Selected Independent Funeral Homes

What Selected Independent Funeral Homes does

Selected Independent Funeral Homes is a worldwide trade association founded in 1917 that serves independent, family-owned funeral homes across the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. The organization, headquartered in Lincolnshire, Illinois with 11-50 employees, operates as a member-led association of more than 500 independent funeral home firms that share a stated interest in continuous improvement to best serve families. Its core products and programs include the Selected Forum (a Discourse-based online community), Selected Study Groups, the Selected Leadership Academy, Linking Leaders, The Institute for Exceptional Funeral Service (now free to members), the Selected Acquisition Marketplace, Family Follow-Up Surveys, and Selected Transfer Services. Technology infrastructure consists of standard web-based member portals, a Discourse forum, and Zoom for virtual events; no proprietary technology platform or in-house AI is disclosed.

The association generates revenue through three primary streams: recurring membership dues from funeral home firms (pricing not publicly disclosed), Annual Meeting registration fees ranging from $824 to $1,124 per in-person participant and $199 per virtual livestream participant, and sales through an online store offering literature, customized materials, and merchandise. The organization serves customer segments including independent funeral homes (primary), Funeral Home + Cemetery combination operators, Women in Funeral Service, and NextGen emerging leaders, with pricing structured around event attendance tiers and continuing education credits rather than transactional licensing. Go-to-market is community-led, with the Annual Meeting as the flagship event supplemented by six regional Group Roundtables, study groups, referral programs, and a network of approximately 20 Preferred Partners spanning software, insurance, preneed services, consulting, and supplies.

Name

Selected Independent Funeral Homes

Legal name

Selected Independent Funeral Homes

Website

https://selectedfuneralhomes.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1917

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Selected Independent Funeral Homes is a 1917-founded worldwide trade association serving 500+ independent funeral homes across the US, Canada, and the UK via membership dues, annual events, peer communities, and a Preferred Partner ecosystem.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Deerfield

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, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Trade association revenue generated from annual membership dues paid by independent funeral homes. Specific pricing not publicly disclosed.
2. Annual Meeting Registration: In-person registration fees for the Annual Meeting (Sept 2-5, 2026 in Louisville, KY) ranging from $824-$1,124 per participant, and virtual/livestream registration at $199 per participant. Includes continuing education credits.
3. Store and Literature: Online store selling literature, customized materials, and Selected merchandise to members.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Selected Independent Funeral Homes is a worldwide trade association serving independent funeral homes. It operates a membership-based model delivering networking communities, continuing education, leadership development programs, business tools, and access to a network of vetted Preferred Partners who supply discounts on insurance, software, compliance training, and other funeral home services.

Product overview

Selected Independent Funeral Homes is a worldwide trade association serving independent funeral homes through a membership model. The core offering includes access to peer networking communities (Forum, Study Groups, Women in Funeral Service, Funeral Home + Cemetery Management), leadership development (Leadership Academy, Linking Leaders), business tools (Staff Recruitment & Retention, Selected Acquisition Marketplace, Selected Business Solutions Toolkits), continuing education (The Institute for Exceptional Funeral Service), and transfer services. The association partners with Preferred Partners including PlotBox (deathcare software), Gather (case management), Kindred (funeral management platform), Passare (cloud case management), Parting Pro (cremation arrangement), and Tribute Technology (memorialization software). The organization also facilitates continuing education events including an Annual Meeting with both in-person and virtual livestream options via Zoom.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Selected Independent Funeral Homes Membership Trade association membership providing independent funeral homes access to networking, continuing education, business tools, study groups, roundtable meetings, preferred partners, and industry resources.
• Annual Meeting (In-Person) In-person annual conference for member funeral home professionals held in Louisville, KY (Sept 2-5, 2026). Includes educational sessions, networking, preferred partner exhibit hall, meals, and continuing education credits (up to 9.25 CE hours).
• Annual Meeting Virtual Livestream Virtual livestream option for the Annual Meeting delivered via Zoom, including CE credit. Registration deadline August 31, 2026.
• Selected Forum Online discussion community (Discourse-based) for Selected members to network, share best practices, and discuss industry topics throughout the year.
• Selected Study Groups Peer learning groups organized by geography and topic where member funeral homes share knowledge, best practices, and discuss specific business challenges.
• Selected Leadership Academy Leadership development program for Selected members to build management, ownership, and business skills. Includes the annual Leadership Academy with ASD as the named partner.
• Selected Transfer Services Member network enabling independent funeral homes to transfer cases and serve families across different geographic areas when needed.
• Family Follow-Up Survey Survey tool offered to members to help member funeral homes gather structured feedback from the families they have served.
• Linking Leaders Leadership development and networking program aimed at emerging funeral service professionals preparing to lead or take over family funeral home operations.
• The Institute for Exceptional Funeral Service Self-guided training courses providing continuing education exclusively to Selected members, now offered free of charge.
• Staff Recruitment and Retention Tools Workforce development resources and support materials to help member funeral home firms expand their candidate pool, recruit qualified staff, and improve retention.
• Selected Acquisition Marketplace (SAM) Private marketplace platform connecting Selected members for buying and selling funeral home businesses, supporting succession and acquisition activity within the membership.
• Selected Business Solutions Toolkits Topic-based resource toolkits covering various business areas, containing materials and templates shared by Selected members for use in their own funeral homes.
• Women in Funeral Service Community Networking, resources, mentorship, and support community for women working at Selected member funeral firms, addressing leadership, work-life balance, and gender-related professional barriers.
• Funeral Home + Cemetery Management Community Community of more than 80 member firms that own and operate both funeral homes and cemeteries, focused on best practice sharing, education, and networking around cemetery integration.
• Selected Online Store Online store offering literature, customized materials, and Selected-branded merchandise for purchase by members and the public.

