Nonprofit Overview

My nonprofit, Grief Matters, Inc., had its origins in the COVID-19 pandemic. As a psychologist who specializes in grief (https://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/psychology/faculty/faculty_profiles/cwortman.php),
I felt a strong call to respond to the enormous wave of grief our nation was experiencing at that time. Because mental health resources are extremely limited, my staff and I began to explore online resources that could help fill this gap. We looked for resources to help bereaved people address their grief, manage difficult emotions, build resilience, and improve their mental health and well-being. We reviewed hundreds of websites and identified valuable information on many of them. When we saw what the internet had to offer, we were determined to make these resources available in one place. We selected the best resources and combined them into a comprehensive, searchable guide. We recognized that these resources could benefit anyone who is grieving, not just those who lost a loved one during the pandemic. Consequently, we broadened our content to include many other kinds of losses.

The resource guide was developed according to a firmly held set of values about how to assist those struggling with losing a loved one. First, we believe that contact with those who have experienced a similar loss can provide validation of one’s feelings to play a vital role in the healing process. Our guide integrates and organizes resources on peer support and support groups from dozens of other sites. Second, identifying resources for underserved groups has been a major focus of our work. We have included information about grief for the following communities: African-American/Black; Asian American/Pacific Islanders; Latino/Hispanic Americans; Indigenous Communities; the LGBTQ+ community; and people with disabilities. Third, we include hundreds of stories that cover losses of every type. Such stories can restore hope and help the bereaved recognize they are not alone. Finally, although bereaved individuals benefit from the support of others, many people are reluctant to reach out to the bereaved because they do not know what to say or do. Our Guide includes extensive information about the best ways to provide support to someone who is grieving. A copy of the resource guide can be accessed here: https://www.covidgriefresources.com/.

We sent the guide to several grief experts before circulating it more widely. Without exception, their responses were extremely positive. For example, Dr. Robert Neimeyer, Director of the Portland Institute for Loss and Transition, described the Guide as “a Godsend…Countless mourners will suffer less because of this remarkable compendium.” The resource guide has also received attention in the media. On three separate occasions, The New York Times reporters have included a link to the Guide in their article about grief. In addition, the Harvard School of Public Health referenced the Guide in its monthly newsletter.

The first step in making the guide widely available involves transforming it into a website. We have made excellent progress on this endeavor. We obtained a domain name, whygriefmatters.org, which is also the name of the new website. We were extremely fortunate to connect with Dan Chambers, a very talented front-end engineer, who has volunteered his time to create a website for whygriefmatters.org. The site should launch within a few months. Converting our resource guide into a website will greatly increase the potential for bringing the material to those who would benefit from it.

The next step involves placing Grief Matters on firm footing regarding finances and governance. I am looking for assistance in developing a board of directors. I hope to identify and recruit Board members who support my mission and who can help Grief Matters realize its potential. In addition, I am seeking a volunteer to conduct stakeholder research on behalf of Grief Matters. This will help to clarify where we should direct our fundraising and partnership efforts.