Cremation and Funeral Financial Assistance Program
Program Overview:
The Ari Foss Foundation was created to help parents and families with financial assistance for cremations or funerals when there is a stillbirth (intrauterine fetal demise 20+ weeks) or neonatal demise within the first week of life.
Currently, we only provide financial assistance to South Carolina residents when the cremation/funeral services are provided within South Carolina except when there is a referral from the MUSC Palliative Care Program or Roper St. Francis Healthcare.
Assistance Amounts:
For Cremations:
- Up to $250 for the cremation and/or other professional services (including, but not limited to cremation, paperwork fees, urn or other cremation container and professional services).
- Up to $250 for the remembrance jewelry/merchandise, similar items or additional money for a specialty urn.
For Funerals:
- Up to $400 for the burial (including, but not limited to, gravesite purchase, opening/closing gravesite, funeral home and professional services)
- Up to $400 for the casket (including, but not limited to, casket, transportation of casket (hearse) and professional services)
- Up to $400 for the headstone
If a parent(s) decides to have a funeral for an urn, our total funding cap is $1,200.
Program Process:
Step 1: Parent(s) submit the completed Financial Assistance form (referrals from MUSC can use the shortened form) within 30 days of fetal or neonatal demise.
Step 2: AFF reviews the form.
Step 3: AFF notifies the Parent(s) of the request submission status.
Step 4: If approved, the Parent(s) notifies AFF which facility/service providers they intend to use, soAFF can have the provider complete our Vendor form and notify the provider of how much financial assistance AFF will pay.
Step 5: The Parent(s) must send invoices to AFF via email within 30 days of approval for payment.
Step 6: AFF pays the facility/service provider directly after the services are provided/completed.
Submit a Funding Request:
Funding requests can be submitted on our website at https://arifossfoundation.org/funding-request/.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Please visit our Frequently Asked Questions section.
Other Resources:
We know funeral costs often exceed our funding limits. Due to our goal to help as many families as possible, we need to cap our financial assistance. Please visit the Education and Resources Program for resources and information specific to planning an infant’s funeral.