The TEARS Foundation has served thousands of families in need with both financial and emotional support services. If you have found us because you have experienced a loss, our hearts go out to you.  We welcome you to reach out to us for support and if you would like to speak with someone or need financial assistance, please fill out our online application form and someone who can help will be in touch within 48 hours. See below the areas in which we offer financial assistance. If you are unsure whether financial assistance is offered in your area, please contact us and we can help.

***Note: If you are only interested in emotional support,  check the “emotional support only” option on the online application form. See more about our emotional support programs below.

Funeral Financial Assistance 

To learn more about each financial assistance program we have and their eligibility requirements, see our Funeral Application Guidelines here. If you have not heard from us within 48 hours, contact us to confirm that we have received your application.

Applications & regions of assistance for each program

You can request any of our services through our online application form. See program descriptions and regions of assistance below:

Infant Funeral Application (pdf version)

Spanish Application/ Solicitud de Asistencia Financiera para Infantes

For babies 20 weeks gestation to 1 year old – Applications accepted for families residing, or if baby died, in one of the following areas: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Colorado (Western), Delaware, Florida (Volusia, Flagler, and St. John’s counties), Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York(Upstate), North Carolina, North Dakota (Western Region), Pennsylvania, Texas (Bastrop, Bell, McLennan, Limestone, Freestone, Williamson, Travis Counties),  Washington or Wyoming.

Jesse’s Grant Application (pdf version)
For babies 20 weeks gestation to 1 year old – We may provide a flat, granite grave marker if it has been 6 months or more since baby’s passing. We are accepting applications for the following areas: Alaska, Arizona, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Dakota (Western Region), Washington or Wyoming.

The Charlie and Braden Project (pdf version)
Funeral assistance for children between 1 and 12 years old, who die from external causes (such as Suicide, Accident, or Sudden Unexplained Death of a Child). Applications accepted for families residing, or if child died, in one of the following areas: Alaska,  Arizona, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Dakota (Western Region), Texas Hillcountry (Bastrop, Bell, Travis and Williamson counties), Washington or Wyoming.

Cali’s Gift – (Cali’s Gift application pdf version)

Funeral assistance and/or Grief Counseling Support for those whose child is between 13 – 22 years old and died due to drug related causes and/or death by suicide. For more information contact us at [email protected]. For Cali’s Gift online application, click here 

If you would like to know whether assistance is offered in your area, need the application expedited or would like an update on the status of your application,  please contact us at (253) 200-0944 or [email protected].

New Funeral Homes

If you are a new funeral home seeking to become an approved provider with TEARS, see our Approved Provider Form. Please review, sign and return page 4 of the Approved Provider Form along with a copy of your infant/ general pricing list.

Forms can be emailed to [email protected], or faxed to 253-848-0299.

Emotional Support Groups

The TEARS Foundation offers free support groups for bereaved families who have experienced the death of their baby. To find a listing of support groups in your area, please click here. If you would like to speak to someone, contact us at [email protected]. We also have support for the deaf and Spanish speaking communities.