Launch Day
Today we’re excited to announce the launch of our nonprofit the BUILD Coalition or the Bereavement Unity Initiative for Life after Death.
Our parents, Stephen and Katherine, passed away in 2011 and 2015. In the years that followed, we navigated not just our grief but immense bureaucratic dysfunction that interrupted our lives: hours on the phone, mountains of paperwork, marathon meetings, nonstop travel, semesters deferred, work taken off. We faced these challenges with advisors, family, and friends to support us, but many Americans are not so fortunate.
There is no federally protected bereavement leave in America. The average estate takes 18 months to close. As digital footprints increase, so does the opportunity for exploitation of sensitive and personal data. The atomization of America has left many without the support they need.
BUILD’s mission is to support America’s bereaved through the institutions that serve them. We work collaboratively to: increase bereavement leave and pay; streamline and modernize account closure processes; lead the conversation on the intersection of bereavement and technology; build community groups that help the bereaved navigate new challenges.
Today we welcome you to join and support our Coalition in our mission in four key ways:
Connect with us by signing up for our newsletter below and following us on Instagram and LinkedIn.
Share our website and socials within your network.
Know someone with expertise or experience that may help further BUILDco’s goals? Let us know!
last but not least…
About today: June 17th was our mom’s birthday. A fitting date for our launch. In the years our mom battled cancer, we repeated a refrain you may recall from Finding Nemo: just keep swimming. The journey ahead is long, but we are confident we can achieve great things together.
Matt Grifferty, Founding Partner
Sarah Grifferty, Founding Partner