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and support.

• PlotBoxcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2026PlotBox is a digital deathcare management solution for combo operators. They sponsor the Funeral Home + Cemetery Management Community and provide integrated cemetery and funeral home management software including case management, deceased tracking, scheduling, contract management, and AI obituary assistant.
• Federated InsurancecoreOthers · 1 January 2026Premier Preferred Partner offering property & casualty, workers' compensation, and risk management for funeral homes. Lanyard Sponsor and Study Groups Program Partner. Rated A+ by A.M. Best.
• ASD (Answering Service Dispatch)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Leadership Academy Partner and messaging/communication service for funeral homes.
• Graystone AssociatescoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2026Business consulting firm specializing in funeral service. Provides strategic advice, data analytics, and professional development. Advanced Partner sponsor at Annual Meeting.
• TukiossupportGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Preferred Partner producing video web series showcasing member firms. Behind-the-scenes content featuring Larkin Mortuary, Washburn-McReavy, and Mothe Funeral Homes.
• GathersupportTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2026Funeral home software provider offering case management, website designs, body tracking, and livestreaming. Offers 10% discount to Selected members.
• PassaresupportTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2026Cloud-based case management system. Offers 50% off data conversion for Selected members migrating to their platform.
• Certified Safety TrainingsupportImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2026OSHA and FTC compliance training for funeral homes and crematories. Offers award-winning customizable compliance programs including emergency action plans, bloodborne pathogen training, and formaldehyde exposure control.
• Avion Energy, Inc.supportOthers · 1 January 2026Energy cost management helping funeral homes reduce electric and gas bills through usage optimization.
• Johnson Consulting GroupsupportImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2026Business consulting for succession planning, selling funeral homes, financing, business coaching, and leadership training.
• Federated FiducialsupportImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2026Accounting, tax, and business services for funeral directors. On-site consulting since 1925, nationwide field consultants.
• Tribute TechnologysupportTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2026Software and cloud solutions serving 9,000+ funeral homes and cemeteries. General Session Sponsor for Annual Meeting.
• KindredsupportTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2026Web-based funeral management platform. Provides complimentary onboarding and migration for Selected members.
• Matthews Aurora Funeral SolutionssupportOthers · 1 January 2026Casket partner for Annual Meeting exhibiting.
• Victoriaville & Co., Inc.supportOthers · 1 January 2026Casket partner for Annual Meeting exhibiting.
• Funeral Directors LifesupportOthers · 1 January 2026Preneed insurance partner. Educational Trust Ambassador of the Year Award Sponsor.
• Physicians MutualsupportOthers · 1 January 2026Preneed insurance partner.
• PrecoasupportOthers · 1 January 2026Preneed marketing partner. Welcome Celebration Educational Trust Silver Sponsor.
• The Kilpatrick GroupsupportOthers · 1 January 2026Preneed consulting partner. Welcome Celebration Educational Trust Gold Sponsor.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association (ICCFA): Global trade association serving cemetery, cremation, and funeral professionals with education, certification, and an annual convention. Highly comparable to Selected as a peer trade association, with overlapping membership in the funeral home + cemetery operator segment.
• Order of the Golden Rule: International trade association of independently owned funeral homes, similar in target segment to Selected. Competes for the same independent-firm membership base and offers comparable education, events, and networking programs.
• Cremation Association of North America (CANA): North American trade association dedicated to cremation providers, offering certification, education, and an annual convention. Comparable as a professional association serving death care providers, though more narrowly focused on the cremation segment.
• National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA): The largest US trade association for funeral directors, offering membership, education, advocacy, and events. Most directly comparable organization to Selected in mission, member model, and programming, though NFDA serves all funeral directors rather than independents specifically.

Others

• Funeral Consumers Alliance: Consumer advocacy nonprofit focused on funeral pricing transparency and consumer rights. Adjacent to Selected's member base as both serve the funeral services ecosystem, though from a consumer-protection rather than trade-association perspective.
• Funeral Service Foundation: Charitable foundation supporting funeral service through scholarships, research, and community programs. Adjacent organization within the same death care ecosystem, sharing many of the same member firms and industry sponsors.
• American Board of Funeral Service Education (ABFSE): Accrediting body for funeral service and mortuary science programs. Operates upstream of Selected's continuing education mission and shares many of the same institutional stakeholders.

Regional players

• National Association of Funeral Directors (NAFD): UK trade association for funeral directors offering membership, standards, and continuing education. Highly comparable in mission to Selected but operates primarily in the United Kingdom rather than North America.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/selectedfh
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/selected-independent-funeral-homes

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Selected Independent Funeral Homes