Legacy 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.

NSPCC’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.

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Voices 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.

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Living 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. 

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Surveying 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?

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Just 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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Gifts in wills and the NSPCC brochure

by SOFII

NSPCC brochure in full.

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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.

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Hilda’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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Change can take us by surprise

by Andrew Papworth

Understanding the changes that could influence how your donors view your legacy marketing is extremely important says Andrew Papworth.

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Action on Hearing Loss: put a gift in your will

by SOFII

Action on Hearing Loss has calculated that this legacy campaign is likely to generate around £2 million in the future.

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AARP (formerly the American Association of Retired Persons): legacies booklet and newsletter

by SOFII

This booklet and newsletter were the centerpiece of a direct marketing legacy promotion programme. Given the huge size of the AARP membership and the substantial range of interests and abilities, Mal Warwick Associates opted to organise the multi-faceted legacy programme illustrated in these materials.

Please note: This exhibit is "under construction"

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LA Gay and Lesbian Center: legacy leadership campaign

by SOFII

The centre created an exceptional legacy programme, combining the best of direct mail and telephone marketing with sensitive cultivation and stewardship techniques.

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