It’s always been ClearEstate’s goal to help families during challenging times. One of the biggest impacts the death of a loved one can have is, in addition to the emotional pain, a significant financial strain. ClearEstate understands the financial pressure that families can experience when dealing with a loved one’s passing, and is committed to easing the burden.

The cost of death

The death of a loved one is one of the most difficult and challenging periods families can face. In addition to navigating intense grief and the complex family dynamics that tend to arise after a death, the loss of a loved one can also be an overwhelming financial burden.

If the deceased left behind a lot of debt and assets that are subject to significant taxes, then families often have to spend significant time and resources ensuring that all of the estate’s loose ends are tied up. This can involve having to sell a beloved family home or hiring expensive accountants to help file tax returns. Then there are the funeral costs, as well as any unpaid medical bills that the deceased may have left behind before they died. All of these expenses need to be handled by the loved ones left behind.

And while most families are usually aware that probate requires paying certain fees that are covered by the estate, there are other expenses that may crop up: The deceased’s family members, one of whom is usually nominated to act as estate executor, often have to spend time and money to travel to the location where the funeral is being held, where probate is being carried out, and where the deceased’s assets are located.

The thing about death is that although it feels like life has stopped, it really hasn’t: Bills still need to be paid, food needs to be put on the table, and the kids need new books for school. Your financial responsibilities don’t stop just because you’re currently grieving. Add to this the costs associated with the death of a loved one, and many families may suddenly start to feel overwhelmed.

How ClearEstate Cares wants to help

It’s always been ClearEstate’s mission to ease the burden of families currently dealing with the death of a loved one, and one of the ways to do this is to help provide financial support. That’s why ClearEstate is introducing the ClearEstate Cares Initiative, which aims to support California-based non-profit organizations specializing in end-of-life care by providing three grants worth a combined $25,000 to qualified applicants. End-of-life organizations provide invaluable support to families dealing with the imminent or recent loss of a loved one, and can offer services ranging from hospice care and grief counseling to estate settlement advice.

By giving back to end-of-life non-profit organizations that help families deal with the pain and challenges of losing a loved one, ClearEstate is embodying its empathy-driven ethos. End-of-life organizations are often on the frontlines with families struggling with emotional and financial hurdles, while operating with scant resources and limited institutional support. ClearEstate wants to change that and shine the spotlight on the organizations providing these invaluable services by giving them the financial support they need to—in turn—financially and emotionally support families in need.

The inspiration for ClearEstate’s mission came from co-founder Alex Gauthier’s own personal experience. When his mother passed away in 2019, Gauthier found himself frustrated with the difficult and at times incomprehensible estate settlement process. As he found himself trying to file the right tax returns and apply for probate while grieving his loss, he knew that there had to be a better way. He vowed that he would create the kind of support and guidance that he keenly longed for while grieving and settling his mother’s estate, and would make it accessible to anyone who needed it.

Losing a loved one is tough enough as it is. On top of grieving a loss, families then have to navigate increasingly bureaucratic and complex financial and legal situations in order to settle their loved ones’ affairs. ClearEstate aims to help families navigate this difficult period, and financially supporting end-of-life non-profits is simply the next step towards achieving this goal.

How it works

The ClearEstate Cares Initiative will be offering three different grants that qualified non-profits can apply to. The grants available to applicants are:

• Grant No. 1 - The Genuine Care Grant:

  • This is a $15,000 grant awarded to the non-profit organization that demonstrates an empathy-first approach, creating the best overall experience for both patients and families going through the end-of-life process with a loved one.

• Grant No. 2 - The Accountability Grant:

  • A $7,500 grant awarded to the non-profit organization where the team shows the greatest ownership for their patient's well-being.

• Grant No. 3 - The Empathy Grant:

  • A $2,500 grant awarded to the non-profit organization that shows the most compassion to the families affected by the painful loss of a loved one.

In order to qualify, organizations must be non-profits that specialize in end-of-life care and are based in California. The organization must apply online and provide a video submission where they introduce themselves to the ClearEstate team and explain what they do, what sets them apart from similar organizations, and what they’d use the grant money for.

Submissions open at 9 A.M. PST today, November 9, 2022, and close at 9 P.M. PST on Friday, December 9, 2022. The winners will be selected and notified no later than Tuesday, December 13, 2022.

If you’re part of a non-profit organization that would benefit from a ClearEstate grant, or if you know an organization that does great work and could use some support, then head over to our ClearEstate Cares site to learn more about the grant and access the submission form. We look forward to your application, and to finding more ways to support grieving families in need.