The Funeral Service Foundation is honored to announce the establishment of the Casket and Funeral Supply Association of America (CFSA) Scholarship Fund, a new permanently endowed fund created through a gift of $246,000 from CFSA.
Founded in 1913, CFSA served manufacturers, distributors, and suppliers to the funeral profession while fostering education, networking, collaboration, and professional relationships throughout North America. As changing industry dynamics and declining membership led the association to conclude its operations, the Board sought a meaningful way to preserve its mission and values. Following that decision, CFSA’s Board of Directors chose to invest the organization’s remaining assets in the future of funeral service by creating a permanent charitable legacy through the Funeral Service Foundation.
“When the Board made the difficult decision to discontinue the association, we knew we wanted CFSA’s legacy to continue serving the profession,” said Chris DiMascio, Vice President of Sales and Customer Service at Matthews Aurora Funeral Solutions, and CFSA Board Member. “Education has always been fundamental to a strong and vibrant funeral service profession. We are proud that the contributions of generations of CFSA members will now help students enter the profession and provide continuing opportunities for those already serving families every day.”
Supporting Future Generations of Funeral Professionals
The CFSA Scholarship Fund will provide ongoing support for academic scholarships for students pursuing careers in funeral service and for professional development opportunities benefiting funeral service professionals. As a permanently endowed fund, the gift will be held, invested, administered, and distributed by the Funeral Service Foundation, creating lasting support for future generations of funeral service professionals.
The creation of the endowed scholarship fund reflects the shared commitment of CFSA and the Funeral Service Foundation to investing in the future of funeral service and ensuring the profession remains strong for generations to come.
“CFSA has been an important part of the funeral service profession for more than 100 years, and we are deeply honored to steward this remarkable gift,” said Foundation Chair, Jeff Smith. “By establishing this endowed scholarship fund, CFSA has created a legacy that will continue to strengthen funeral service through education and professional development for generations to come.”
