Our Guiding Principles

✔  We empower families and communities with state-specific information that enables families to care for the dead without a funeral director (in states where that is a legal option) or other paid professionals, and to purchase only the goods and services they want and need.
✔  We empower first responders, care facilities, hospitals, hospice and other medical, law enforcement, and funeral industry professionals to inform families with accurate information about their rights under state law to care for their dead; we promote in-service training and institutional policy change in support of this goal.
✔  We are noncommercial: we do not endorse or link to specific providers of goods and services unless there is a compelling, noncommercial reason.
✔  The Funeral.org Partnership is a public interest service provider that exists solely to advance these principles through creation of state-specific noncommercial websites.

What We Provide

​We help you make accurate information available in the most collaborative, energy efficient way possible. We value the working relationship that we will build, and that you can build with others doing the same in their states. By working together, we will create resources for families, professionals, and other advocates that make a difference. 

Our goal is to create a website in every state that provides quick, accurate information about home funerals. And no one knows how things really work and has access to information in your state like you do. We have the template that works, you have the information to plug in — together we can make this happen wherever you are.

There is no need for you to become a website design expert or hire an expensive web design firm. We will construct your site and plug in your specific data once you have all the building blocks ready. After the initial build, a design tutorial will be offered to teach you how to make basic changes when necessary. We will provide continued support with your edits and those that apply to all states at no cost. 
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​Here's what we provide: ​
✔  A proven concept and model for a state-specific noncommercial public information website that delivers easy-to-follow, home funeral information.
✔  A page-by-page site template with a point-by-point guide to local content to be generated and verified.
​✔  Multiple pages of standard content.
​✔  Custom designed infographics.
​✔  One-page informational flyers for professionals.
✔  The website design build itself, so all you have to do is maintain the site once completed. 
✔  A post-build tutorial and ongoing technical support. 
✔  On-going updates of information that affects all states.
✔  Regular opportunities to network with other funeral.org stewards.

What You Need to Do

Practical Steps
✔  Abide by and uphold The Funeral Partnership Guiding Principles.
✔  Purchase the website and domain name.
✔  Set up an info email account.
✔  Assemble the in-state resources specified in Identifying Your In-State Partners.
✔  Complete the state-specific information indicated in the template we provide if needed.
✔  Obtain a thorough expert review of state-based content to ensure accuracy before launch when possible.
✔  Work with The Funeral Partnership.org when making any significant alterations to the site organization template and standard content provided.

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Identify Your In-state Partners
​​In order to ensure that your state's website will contain the most up-to-date, state-specific information and resources, we recognize the need for our partners to source information on a granular level. Here is what partners are responsible for finding:
✔  Donor(s) willing to support hard costs of the website and any print materials.
✔  A professional landscape photographer willing to donate images specific to your state
✔  A licensed volunteer attorney knowledgeable about state funeral law.
✔  Compelling in-state stories from home funeral families.
✔  Sources of influence and leadership in key government and health positions.
✔  A person to serve as state site leader during the site building & launch process.
✔  A person to ensure timely, accurate responses to the website contact form.

Fund Your State Website
Funding your state website through The Funeral.org Partnership consists of three-years of hard costs for domain name and web hosting; and optional hourly consulting for features or support beyond the basics. We encourage state partners to get creative about funding these costs through grants, sponsorships, a community fundraiser, or putting together a small consortium of committed donors. Funders can be acknowledged on the website's Contact page with other acknowledgements (see example).

Costs for The Funeral Partnership.org Website Design, Build & Support:

• State partners must fund around $500 of hard costs covering the first three years of website operation:
  • Average annual domain cost with a reputable domain provider of about $20/year x 3 years
  • Average annual Weebly professional website hosting cost of about $144/year x 3 years
• State partners needing features, support, or consultation may negotiate additional services for a fee