# Attitudes to legacy giving shifting with 4 in 10 now happy to leave a gift to charity

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2019/05/24/attitudes-to-legacy-giving-shifting-with-4-in-10-now-happy-to-leave-a-gift-to-charity/
- Published: 2019-05-24T09:00:43+01:00
- Author: Melanie May

**Remember A Charity’s latest consumer tracking poll has found that four in ten 
people now say they would be happy to leave a gift to charity in their Will, up 
from 35% in 2008.**

The OnePoll survey commissioned by [Remember A Charity](https://www.rememberacharity.org.uk/)
and conducted during March and April this year found that 40% of people aged 40+
would be happy to give a small percentage of their estate to charity, up from 35%
in 2008. Almost two thirds (65%) said that it was acceptable to leave your entire
estate to charity if you wish.

The large majority (70%) of respondents felt that people should tell their children
if they intended to leave a ‘reasonable sum of money’ to charity in their Will. 
Only one in four (26%) thought their family would object to them making such a gift,
down from 31% in 2008.

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In 2008, the majority of respondents said that it was better to give money when 
you are alive than through a legacy (63%) and that close relatives have a right 
to the majority of an estate (72%). Today, according to the latest survey findings,
those views are held by less than half, at 47% and 41% respectively.

Rob Cope, Director of Remember A Charity, said:

> “We’ve seen a real shift in attitudes in recent years with the public indicating
> that they are more open to the concept of legacy giving and this is a positive
> sign for the years ahead.
> “While legacy income will inevitably fluctuate to reflect wider economic trends,
> the public’s propensity to give is the key driving factor for market growth. This
> poll suggests not only that the public is more willing to leave a gift, but that
> they have a clearer understanding of legacy giving and think people should be 
> free to do what they want with their estates.
> “People still do worry about how their family might feel if they leave a charitable
> gift in their Will and this underlines the importance of encouraging potential
> legators to discuss their wishes with their family, reducing the risk of dispute.”

The challenge now for Remember A Charity, Cope added, and a key pillar of its new
three-year strategy, is to review what can be done to shift the emphasis on from
building awareness to inspiring supporters into taking action and writing charitable
gifts into their Wills.

 * **[Smee & Ford figures show annual legacy income now exceeds £3 billion](https://fundraising.co.uk/2019/06/06/smee-ford-figures-show-annual-legacy-income-now-exceeds-3-billion/)**(
   6 June 2019)
 * **[How to protect your legacy donations](https://fundraising.co.uk/2019/06/06/how-to-protect-your-legacy-donations/)**(
   6 June 2019)
 * **[Charities are changing will-writing but is it for good?](https://fundraising.co.uk/2019/07/02/charities-are-changing-will-writing-but-is-it-for-good/)**(
   2 July 2019)

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