National Funeral Directors Association

What National Funeral Directors Association does

The National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) is a private, nonprofit trade association founded in 1882 and headquartered in Brookfield, Wisconsin, with a secondary office in Washington, D.C. for advocacy. It serves 20,000 individual members representing nearly 11,000 funeral homes across 49 countries, and positions itself as the world's largest funeral service association. Its core function is providing information, education, business tools, advocacy, and professional community to licensed funeral directors, embalmers, funeral home owners, and allied professionals in the death-care industry.

NFDA's product portfolio includes a digital member portal with single sign-on, online learning management and event registration systems, virtual event capabilities, the monthly The Director magazine, the weekly Memorial Business Journal, certification programs (Cremation Certification, Certified Preplanning Consultant, International Professional Achievement Certificate), the National Emerging Leaders Program, and the consumer-facing Remembering A Life platform. Annual events include the International Convention & Expo (300+ exhibitors, thousands of attendees), the Leadership Conference, and the Advocacy Summit. The association also operates the Funeral Service Foundation, its charitable arm administering scholarships and community programs.

NFDA generates revenue through four streams: annual membership dues (structured by funeral home caseload volume, with dues-paying firms automatically enrolling all their licensed employees), convention and event registration fees, the NFDA Store selling professional publications and merchandise, and exhibition and sponsorship fees from 300+ convention exhibitors. Distribution occurs through direct membership enrollment, the nfda.org portal, partnerships with 50+ state funeral director associations, and educational institution channels. Leadership is provided by an elected Board of Directors, with the SVP of Advocacy maintaining full-time federal lobbying presence in Washington, D.C.

Name

National Funeral Directors Association

Legal name

National Funeral Directors Association

Website

https://nfda.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1882

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA), founded in 1882, is the world's largest nonprofit trade association serving 20,000 individual members across nearly 11,000 funeral homes in 49 countries, providing advocacy, education, certifications, and professional resources to funeral directors and death-care practitioners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Brookfield

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: NFDA uses a funeral home-focused membership structure where dues are paid by the firm (legal entity owning funeral home facilities). Dues are based on annual caseload: total death certificates filed minus those filed as agent for another funeral home. Licensed funeral directors and embalmers employed by dues-paying firms become NFDA members automatically.
2. Convention and Event Registration: NFDA generates revenue through registration fees for its annual International Convention & Expo, Leadership Conference, and other educational events. Registration fees vary by member status and timing.
3. NFDA Store / Publications: NFDA sells professional resources, guides, educational materials, brochures, and merchandise through its online store. Products include technical skills materials, compliance guides, cremation resources, marketing materials, and books.
4. Exhibition and Sponsorship Fees: NFDA generates revenue from supplier and vendor exhibitor fees at its conventions and expositions. The Expo Hall features over 300 exhibitors. Vendors pay for booth space, sponsorship opportunities, and advertising.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

NFDA is a nonprofit trade association that delivers membership services to funeral professionals, including industry advocacy, continuing education and certifications (notably the Cremation Certification Program), professional publications (The Director magazine, Memorial Business Journal), business and legal compliance resources, and large-scale in-person events such as the annual International Convention & Expo and Leadership Conference. Members also gain access to 300+ legal forms, free HR/OSHA consultations, member savings programs, and a Find a Funeral Home consumer referral page.

