Donate in memory of someone lost to addiction or overdose

You can donate in memory of someone who died of an overdose or lost their life to addiction by giving to The Blackburn Foundation, a Los Angeles 501(c)(3) that pays for addiction and mental health treatment for people who cannot afford it. Give any amount on our donation page and tick “Give in honor/memory” to add their name. Questions: (888) 305-5422.

How do I make a gift in memory of someone?

1. Open the giving form. Go to the donation page. The form is the same one used for every gift.
2. Choose an amount. Pick one of the amounts or type your own. You can give once or set a monthly gift that continues in their name.
3. Add their name. Tick “Give in honor/memory” and type the name of the person you are remembering.
4. Finish the gift. You get an emailed receipt for your records.

What does a memorial gift pay for?

Gifts go to the Foundation’s treatment scholarship fund. Scholarships help pay for care such as detox, residential treatment, outpatient treatment, sober living and aftercare for people who are ready to get well and cannot pay for it. Every scholarship is decided case by case, for people anywhere in the United States. The Foundation funds care; it is not a treatment provider.

For many families, that is the point of the gift: someone else gets the chance at treatment that their person needed.

Can I ask for donations instead of flowers?

Yes. Many families add a line to an obituary, a funeral program or a memorial page. You are welcome to use or change this wording:

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that gifts be made in [Name]’s memory to The Blackburn Foundation, which pays for addiction treatment for people who cannot afford it: theblackburnfoundation.org/donate/in-memory/. The Blackburn Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, EIN 36-5017255.

Friends and family can then give in any amount and add your loved one’s name with the “Give in honor/memory” box.

Can I set up a memorial fund or fundraiser?

If you would like friends to give together, or want to mark an anniversary or birthday each year, call (888) 305-5422 or email info@theblackburnfoundation.org and tell us what you have in mind. Sharing this page with the “Give in honor/memory” instructions works well for a funeral, a celebration of life or a social media post.

Can I give in honor of someone who is in recovery?

Yes. The same box works for a gift in honor of someone who is alive and well, such as a sobriety anniversary, a birthday or a graduation from treatment. Type their name and choose “in honor”.

How do I know the Foundation is legitimate?

• The Blackburn Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity, EIN 36-5017255, at 12326 Venice Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90066. You can look up the EIN in the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search.
• It holds Candid’s 2026 Silver Seal of Transparency; the seal at the bottom of this page links to its Candid profile.
• Several unrelated groups in other states are also called Blackburn Foundation, including one in Texas. Check the EIN and the city.