Foundation participates in NH Gives

The nonprofit Phaneuf Family Foundation is participating in NH Gives on June 7 and 8, 2022. NH Gives is a statewide online 24-hour campaign from the NH Center for Nonprofits to raise awareness about NH nonprofits and connect donors to local nonprofits. Donations during the 24-hour campaign may be made to the Phaneuf Family Foundation here.

What is the Phaneuf Family Foundation?

The Phaneuf Family Foundation launched in fall 2019 to provide funds for New Hampshire and Vermont residents who can’t afford the full cost of a funeral. Here are stories from two different families: 

A woman was strangled to death by her husband, in front of their adult daughter, who was also assaulted. The foundation provided $1,000 for the mother to have a viewing, casket, flowers and a proper burial in Blossom Hill Cemetery. The foundation also helped the daughter apply for victim’s assistance to help pay for the funeral.

The foundation also provided $1,000 to a local funeral home on the Seacoast, helping a mother cremate her daughter and hold a small, private service. The daughter died as a result of an addiction, and the single mother did not have the funds to pay the balance with the funeral home. The donation bridged the gap between the funds the mother had, what friends provided and what the funeral home was able to discount.

Foundation performance highlights

• In 2020, the foundation was able to grant 41% of the requests it received; in 2021, 71% of requests were fulfilled — an increase of 73%
• The number of requests for grants grew from 46 in 2020 to 55 in 2021, an increase of 20%
• In 2020, 19 requests were granted, totaling just over $5,000; last year, we increased that by 105% and were able to fulfill 39 requests, totaling almost $17,000
• The average grant in 2020 was $264. That grew by 63% last year to $429 (the maximum allowed grant is $1,000)

These statistics point to two things: a growing awareness of the foundation’s mission and a growing need for funeral funds for NH families. The future of the foundation depends on an expanded awareness of its mission and amplified donations to fulfill the burgeoning number of requests. 

The foundation’s motto is, “Everyone deserves a dignified farewell.” You can donate to the foundation during NH Gives here.