Ask a charity to stop appeals addressed to someone who died
Write to the charity and ask it to stop appeals addressed to the person who died. Ask how it handles deceased-donor records. Also say whether anyone else in the household wants to keep hearing from it.
Work from the appeal in hand
- Find the charity's name, the donor name as printed, and any donor or reference number on the reply card or return envelope.
- Ask the household whether anyone still gives to this charity. If someone does, your request is about one donor record. It does not end all contact.
- Use the contact details on the charity's official website. Ask whether it has a deceased-donor process instead of assuming there is a form.
- Keep gift receipts and tax acknowledgments in a separate folder. Stopping appeals should not affect them.
Name the appeal you are holding
One person can appear on more than one record at the same charity, such as an annual fund and a memorial gift program. Quote the label from the appeal in front of you, and mention any other appeal you have received under that name. That way the charity can match your request to the right records. If you are also handling the estate's correspondence, keep that work separate from this request.
Sample donor-record request
Example for your own use. Replace the bracketed details and review what you share.
Set up the living donor's record
If a surviving relative wants to hear from the charity, let that person approve their own donor preference. Keep the deceased-person request separate. For a later unwanted appeal, follow up using the original request date and the label details rather than sending estate documents.
Official source
Have an unwanted advertisement ready?
Photograph one piece you are authorized to handle, with the sender and full mailing label visible. Review the details before submitting. The first request is free; the sender controls the response.
Try one request free