Product overview

National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) operates as a membership-based professional association offering a comprehensive suite of products and services for funeral professionals. The core offerings include the NFDA Member Portal, which provides access to exclusive content, event registration, and publications. Publications include The Director Magazine (monthly) and Memorial Business Journal (weekly). Educational products include the Cremation Certification Program, National Emerging Leaders Program, and various continuing education courses available through the NFDA Store. Consumer-facing resources include Remembering A Life platform for family education. NFDA also publishes annual research reports including the Cremation & Burial Report and Consumer Awareness and Preferences Report. Annual events include the International Convention & Expo, Leadership Conference, and Advocacy Summit. The association also offers recognition programs like Pursuit of Excellence and maintains a Supplier Directory and Career Center (FuneralCareers) for members.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Director: Monthly magazine covering funeral service profession news, trends, and analysis
• Memorial Business Journal
• Funeral Service Foundation
• Remembering A Life
• National Emerging Leaders Program
• Cremation Certification Program
• FIAT-IFTA

Products and services

• NFDA Membership Firm-based annual membership for U.S. and international funeral homes, scaled by caseload; covers all licensed directors and embalmers at the firm and unlocks 300+ legal forms, free HR/OSHA consultations, member savings, advocacy, publications, and event discounts.
• The Director Magazine Monthly print and digital magazine covering funeral service trends, legislative and regulatory developments, and industry thought leadership for funeral professionals.
• Memorial Business Journal Weekly electronic newsletter providing objective news and analysis on the death care profession for providers and suppliers.
• Cremation Certification Program Certification program covering best practices for safe, proper, and ethical crematory operations and excellence in service to cremation families, available to funeral professionals.
• National Emerging Leaders Program Leadership development program designed to develop the next generation of funeral service leaders through mentorship and structured professional development.
• NFDA International Convention & Expo Annual four-day convention and exposition with 300+ exhibitors, keynotes, education sessions, and networking for funeral service professionals and suppliers; 2026 edition October 25-28 in Charlotte, NC.
• NFDA Leadership Conference Annual leadership conference featuring association management training, leadership development, and advocacy updates for funeral service professionals; 2026 edition August 2-5 in Louisville, KY.
• NFDA Advocacy Summit Annual advocacy event in Washington, D.C., where funeral professionals meet with members of Congress to advance legislative priorities for the profession.
• Remembering A Life Consumer education platform providing families with resources on funeral planning, grief support, memorialization choices, and funeral service terminology.
• NFDA Store Online e-commerce store offering professional tools, guides, brochures, books, courses, and merchandise for funeral professionals across cremation, compliance, marketing, technical skills, and continuing education categories.
• FuneralCareers (NFDA Career Center) Online job board platform connecting funeral homes hiring with job seekers in the funeral service profession.
• Pursuit of Excellence Recognition program highlighting innovation and excellence from funeral homes around the world.
• International Professional Achievement Certificate Professional achievement certificate recognizing international contributions to the funeral service profession.
• NFDA Supplier Directory Directory of approved suppliers and vendors providing goods and services to funeral homes, accessible to NFDA members.

