Minnesota Death Collaborative

The Minnesota Death Collaborative (MNDC) is a group of integrative death professionals who serve our community in a variety of ways.  We are end of life doulas, home funeral and vigil guides, celebrants, green burial advocates, energy and body workers, and much more. We work together to provide integrative death care opportunities to those who are dying, their families, and their support network. Our goal is to educate and inform the public and professionals within the state of Minnesota, and to help those in need find appropriate services and resources.

Our Mission:

The MNDC is a central resource of integrated end-of-life professionals and organizations. We provide presence, education and advocacy to individuals who are dying, caregivers, and providers. Through compassion and respect, we honor all visions and experiences of dying, death, and grief. 

Our Vision

To embrace and honor death as a part of life.

Our Values

The MNDC creates experiences and opportunities to reimagine death in meaningful and innovative ways. The MNDC is committed to a cultural shift through advocacy and education. The MNDC endeavors to create more opportunities for equity and access to end-of-life resources. The MNDC respects that individual choices and informed decisions at the end-of-life are to be honored.

The MNDC makes an impact through several key initiatives. 

Education: The MNDC hosts monthly Community Calls for end-of-life professionals from around Minnesota to learn from other professionals and keep current on important topics that impact our professions. The Death Download is a monthly peer-to-peer drop-in for doulas and other end-of-life professionals to connect, share ideas and resources, offer support, and grow our skills and businesses in community. 

MNDC held our first conference exploring topics on deathcare and the importance of community, collaboration, and building a strong network. We were joined by professionals in this field who have had first-hand experience with the collaborative needs of end-of-life care. 

Scholarships for End-of-Life Doula certification:

The MN Death Collaborative (MNDC) believes in doing what it can to make our society more equitable. Recognizing that there are segments of society in need of end-of-life services - including end-of-life doulas - we also recognize that there are few trained BIPOC, LGBTQIA2S+, Low-Income, or Disabled End-of-Life Doulas. Thanks to a generous donation from the Crane Family and Friends, The Mary Crane Scholarship for Doula Candidates provides End-Of-Life doula training for those who identify as BIPOC, LGBTQIA2S+, Low-Income, or Disabled, and is one of the ways the MNDC is working to help create a more equitable society. 

Doula Mentoring and Doula Services for clients in need: 

The Team Richard Doula Assistance Fund provides opportunities for clients (families or individuals) who are seeking death doula services but may not have the financial resources to hire a doula for the duration or intensity of services needed. The Team Richard Doula Assistance Fund will cover the cost of a mentor and mentee doula team to work alongside families or individuals through the end-of-life journey. 

Resources: 

The MNDC maintains an extensive list of resources for End-of-Life Doulas and other end-of-life professionals.