of San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties
About Us
The Funeral Consumers Alliance (FCA) of San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties is a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting a consumer's right to choose meaningful, dignified, affordable death care. FCA is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization. Contributions to FCA are welcome, although at present they are not tax deductible.
The Funeral Education Foundation (FEF) is an adjunct organization sharing the same office and staff as FCA, but charged with the educational part of our mission. Donations to FEF (a 501(c)(3) organization) are tax deductible and serve to further the charitable and education parts of our mission
The 12-member volunteer Board of Directors for FCA/FEF live around San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties. They meet once a month to plan activities. If you would like to attend, please call the office at 650-321-2109 to find out the next meeting time and location. We are looking for new board members to replace those whose terms have expired. Pease call and attend a meeting if you are interested.
FCA's Role:
- Monitoring funeral industry trends and practices and advocating for ways to curb abuses and save on funeral expenses
- Providing members with forms to facilitate making end of life decisions about body disposition
- Monitoring and maintaining a list of cooperating funeral homes who will offer discounts to FCA members, abide by the wishes of the members, and expedite their funeral wishes without sales pressure to the families.
- Providing an emergency ID card showing funeral home chosen, membership number, and next of kin. Members who travel or move away have reciprocal privileges of membership at 100 other FCAs across the USA. The local FCA keeps a backup record of members’ wishes, but members also share their plans with family, attorney, agent for health care directives, and the funeral home.
- See member benefits for more information about the value of FCA membership.
FEF's Role:
- Offers pamphlets on funeral choices to increase public awareness of funeral options, including how to care for your own dead without using a funeral home
- Produces a twice-a-year newsletter and occasional emailed notices
- FEF's Speakers Bureau makes educational presentations to community groups, consults with agencies, and offers advice over the phone and in person at its office
- Maintains this website with information that will help all consumers, not just its members
- Surveys and reports on funeral home and cemetery prices,
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