Quantifiable outcome

• Members can save up to $5,000 when purchasing a car through member savings programs
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• FIAT-IFTA (International Federation of Thanatologists Associations)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 October 2026FIAT-IFTA will co-locate its annual meeting with the 2026 NFDA International Convention & Expo in Charlotte, bringing additional funeral professionals from around the world. Led by FIAT-IFTA President and NFDA Past President Bill Wappner, this partnership creates expanded opportunities for global networking, collaboration and knowledge sharing.
• Batesville and Legacy.com (Welcome Party Sponsors)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 25 October 2026Batesville and Legacy.com sponsor the Welcome Party at the NFDA Convention, held at the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte.
• The Messenger Co. and Tukios (Service of Remembrance Sponsors)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 25 October 2026The Messenger Co. and Tukios return as sponsors of the Service of Remembrance ceremony at the NFDA Convention, which commemorates the 25th anniversary of September 11 in 2026.
• NGL (Keynote Sponsor)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 25 October 2026NGL sponsors the opening general session keynote by Shawn Kanungo on strategy and disruption at the 2026 NFDA Convention.
• Carriage Services (Closing Keynote Sponsor)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 25 October 2026Carriage Services sponsors the closing general session keynote by John Kenney on what death teaches us about living.
• Precoa (Funeral Face-off Sponsor)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 25 October 2026Precoa continues to support the Funeral Face-off trivia competition in the NFDA Lounge at the Expo Hall.
• Delta Air LinesminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 2 August 2026Delta provides special airfare discounts (3-8% depending on class) to NFDA conference attendees traveling to Louisville for the Leadership Conference. Discounts available for travel dates July 26 - August 10, 2026.
• Omni Louisville HotelminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 2 August 2026The Omni Louisville Hotel serves as the official host hotel for the 2026 NFDA Leadership Conference, offering discounted room rates ($239/night) for attendees within the NFDA room block.
• ChptrminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 May 2026Chptr partnered with NFDA and other organizations for 'The First Call' campaign, a national initiative recognizing funeral professionals. The campaign featured funeral directors in Times Square to bring visibility to the profession and those who support families through loss.
• Tribute TechnologyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 May 2026Tribute Technology partnered with NFDA for the 'The First Call' national campaign honoring funeral professionals. Tribute Technology is a technology provider serving the funeral industry.
• Homesteaders Life CompanyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 May 2026Homesteaders Life Company partnered with NFDA for the 'The First Call' campaign. Homesteaders is a life insurance company providing preneed funeral funding solutions.
• Funeral Service FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 April 2026The Funeral Service Foundation, NFDA's charitable arm, administers scholarships for Convention attendance (up to 20 scholarships at $2,200 each), academic scholarships for mortuary science students, and the annual golf classic raising funds for funeral service programs.
• TruStage (Education Session Sponsor)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 25 October 2025TruStage sponsors the education session programming at NFDA Conventions, providing continuing education content to funeral professionals.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Selected Independent Funeral Homes: A global membership association serving independent funeral homes with educational programs, conferences, and member services. Directly comparable as a competing trade association serving the same funeral professional customer base with overlapping benefits.
• National Funeral Directors and Morticians Association: A competing national funeral service association serving funeral directors and morticians. Comparable as a direct competitor association targeting the same licensed funeral professional customer segment with overlapping membership and educational offerings.
• International Order of the Golden Rule (OGR): An international association of independently owned funeral homes providing member services, education, and networking. Directly comparable as a competing funeral service association serving similar customers with similar member-benefit offerings.
• Cremation Association of North America: The leading North American association dedicated to cremation education, certification, and industry standards. Comparable as a specialized competitor association in the funeral service space, with overlapping members and certification programs.
• American Board of Funeral Service Education: The national accrediting body for mortuary science education and provider of funeral service educator resources. Comparable as a complementary organization in funeral professional training, certification, and accreditation serving adjacent member audiences.

Others

• Funeral Service Foundation: NFDA's own charitable arm administering scholarships and community programs. Comparable as a related nonprofit fundraising and grantmaking entity within the funeral service ecosystem that supports NFDA's broader mission and member programs.
• Homesteaders Life Company: A preneed funeral funding and life insurance company serving funeral homes and families. Comparable as a major funeral industry supplier partner to NFDA (including the First Call campaign) whose commercial interests align with NFDA's member services.
• Batesville: A leading manufacturer of burial caskets, cremation products, and technology for funeral professionals. Comparable as a tier-one NFDA convention sponsor and supplier whose marketing investments and product roadmap interact with NFDA's member education and events.

Broad incumbents

• Carriage Services: A publicly traded provider of funeral and cemetery services with a portfolio of owned and operated locations. Comparable as a large incumbent funeral services company and NFDA convention sponsor whose strategic decisions influence NFDA's member industry.
• Service Corporation International (SCI): The largest funeral, cemetery, and cremation services operator in North America. Comparable as the dominant private-sector player in NFDA's served industry whose acquisitions shape the membership base and competitive landscape NFDA operates in.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/nfda
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/nfdaweb
• Facebookfacebook.com/NationalFuneralDirectorsAssociation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/national-funeral-directors-association
• Instagraminstagram.com/nfda_usa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about National Funeral Directors Association