Building a Brighter Future, Together

Selected Leaders Announce Intent to Merge with NFDA

Dear Selected Members,

For more than a century, Selected Independent Funeral Homes has stood for excellence, trusted peer relationships, and a commitment to serving families with integrity and care. Today, we are writing to share an important and forward-looking step to ensure that legacy continues long into the future.

The Boards of Directors of Selected Independent Funeral Homes (Selected) and the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) are announcing that both organizations have signed a Letter of Intent to pursue a merger that would bring our two associations together. If approved by both memberships later this year, Selected would become a distinct designation and community within a unified NFDA organization — preserving everything that makes Selected special while expanding the resources, advocacy strength, and long-term stability available to our members.

Why We Are Taking This Step

Like many nonprofit organizations, Selected has been navigating persistent market, financial, and operational headwinds. Independent ownership is shrinking, dues pressures have increased, and the cost of delivering high quality programs continues to rise. Your Board and staff have explored multiple approaches to address these challenges. While each effort helped in meaningful ways, none provided the durable, long-term solution required to protect Selected’s future.

After extensive evaluation and guidance from outside experts, we have concluded that joining forces with NFDA is the strongest and most responsible path forward. This proposed merger allows us to preserve Selected’s identity, leadership, peer community, and high standards — while gaining the scale, stability, and advocacy strength needed to thrive for generations to come.

An Opportunity with Real Member Benefits

This is not only a response to today’s challenges. It is a strategic opportunity to build something stronger together. A unified organization between Selected and the NFDA would:

• Strengthen the financial foundation behind the programs and resources you rely on
• Expand opportunities for learning, leadership, and peer engagement
• Preserve the trusted Selected community through a new Selected Designation
• Provide greater advocacy strength for independently owned firms

Most importantly, we will spend the next year working together — members, staff, and leaders — to design the integrated model thoughtfully and collaboratively. Nothing changes about your membership or benefits in 2027. This transition will be deliberate, transparent, and shaped by your input before ultimately being adopted in 2028.

Learn More — Microsite Now Live!

Together, Selected and the NFDA have created a dedicated microsite where you can find:

• The full news release
• Detailed FAQs

Visit Microsite

We encourage you to explore the materials, send us your questions, and reach out to your Group leaders and peers for more meaningful conversation. This is a shared journey, and your voice matters.

Join the Conversation at the Annual Meeting

To support open dialogue, Selected is extending the Early Bird rate for the 2026 Annual Meeting and hotel room block. We want as many members as possible to participate in our live Town Hall on September 3, where Selected leaders will discuss the proposed merger, answer questions, and hear directly from you.

Your engagement is essential. This is your community, and together we will shape its future during this transition.

Register for Annual Meeting

Looking Ahead with Optimism and Confidence

Selected has always been strongest when members learn from one another, challenge one another, and commit to excellence together. This proposed merger honors that legacy while giving us the tools, stability, and reach to continue thriving in a changing profession.

We enter this next chapter with optimism, gratitude, and a deep commitment to preserving what makes Selected extraordinary. We have spent the last 18 months considering and shaping this decision, and we firmly and unanimously believe this is the best path that allows us to protect our identity while simultaneously expanding our impact.

Thank you for your trust, your leadership, and your dedication to the families you serve. We look forward to collaborating with you throughout this transition and building a future that strengthens both Selected and the profession we care so deeply about.

Warm regards,

The Selected Board of Directors

Date : 7/29/2026