every fund donor. If you wish to send a personalized thank you, you will have access to donor information via our donor portal.

​Additional Details

How does a memorial fund work?

Anyone can give to a memorial fund! Donations can be used to make qualified grants to support local, regional, or national nonprofits selected by you and your family. Grants can support a variety of causes that meant something to your loved one such as Veterans’ Causes, Arts & Culture, Education, Health & Wellness or Historical Preservation just to name a few charitable areas. You many also want to start a scholarship benefiting a local student from your hometown.

​Memorial Fund Benefits:

  • No fees for the first 6 months: This allows you to start the fund without immediate financial pressure.
  • Time to make decisions: A memorial fund gives you the flexibility to make specific charitable decisions at your own pace, letting you focus on more urgent matters initially.
  • Legacy preservation: The fund ensures your loved one’s name and memory live on through charitable work.
  • Potential for growth: By investing the fund, you can grow its value to support future charitable grants.
  • Real-time access: Our “Access My Fund” platform provides you with up-to-date information about your fund.
  • Administrative support: The Luzerne Foundation takes care of all the administrative tasks, so you can focus on the meaningful aspects of the fund.
  • Tax benefits: All contributions to the fund are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.

Get Started

Simply fill out the form below to notify us of your intention to direct memorial gifts to The Luzerne Foundation.
Still have questions? Give us a call at 570.822.2065

    Do you know what you would like to name the fund? (This can be decided or updated later.)

    Are there specific causes you wish for this fund to support?

    How can we follow up?

    By submitting this form I understand that a Memorial Fund may only be used to support nonprofit and charitable causes under IRS guidelines. Memorial funds may not be used to benefit a specific person or family, and cannot be used for medical or funeral expenses.

    The Luzerne Foundation helps people create funds to do good things today and lasting good for tomorrow.

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