Last week, The New York Times published an article on honoring the life of a loved one with a memorial fund. Here at Brooklyn Community Foundation, we’ve had the honor of working with a few families to create funds that preserve the legacy of their loved ones. As the article highlights, creating a charitable legacy in honor of a loved one can take on a variety of forms—from organizing a charity run to simply collecting donations in support of a single organization.

All of these options allow family and friends keep the memory of a loved one alive and can provide a source of comfort knowing that their memory will help support a worthy cause. As Ashley Galleher, Executive Director of CharitySmith, says in the article, “To give back when you’ve lost so much is really the only way forward.”

Our Memorial and Tribute Funds are easy to set up—there is no minimum to establish a fund and a fund can usually be set up in a day. We also can set up a page on our website where donors can make online donations and learn more about the cause they are supporting. In addition to providing general oversight and management of the fund, we can also provide recommendations for local organizations to support.

Some funds support scholarship programs, like the Joseph E. Mohbat Fund which supports a volunteer-run scholarship program for students who want to pursue a career in journalism. Joseph E. Mohbat was an award-winning political journalist who mentored young people in journalism. The Mohnat Prizecurrently supports graduating high school seniors who are going on to pursue careers in journalism. Other funds support a single organization, like the Carey Butlien Memorial Fund, which is raising funds to support the Arab-American Family Support Center’s Adult Education and Literacy program, memorializing Ms. Butlien’s volunteer work as a tutor for adult immigrants.

A tribute fund at Brooklyn Community Foundation provides a way to honor a loved one who called Brooklyn home. But a tribute fund need not just be in memory of a loved one, it can also celebrate an important milestone. Recent newlyweds John Raskin and Eric Schneider opened a fund in honor of their wedding and are raising funds for a number of causes they care about.

Learn more about opening a Memorial and Tribute Fund here or by calling 718-480-7507.