Thank you for your interest in IFDA membership.
All of our members are eligible for the following programs and benefits. Please contact the IFDA office for more information on any of the services outlined below or to order a membership application. You can contact us toll-free at (800) 240-4332 or by e-mail.
Advertisements
IFDA has developed newspaper and radio ads especially for your clientele. Let potential clients know about your prearrangement services or use the specially designed holiday ads to keep your name visible in your area.
Affinity Program
Through our Exclusive Endorsements and Preferred Partners Affinity Program, IFDA has thoroughly reviewed various companies and selected the best ones in order to offer you products and services that can enhance your business. More information about these companies is available on our members only website.
Brochures
IFDA offers a comprehensive list of brochures, including many written by IFDA especially for Illinois funeral homes. If you are doing a program for a local club or seeking informative materials for your clients, you may select from this list or contact IFDA for assistance.
Client Survey Forms
Are you providing the service your clients want? Use the IFDA Client Survey form and know for certain that you are doing the job your families want. IFDA takes care of all the details when you use this confidential survey. Contact IFDA for details and to begin using this service.
Continuing Education
By Illinois law, funeral directors and embalmers are required to obtain 24 hours of continuing education every two year period. IFDA provides a schedule of programs so licensees can complete their continuing education requirements. IFDA only tracks hours obtained from IFDA sponsored programs for licensees. Licensees can obtain half of their continuing education requirements through self-study courses. Click here for more information.
Convention
The IFDA Convention is held annually each June or July. Don't miss your opportunity to obtain continuing education and network with other funeral directors through the courses and social activities. For more information, visit the Events section.
E-News Bulletin
Our email news bulletin is sent weekly to all members, including employees, to make sure you have the most current information and news available to you. If we don't have your e-mail address, please send it to us.
Forms Manual
The Forms Manual contains many forms to assist you in your daily work life. It's now available on our members only website in a "fillable" format that allows you to fill out the forms right on your computer. Topics available include Autopsy, Casket, Cemetery, Cremation, Disposition, Donation, Embalming, Financial, Government, Legal, Religious and more.
Funeral Ethics Association
The Funeral Ethics Association was chartered in 1995 for the purpose of educating and making funeral service professionals aware of the ethical issues in the practice of funeral service. Members receive a quarterly newsletter filled with information about ethics. Membership is open to all persons who are affiliated with the funeral service profession. Click here for more information.
Funeral Home Appraisals
Every funeral home owner should know the value of his or her investment, whether for resale purposes, estate planning or to determine the value of a buy/sell agreement. Information on pricing or evaluating a funeral home is available from IFDA staff, and the appraisal is performed by a business appraisal expert.
Job Bank
Looking for a new licensee to hire? Post your job on our website and in Connections magazine! Most jobs listed on our website receive responses within 24 hours, so take advantage of this free member service. Simply request the Job Bank listing form from our office, complete the information and return it to us. We also offer a Resume Service, below.
Lobbying
Laws and regulations can have a major impact on how funeral directors conduct their daily business lives. With new laws being introduced on an almost daily basis, IFDA has made it our responsibility to track these new laws and evaluate their impact on funeral service. Through the recent addition of two personal lobbyists, IFDA hopes to best meet the needs of members now and in the future.
Newsletter
Published every other month, our full color newsletter is sent to all licensed employees of our member firms. It provides funeral service news, commentary on current topics, legislative information and much more.
Resume Service
Looking for a new employee or trying to find a place for a person you must release can be eased by working through IFDA. We keep current resumes on file for licensed funeral directors and trainees. We also have monthly job postings in the newsletter. This service can save you some unnecessary delays in filling that open position. Contact Membership for more information. Also see Job Bank, above, for other options.
Website
Visit IFDA's website for the most current information on the funeral profession in Illinois, including continuing education courses and Illinois laws related to funeral service. Members can also access a special area where they can read the latest news, chat with other members, see important legislative news, read and search several years of newsletters, access directories from the Yearbook and much more.
Yearbook
The yearbook, IFDA's most important publication, is published in January of each year. It includes a roster of IFDA members, the Board of Directors, committees, many Illinois laws and rules, and much more! The yearbook is available only to IFDA members.
