FAMIC Leads Profession-Wide Effort to Tackle Funeral Service Workforce Crisis

New video series offers peer-driven solutions to help funeral homes recruit and retain staff 

Brookfield, Wis. – The Funeral and Memorial Information Council (FAMIC), in collaboration with its member associations, has taken a proactive step in addressing one of the funeral profession’s most urgent challenges: attracting and keeping qualified employees. Today, FAMIC announced the release of Hiring and Retention: Tips from Your Colleagues, a new video series featuring real-world solutions from funeral home owners and managers from throughout the United State and across the globe. 

“Recruiting and retaining qualified staff isn’t just a challenge, it’s one of the greatest threats to the future of funeral service,” said Chris Robinson, president of the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA). “As associations, we have a responsibility to lead with action and provide practical tools our members can use right now. This video series is a tangible example of how NFDA and its FAMIC partners are working together to help funeral homes build strong, sustainable teams.” 

The 13-video series, hosted on FAMIC’s YouTube channel, features 12 short videos, each spotlighting practical strategies being used by funeral home owners and managers to recruit and retain high-quality employees.  A final compilation video brings the best insights together in a single resource. Topics include mental health and well-being, creating inclusive workplace cultures, and community-based recruitment. 

“Our members are constantly asking, ‘What’s working, and how can we learn from each other?’ This series answers that call,” said Christopher Waite, incoming chair of Selected Independent Funeral Homes (Selected). “By sharing candid insights from real funeral directors, who face the same challenges and are finding creative ways to overcome them, we’re helping firms move from frustration to forward momentum.” 

The funeral professionals who made time to share advice with their colleagues include:

• Eric Bliley, Richmond, Virginia
• Jim Busch, Cleveland, Ohio
• Colin Haskett, Ontario, Canada
• Bettina Jose, Manila, Philippines
• Jimmi Anne Lowe Ellington, Burlington, North Carolina
• Carmalita March-Harris, Baltimore, Maryland
• Adam Martin, Mount Morris, Michigan
• Leili McMurrough, Chicago, Illinois
• Larnique Mickens, Las Vegas, Nevada
• Emily Nelson, Denver, Colorado
• Marcus Nelson, Spooner, Wisconsin
• Lori Pray, Charlotte, Michigan

Tips range from small, impactful actions, like hosting quarterly staff lunches, daily check-ins and redistributing workloads, to long-term strategies such as building recruitment pipelines through job fairs, social media and partnerships with hospice professionals. 

“This effort reflects what our profession needs most right now – leadership, collaboration and real-world solutions,” said Kim Hunter, president of the International Order of the Golden Rule (OGR). “Through FAMIC, we’ve harnessed the insight and experience of funeral professionals who are finding success, and we’re making that knowledge available to everyone. It’s a powerful example of how associations can work together to move the profession forward.” 

The video series is part of FAMIC’s broader mission to provide valuable information and education to the profession. The videos will be promoted by NFDA, Selected and OGR through email, social media and their websites. 

Watch the full series on the FAMIC YouTube channel: YouTube.com/@FAMIC_Tips. 

About FAMIC 

The Funeral and Memorial Information Council is an association of associations representing all facets of the deathcare profession. With members including the National Funeral Directors Association, Selected Independent Funeral Homes and the International Order of the Golden Rule, FAMIC serves as a unified voice and a leading provider of education and information. Its mission is to support informed consumers and funeral professionals who value meaningful memorialization. # # #

Selected Educational Trust Receives Grant from Global Atlantic Financial Group to Expand  Workforce Development Programs 

LINCOLNSHIRE, IL — March 27, 2025 — The Selected Educational Trust is pleased to announce  that it has received a grant from Global Atlantic Financial Group to enhance and expand its  Workforce Development offerings. With staffing recruitment, training, and retention being among  the most pressing challenges for independent funeral home owners, this funding will provide  critical support and resources to strengthen the profession. 

Through this grant, Global Atlantic Financial Group’s financial support will allow the Trust to grow  its four key Workforce Development initiatives: the Employment Center, Career Center, Mortuary  Science Student Center, and Job Fairs. These programs serve as essential resources for  independent funeral homes seeking to attract, train, and retain top-tier talent within the profession. “We are thrilled to receive this generous grant from Global Atlantic Financial Group to elevate our  Workforce Development programs,” said Stefanie Favia, Executive Director of the Selected  Educational Trust. “This partnership enables us to provide independent funeral home owners with  the solutions they need to address the ongoing workforce challenges. By expanding our initiatives,  we continue our mission of supporting and advancing the independent funeral service profession  through education and career development.” 

The Trust’s Workforce Development programs provide a comprehensive approach to staffing  challenges. The Employment Center allows Selected members to post job openings with broad  visibility, including direct outreach to every accredited Mortuary Science School in the country. The  Career Center connects funeral professionals with potential employers while maintaining their  privacy. The Mortuary Science Student Center serves as a dedicated database of aspiring funeral  service professionals, helping member firms discover emerging talent. Finally, the Job Fairs facilitate direct connections between funeral home owners and Mortuary Science students, with  proven success in employment placements. 

As part of this initiative, the Trust will leverage its pre-existing relationships with mortuary science  schools to directly reach mortuary science students and early-career professionals seeking job  opportunities. New resources will be created and curated specifically for this demographic to  support their professional growth.

“At Global Atlantic Financial Group, we recognize the crucial role that funeral professionals play in  their communities,” said Tim Bridgers, Managing Director of Preneed at Global Atlantic Financial  Group. “By providing this grant to the Trust’s Workforce Development programs, we are investing in  the future of the funeral service profession, ensuring that dedicated professionals continue to  provide compassionate and high-quality care to families when they need it most.” 

This grant underscores the commitment of both organizations to strengthen the independent  funeral service profession through meaningful career opportunities and education. For more  information about the Selected Educational Trust and its Workforce Development initiatives, visit  www.selectedtrust.org or contact Stefanie Favia at stefanie@selectedtrust.org.  

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About the Selected Educational Trust 

The mission of the Selected Educational Trust (www.selectedtrust.org) is to provide the best educational  opportunities for the advancement and support of all who work within the independent funeral service  profession. To fulfill this mission, the Trust provides programs which offer scholarships to mortuary science  students and funeral service professionals, online education through its Institute for Exceptional Funeral  Service powered by National Guardian Life Insurance Company (www.funeral-institute.org) and networking  and employment opportunities through its Workforce Development Centers, now powered by Global Atlantic  Financial Group. 

About Global Atlantic 

Global Atlantic Financial Group is a leading insurance company meeting the retirement and life insurance  needs of individuals and institutions. With a strong financial foundation and risk and investment  management expertise, the company delivers tailored solutions to create more secure financial futures.  The company’s performance has been driven by its culture and core values focused on integrity, teamwork,  and the importance of building long-term client relationships. Global Atlantic is a wholly owned subsidiary  of KKR, a leading global investment firm. Through its relationship, the company leverages KKR’s investment  capabilities, scale and access to capital markets to enhance the value it offers clients. KKR’s parent  company is KKR & Co. Inc. (NYSE: KKR). 

Global Atlantic Financial Group (Global Atlantic) is the marketing name for The Global Atlantic Financial  Group LLC and its subsidiaries, including Forethought Life Insurance Company and Accordia Life and Annuity  Company. Each subsidiary is responsible for its own financial and contractual obligations. These  subsidiaries are not authorized to do business in New York.