Legacy and in memory fundraising
Whether you call them legacies, gifts in wills or bequests – asking a donor to remember your charity, with a gift that lives on beyond their lifetime, is a delicate yet important conversation. In this section we share inspiring examples of how charities have spoken to their donors about legacy and in-memoriam giving. If you have an innovative or successful campaign to share, please let us know.
Remember a Charity’s initial research into legacy giving
by SOFII
Charities in the UK receive £2 billion per year, 13 per cent of all charitable donations, through gifts in wills. Research carried out this year by Remember a Charity showed that by asking the right questions this already massive amount could be increased by 67 per cent. Want to find out the questions? Of course you do so, go ahead, click here to see them on SOFII.
Read moreLegacy of Hope newsletter and reply form, from Bread for the World, USA
by SOFII
This direct mail package enclosed a newsletter for the Bread for the World ‘Legacy of Hope’ giving society, which has raised millions of dollars in bequests to support the organisation’s work.
Read moreRSPCA: ‘home for life’ scheme
by Alex McDowell
A superb new service from the RSPCA that takes away the worries and concerns of their supporters, whilst increasing their legacy income considerably.
Read moreUniversity of Michigan, USA. Newsletter, plus reply form
by SOFII
We at SOFII also liked the simple graphic presentation of different giving plans that are shown in this newsletter (option 1, the maize plan and option 2, the blue plan). Donors don’t automatically understand the implications of their giving, particularly when there are tax advantages. If these can be simply rendered in graphic form, then donors will be encouraged and fundraisers will benefit.
Read moreNSPCC’s supporter care gifts in wills ‘mind map’
by Marie Burnett
This innovation from NSPCC - the mind map - could raise £1,000,000 in legacies.
Read moreVoices for Justice newsletter, from Human Rights Watch, USA
by SOFII
This package is an excellent example of a legacy society newsletter, with its special focus on the mission-based activities that constitute true donor motivation.
Read moreLiving Legacy Society newsletter, from the Union of Concerned Scientists, USA
by SOFII
This newsletter represents the culmination of nearly a decade of successful direct marketing efforts by Mal Warwick Associates and the staff of the Union of Concerned Scientists.
Read moreSurveying the legacy landscape: why we’re doing it and why we need you
by Natasha van Bentum
What do senior fundraisers in Madrid, Winnipeg, Wyoming, Geneva, Singapore, Manchester, Calgary, Dublin and Hamburg have in common?
Read moreJust the facts on legacy giving
by Mal Warwick
Rumour has it that legacy gifts account for as much as one-third of the philanthropic income of charities in the UK, or at least of the largest ones. Whether or not that’s an accurate estimate, it’s clear to all observers that legacies account for a far larger share of charitable revenue in the British Isles than they do elsewhere.
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Five ‘must dos’ of bequest fundraising
by Fiona McPhee
In this helpful breakdown of how to set out a legacy fundraising strategy, Fiona insists that it is not just the big brand charities that have the potential to develop a significant legacy income and provides step-by-step advice on how to increase legacy-gifts for your organisation.
Read moreHilda’s suitcase: when’s the right time to discuss leaving a legacy?
by Norma Cameron
Step into SOFII’s archive to explore more insights on legacy giving. We think you’ll love this charming and personal story from Norma Cameron, in Canada, who learned a very important lesson about gift planning from her mum.
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