Donating to the American Heart Association In Loving Memory

Almost everyone has heard of the American Heart Association, a nonprofit organization that fights against heart disease and stroke.

Jump ahead to these sections:

• How to Donate to the American Heart Association In Memory of a Loved One
• How to Start an American Heart Association Memorial Fund for a Deceased Loved One

Are you ready to honor your loved one by donating to this worthy cause in his or her name? We’ve got you covered. Here’s how to do it. 

If you're interested in other unique ways to remember a loved one, you can consider a custom urn from a store like Foreverence or even have a memorial diamond made from ashes with a company like Eterneva.

How to Donate to the American Heart Association In Memory of a Loved One

Many health organizations allow donations so they can continue their research and outreach. The American Heart Association is no exception. It allows you to make memorial donations in honor of a loved one. Here are the steps you can take.

1. Pick your donation type

You’ve chosen to donate to the American Heart Association in lieu of sending flowers, but what’s the exact process? The American Heart Association offers three payment options: 

1. You can send a check by mail. 
2. Online donations are the most common, particularly if you want an electronic record of your purchase. 
3. You can also donate over the phone if you feel more comfortable with that method. 

2. Check for employer matching programs

What’s better than one donation? Two! You may be able to get a matching donation through your employer. You’ll get double the financial power for the price of one. Find out whether your employer participates. 

You can do this by visiting the American Heart Association’s donation page. There, you’ll find a link to an employee match search. Type in the name of your employer to see if your company comes up. It’s a fun way to find out exactly how much you’ll give in the end!

2. Pick the tribute option

You’ll need to make a choice when you go to the American Heart Association’s donation page. First of all, decide whether you want your gift to recur monthly or whether you want it to be a one-time thing? 

1. Next, choose “Make Your Gift a Tribute.”
2. Click “Yes.” A drop-down menu will fill with choices based on your response. 
3. The tribute form is relatively straightforward. You’ll need to choose between memorial and honor tributes. Honor tributes are meant to provide encouragement and support for someone you love. Maybe a loved one has recently had a heart attack or has dealt with cardiovascular issues for a long time. Either way, this is a great way to show your love. The second option, memorial tributes, is for someone who died due to a cardiovascular event. 
4. Type in your loved one’s first and last names and decide how you’d like to inform your loved one of your gift. The American Honor Association will email or mail a card if you’ve chosen an honor gift. Select the “No Card” option if you’d like your gift to remain anonymous. You can choose to send your donation to the deceased’s family if you opt for a memorial gift. 

3. Fill in your personal information

Once you’ve decided on the details, fill in your information. This usually includes standard details for online orders. You’ll need to input your address and payment information. 

Before you click the “Give [Amount] Now” button, you’ll have the chance to check (or uncheck) a few boxes. Do you want to receive emails, updates, and information from the American Heart Association? If so, make sure the Association has your email address. The American Heart Association may also use your email address to send you a thank you letter for donating. 

How to Start an American Heart Association Memorial Fund for a Deceased Loved One

Crowdfunding is one of the most powerful ways to get things done — empathy can be a gamechanger. That means that sites like Kickstarter and GoFundMe are increasingly powerful. 

However, there are some problems associated with popular crowdfunding pages. For instance, a crowdfunding site usually closes once the goal has been reached or the time limit has run out. That’s not the case with most medical organization funds.

There’s also a level of professionalism and trust associated with medical funds because you know exactly where your money is going. It’s not going to be diverted from someone else’s hands before it reaches the American Heart Association.

Does starting a memorial fund sound like something you’re interested in? It’s a great choice because the American Heart Association makes it easy to implement. 

1. Pick your fundraiser

First, you’ll need to decide whether you want your fundraiser to have a set goal or not. If you’d like your fundraiser to reach a certain amount of money, type it into the appropriate box. But you might want the fundraiser to go on indefinitely, which will help you collect money whenever you can. But know that unless you’re a marketing wizard, your fundraiser will start to gather dust on the internet at some point. 

Once you’ve decided on your fundraising goals, it’s time to think about finances. Do you plan to donate to the fundraiser yourself as a Kickstarter gift? If so, input the amount you’d like to give. 

2. Create an account

Have you participated in a fundraiser before? If so, you’ll just need to log in. If not, make sure to create an account with a username and password. 

As you create an account, think about what your fundraiser will look like. You’ll need to work through the technical details. If you’re adding a Kickstarter gift, you’ll need to input payment information, read and agree to the terms and conditions. Finally, you’ll need to review all that information before you submit it, too.

3. Write a story

Think about the story you want to tell. You have a chance to tell donors a little bit about your campaign. All proceeds go to the American Heart Association, not an individual. Think about why your loved one deserves to be the face of cardiovascular research. It’s time to show the world what a great, loving person your loved one truly was. 

Share your loved one’s story and how cardiovascular disease impacted his or her life. It can help you show potential donors why your campaign matters. 

Making a Donation 

As soon as many people start end-of-life planning, they often don’t think about how the world will remember them. They reduce their scope to care for loved ones and friends, which is understandable! But a memorial donation has the power to change everything for future patients. Even minor research breakthroughs can transform patients’ lives — and it’s all fueled by funding. 

Do you want your loved ones to make a donation to the American Heart Association after you pass away? Be sure to write it down. That way, your loved ones know exactly where you want earmarked money to go and you’ll also have peace of mind when you hand over your end-of-life plans. 

Sources 

1. American Heart Association. “Matching Gift Doubles Your Impact for the Hearts You Love.” n.d., www2.heart.org/site/SPageNavigator/donatenow_heart.html?campaignId=101&site=Heart&itemId=prod20007
2. American Heart Association. “Create a Tributes Page in Memory and Honor.” n.d., www2.heart.org/site/TRR/FunRaiser/General/1259085560?pg=ptype&fr_id=3930