The Funeral Consumers Alliance is an educational nonprofit with nationwide affiliates offering funeral consumer support, information, and advocacy for legislative change. Its history began in 1963 when memorial societies from around the United States joined together to have national representation. These volunteer groups banded together with the primary purpose of negotiating simple funerals at discount prices with mortuaries that would cooperate with that goal. The FCA, formerly known as the Continental Association of Funeral and Memorial Societies, was instrumental in assisting the Federal Trade Commission during the 1970s in researching and pushing for the Funeral Rule, which finally went into effect in 1984.
The alliance’s vision is greater access to accurate funeral information. It advocates for the rights of consumers to make informed funeral decisions and envision a funeral landscape that does not include funeral poverty.
Today the FCA’s objectives include:
- Publishing educational content in a variety of media and formats at little or no cost to all consumers.
- Hosting events for all consumers.
- Serving as a consumer advocate and informed resource for pending legislation or regulations regarding end-of-life care and funeral industry practices.
- Referring individuals with funeral-related complaints to appropriate agencies.
- Encouraging the presence of local affiliates and referring inquiries from the public to affiliates.
- Facilitating the exchange of information and experience among affiliates.
- Providing guidance to our affiliates in achieving the above stated purposes.