Tzedakah for the Merit of Non-Religious Relative

Question

My non-religious father passed away and I would like to give tzedekah in his merit to benefit a yeshiva. Since he did not give money to yeshivos while he was alive, will it help for me to do this?

Thank you,

R.S.

Rav Auerbach 

In general, it only helps to give tzedakah in someone's memory if he also gave tzedakah for that purpose during his lifetime. In such cases, we say that since he was accustomed to do this in his lifetime, we can consider the money given now as if he donated it (Rokeiach 217 as cited in Rama 249:17). Even though your uncle did not fit this category, since your uncle was a tinok shenishba, giving tzedakah to benefit Torah learning can be a merit for him even if he would not have given money for this purpose during his lifetime.