Funeral contribution list template (and how to keep it accurate)
Updated 6 October 2026
Quick answer
A funeral contribution list needs, for every donation: the date, the donor's name, who they are to the family (or which group they came with), the amount, how it was paid (cash, MoMo, bank), a reference (MoMo transaction ID or receipt number) and who recorded it. Number every entry, total it each day, and have two people sign off the cash count.
The columns your list needs
| No. | Date | Donor | Relationship / group | Amount (GH₵) | Method | Reference | Recorded by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12 Oct | Kwame Mensah | Nephew | 500 | MoMo | Txn 4528… | Akua |
| 2 | 12 Oct | Grace Owusu | Church (Women's Fellowship) | 200 | Cash | Receipt 002 | Yaw |
| 3 | 13 Oct | Asante & Sons Ltd | Employer of the son | 1,000 | Bank | Ref 77821 | Akua |
If people give for a particular purpose (the widow, the church, the family's general fund), add a Purpose column. Many families also keep a separate list for items donated in kind, like drinks, rice or cloth.
Rules that prevent arguments later
- Number every entry. A missing number is easy to spot; a missing name isn't.
- Record MoMo and bank donations with the transaction ID, not just the name. Two people called Kwame Mensah will give.
- Give a receipt for cash at the table, with the same number as the list.
- Have two people count the cash at the end of each session and sign the total.
- Share the running total with the family committee every day, not only after the funeral.
Announcing donations aloud ("Kwame Mensah, nephew, five hundred cedis") is common at Akan funerals, and the list is what the announcer reads from. Make sure it's correct before it's read out.
Paper book, spreadsheet or app?
A paper donation book is free and works anywhere, but it can't be shared, it's easy to lose, and someone has to type it up for the family meeting. A shared spreadsheet fixes sharing but not checking: anyone can type any amount.
Memora keeps the list for you. Donors who pay by MoMo submit their transaction ID and a screenshot, you confirm each one, and they get an SMS receipt automatically. Cash recorded at the funeral by your helpers goes on the same list. The totals update as money comes in, and you can download the full report for the family meeting.
Collect and record funeral contributions with Memora
One contribution link and QR code for everyone. Donors send MoMo and get an SMS receipt once you confirm it, cash at the table goes on the same list, and the report is ready for the family meeting.
Questions people ask
What is a funeral contribution list called?
It's also called a funeral donation book, donation register or contribution record. Among the Akan, funeral donations are called nsawa.
Should the contribution list be made public?
Share totals with the whole family and the full list with the family committee. Many families also read donations aloud at the funeral, which is customary, but always ask before publishing a list with amounts online.
How do I record a MoMo donation correctly?
Write the sender's name as it appears on the MoMo message, the amount, the date and the transaction ID. Check it against your MoMo statement before you add it to the total.