10th September 2025
Making giving as easy as possible is at the heart of everything we do. Developing new and innovative models for facilitating this has always been a driver for us at Prism, one such model is the Memorial Collective Funds. In this blog we highlight how they can be a meaningful way to honour a loved one while making a lasting impact.
Our unique Collective Fund model was set up back in 2015 after a bank approached us to ask how best to fundraise after the child of one of their employees sadly died. Since then we’ve supported over 200 Collective Funds, each designed to raise funds using different models such as ‘British friends of’, operational, grantmaking, community and corporate.
What is a Memorial Fund?
An in memory fund allows friends, family and communities to come together after the loss of a loved one to raise money for causes close to their heart. Fundraising in memory is about more than donations – it’s about creating a living legacy that reflects the passions and values of the person who has passed.
At Prism, our Memorial Collective Fund model provides an efficient, reliable, and swift fundraising solution. We take care of the administration – from compliance and due diligence to claiming Gift Aid and setting up crowdfunding platforms – so families have the time and space to focus on remembering and celebrating the life of their loved one.
The Be More Laura Foundation: Fundraising in Memory of Laura Nuttall
One of Prism’s Memorial Collective Funds is the Be More Laura Foundation, set up in 2023 by Nicola and Mark Nuttall in memory of their daughter Laura, who sadly passed away at the age of 23 from glioblastoma.
The Nuttall family wanted to continue Laura’s fight to raise awareness of brain cancer and fund vital research into new treatments. Through their in memory fundraising, they have already raised tens of thousands of pounds and pledged £30,000 to support Professor Chris Jones at the Institute for Cancer Research.
Nicola and Mark explained:
“We set up the Be More Laura Foundation in memory of our daughter who died aged just 23 from an aggressive brain cancer called glioblastoma. Brain tumours kill more children and adults under 40 than any other cancer, yet historically this devastating disease only receives 2% of the cancer research spend. Laura was appalled by this statistic and campaigned fiercely to raise awareness. It felt important that we continued Laura’s legacy by helping to fund research specifically into glioblastoma and the fight for better, kinder treatments.”
On choosing Prism, they added:
“We didn’t really have the time or expertise to set up a freestanding charity but knew that Prism could support us with compliance, governance, and the ability to claim Gift Aid – something that makes a huge difference to a small foundation like ours.”
Flackstock: A Memorial Fund Celebrating Caroline Flack
Another Prism Memorial Collective Fund is Flackstock, a festival celebrating the life of TV presenter Caroline Flack. Through music, dance and comedy, the festival brings people together to remember Caroline while raising funds for mental health charities.
With Prism managing the governance, due diligence and donations, the organisers can focus on creating an unforgettable event that celebrates Caroline’s memory and supports causes close to her heart. So far they have raised £690,000 for charities ranging from mental health to humanitarian relief.
All running costs for the festival are paid through festival sponsors so all proceeds raised go to charity. Prism works closely with the team to help them manage legal complexities and current regulations related to fundraising and working with sponsors.
A memorial fund reduces the administrative burden for families
Every family choosing to set up a memorial fund with Prism receives dedicated support from a Relationship Manager. This ensures:
Efficient administration – we handle donations, Gift Aid, and compliance.
Flexibility – funds can be restricted to specific causes or charities.
Peace of mind – families know donations are reaching their intended destination.
By removing the administrative burden, Prism gives families the freedom to focus on what really matters: honouring a loved one and building a legacy in their name.
This year Prism the Gift Fund celebrates our two decades of shaping the future of giving. With over $1 billion raised for charitable causes around the world, we are celebrating the out put and impact of these years. You can read more stories about our Collective Funds and the impact here:
To learn more about Prism’s Collective Funds, get in touch with Elena Myers
