Tribute Pages vs Dedication Pages - The Great Debate!
One of the most common questions we receive is from fundraisers who are trying to understand the difference between dedication pages and tribute pages (aka. tribute funds or memorial pages). In some ways, they are quite similar. After all, they can both be used for collecting online in-memory donations, and this can cause some confusion for people who are trying to decide which one is better for their organisation. In this article, we'll look at both options to help you decide which one is right for your charity.
Similarities between tribute pages and dedication pages
Share photos and stories
Both tribute pages and dedication pages allow people to write personal messages and share photos of someone they love.
Raise money for charity
Both tribute pages and dedication pages can be used to raise money for a good cause. Tribute pages are often created by someone who is arranging a funeral collection in memory of their loved one, but this is not always the case.
On some platforms, a donation is required to make a contribution to a page. On others, a donation can be optional. On Visufund, the page owner can choose whether they want to make donations optional or required.
Symbolic acts of remembrance
Many tribute pages have a facility to allow contributors to light a virtual candle or add a virtual gift to a page without making a donation. People will often visit the page on a special date, such as the loved one's birthday, in order to do this.
On dedication pages, supporters choose a symbol at the same time as leaving their dedication message. For example, on a Visufund virtual Christmas tree, you might choose to dedicate a star or switch on a light alongside your message.
Differences between tribute pages and dedication pages
Dedicated to one person... or many
Tribute pages are usually created by one person (or family) to remember an individual person. Lots of people can contribute to the page in order to share memories and photos of the same person. This can be comforting to the family, who may enjoy reading stories and seeing photos of their loved one that they have not seen before.
Dedication pages are usually created by a charity, and can be used to celebrate or remember multiple people. Anyone can contribute to share their own story about someone they love. This can be comforting in a different way; for example, helping people to feel less alone by creating a sense of community and reading about other people's experiences.
Everlasting... or seasonal
Usually, once a tribute page has been created, the same page will be used to remember that person in future. Whether someone is donating to remember them on a birthday, anniversary or special occasion, they'll always come back to the same page.
Dedication pages tend to be more seasonal. A charity might have various pages for Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, or religious festivals like Eid or Christmas. A supporter may leave dedications on multiple pages, depending on the time of year.
Private... or public
Tribute pages can be private or public. If a page is private, it can only be viewed by someone who knows the page URL and will not show up in search results. This can be a useful feature for families who wish to protect the privacy of their memories and photos.
By their very nature, dedication pages are usually public, as anyone can visit the page and leave their own dedication message. Anyone viewing the page can see all the dedications.
Long-term commitment... or one-off support
Whilst some tribute pages may only be used to collect initial donations at a funeral, the most successful ones last a lifetime. Families with successful tribute pages often see their fund as a focal point, directing all their ongoing fundraising efforts into one place and keeping the loved one at the heart of everything they do. These people often say that they find it comforting to create new positive memories about their loved one through fundraising, and frequently go on to raise vast sums of money for charity.
On the other hand, dedication pages require much less commitment from the donor. For a one-off donation, people can leave a dedication message and remember their loved one. If your charity is new to in-memory fundraising, dedication pages are often a good place to start, as it is a simpler ask and does not require any ongoing effort from the supporter.
Which one is right for your charity?
Both tribute pages and dedications are a great way to collect in-memory donations, so the answer is... probably both!
If your supporters are confident using technology and are happy to create their own pages, tribute pages are a great way for them to remember someone special and raise money for your cause. These pages can be revisited time and time again, giving people a great reason to keep coming back and continue their support.
Or, if you want to offer a way for people to remember their loved ones without the need for ongoing commitment, you may prefer a dedication page. These public pages are a great way to engage a large number of supporters at the same time of year, where they can all celebrate and remember their loved ones together.
How can Visufund help?
If your charity has an onboard Non-profit account, you and your supporters can publish unlimited pages using any template from our library. This means that your supporters can create their own tribute pages dedicated to an individual person, and your charity can also create public dedication pages for multiple people.
Looking for some template inspiration? Why not try one of these?
Tribute pages
- Photo Memories: Supporters can upload a photo of their loved one into the frame and invite people to light a virtual candle when leaving a message
- Hearts: Supporters can change the background of this template to a photo of someone they love. Each person who donates can add a colourful heart on top, and share their own photo or memory.
- Virtual Balloon Release: This template is a good option for anyone who is environmentally conscious and is looking for an alternative to releasing balloons at a funeral.
Dedication pages
- Tree of Love: Each heart-shaped leaf can be dedicated to someone special, with a photo and short message.
- Stars in the Sky: Create a virtual night sky where supporters can dedicate the stars to a loved one.
- Paws in the Sand: Charities can invite their supporters to remember their pets, by making a donation to add a pawprint to the sand. Supporters can upload a photo of their pet with their message.
- Lights on a Lake: Light virtual candles in memory of loved ones.
- Christmas Tree with Stars and Lights: Decorate the virtual Christmas tree by inviting supporters to dedicate the decorations to someone special.