Make Your Mark.

The Funeral Service Foundation is proud to honor J. Mark Busch with the 2026 Distinguished Service Award, recognizing his outstanding contributions to the profession and to our mission.

Mark's leadership and dedication have shaped the Foundation for nearly three decades, from his years on the Board of Trustees to his lasting impact on how we raise support for our work.

Help us honor Mark's legacy by supporting Make Your Mark.

In his honor, funds raised will help support mental health and substance abuse recovery within the funeral service profession, caring for the people who spend their careers caring for others.

Together, we're making a difference.

Ready to make your mark?

In Mark's honor, every gift funds mental health and recovery resources for funeral service professionals.

The Helmsman

At the helm, every decision shapes the course ahead. This premier level stands alongside a leader who steered the Foundation through some of its most pivotal years. Your generosity honors a legacy of steady, hands-on leadership.

$10,000 Amount

Chart the Course

Every voyage starts with a plan and the courage to follow it. This level reflects a commitment to charting new territory for mental health and recovery in funeral service, helping the profession navigate toward a healthier future.

$5,000 Amount

The Anchor

An anchor holds steady when the water gets rough. At this level, your support provides the grounding this cause needs, ensuring the people who care for others always have something solid beneath them.

$2,500 Amount

Safe Harbor

A safe harbor is where you find rest, shelter, and the chance to begin again. This level reflects the heart of Mark's mission: creating a place of refuge for those in the profession who are struggling.

$1,000 Amount

Making Waves

It doesn't take a big boat to make waves. This level honors those who step forward in service, helping ripple this cause further into the profession, one gift at a time.

$500 Amount

First Mate

No one sails alone. Every great voyage depends on the people who show up, do the work, and support the person at the helm. This level honors that spirit of quiet, steady partnership

$250 Amount

Make Your Mark (Choose Your Own)

Every gift matters, and every act of generosity leaves its own mark. Whether you're giving in honor of Mark, in support of a colleague, or simply to move this cause forward, your contribution counts.

Any Amount

About Mark and the Foundation

Nearly three decades of leadership.

Mark's leadership with the Funeral Foundation spans nearly three decades, including two terms on the Board of Trustees: 1999 to 2002, and 2017 to 2021.

Throughout, he has been known for his work in fundraising for the Foundation, where his instincts for connecting donors to the mission helped shape how the Foundation raises support. He continues that work today as a member of the Fund Development Committee and as a Scholarship Reviewer.

Mark has a way of summing up his approach to fundraising in one line: "Why did you give?" "Because I was asked."

"Mark taught me that the ask is really an invitation, a chance to bring someone into something meaningful. I've carried that lesson into every conversation I've had with a donor since, and it feels right to see it come full circle with a cause this close to his heart."

John Heald

Immediate Past Chair of the Funeral Service Foundation and
Former Fund Development Chair

a woman and a boy sitting at a table with colored pencils

All donors are invited to the Foundation's annual Donor Reception!

Make your mark and donate today!

Thank you for helping us fulfill our mission to lift up grieving families by investing in people and programs that strengthen funeral service.