NFDA, Selected Independent Funeral Homes to pursue merger

July 30, 2026/Business, Regulations/

Yesterday we received this press release from the National Funeral Directors Association that stated a Letter of Intent was signed between the Boards of Directors of the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) and Selected Independent Funeral Homes to pursue a merger to unite the two organizations.

The press release also made this comment:

“The proposed merger reflects a shared commitment to the future of funeral service. For generations, NFDA has advanced the profession through advocacy, education, research and professional development, while Selected has fostered excellence among independently owned funeral homes through trusted peer relationships, leadership development and collaboration. Together, the associations seek to build on those legacies to better support funeral professionals, strengthen their members, and serve families and communities for generations to come.”

The press release also makes this comment about where “Selected” may fit into the greater NFDA landscape:

“If approved by the memberships of both associations, Selected would eventually become a distinct designation and community within a unified NFDA association. The Selected Designation is intended to recognize funeral homes that meet the association’s longstanding standards of excellence while preserving the trusted peer community that has defined Selected for more than a century. “

A merger, if approved, would take effect sometime in the 2028 calendar year.

Tom Anderson
Funeral Director Daily

Funeral Director Daily take: Our family funeral home has always, as far back as I can remember, been a very strong advocate for NFDA membership. When communication was not as easy as going to one’s laptop I eagerly awaited the NFDA Magazine “The Director” every month to see the happenings in funeral service. For many of my generation NFDA, and their communications, was the only link between our funeral home and the greater Death Care environment.

That’s not to say that I have not admired those who were invited to join Selected Independent Funeral Homes. I was from a small community and don’t think I ever was asked to join, but I did jealously look upon their “Study Groups” as something I thought I could learn from and would have been interested to have been a part of.

There are always reasons that are not mentioned in press releases that play a role in many types of business or organization transactions — such as this proposed merger. It would be interesting to know, and I’m guessing that in discussion before the membership votes on the merger, what other factors came into play to drive this pending decision.

Quite frankly, I know nothing about this “merger” other than what I’ve read in the press release that I have linked. However, at first glance, the idea of a “Selected” Designation inside the NFDA for funeral homes that meet the “organization’s longstanding standards of excellence” could be ripe for causing a rift that puts a two-class system of NFDA membership into play.

Here is the website for the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA)

Here is the website for Selected Independent Funeral Homes

Finally — Back in 2014 I served on the initial board of a non-profit home care and hospice business that was formed from bringing three senior living communities together to extend our service lines into home care and hospice. I eventually served as Chairman of the Board for five years. My experience with that business, which has turned out to be very successful, is that it takes a great deal of “give and take” by board members, executives, and employees of the original organizations to pull together and do something for the greater good.

In the NFDA/Selected proposed merger those same dynamics will probably be at work and if those board members, executives, and key employees can have a “give and take” attitude, great things can probably be done for funeral service as the press release states, “Better Together”.

Here is the website of that company, Ethos Home Care and Hospice. It was an extreme privilige for me to serve in a leadership capacity for that company for eight years.

More news from the World of Death Care: