Susan Wilson, Legacy Manager, The Queen’s University of Belfast Foundation
“Being an active member of Will to Give offers me the support of a wide network of peers from other local charities. What’s more, the regular notification reports and training events enable me to keep abreast of current information and developments in the area of legacies. And now that we are up to 50 member charities, our strength lies in our numbers, allowing us to share the impact of gifts in wills – ultimately helping many worthy Northern Ireland charities and their beneficiaries”.
Joanne Badger, Leukaemia & Lymphoma NI
“I have been working for Leukaemia & Lymphoma NI for just eight months but in that time I have found Will to Give a valuable resource for a variety of information. The monthly meetings provide a forum with representatives from a number of different charities, and surprisingly regardless of size, budget or cause we all often face similar obstacles regarding legacy income.
Working for a small local charity I feel like I have been able to benefit from training, support and advice that traditionally would only have been available to employees of a much larger organisation.
The partnership with Cleaver, Fulton & Rankin provides a great insight into the obstacles faced by will makers in drafting and execution, most of which I had not considered in the past.
My objective when joining the organisation was to learn about the best ways to speak to supporters about legacies and where to direct them for impartial and reliable advice. Will to Give has far exceeded my expectations and provided a great network of support and information. I would highly recommend the service to non profits of any size”.
Eimear McCooey, Legacy Advisor, Marie Curie
“Last year Marie Curie cared for over 40,000 people but we need to increase this number to 50,000 by 2019. But the sad fact is, carers say that 7 out of 10 people with a terminal illness don’t have access to the care and support that they need. That’s why we urgently need to reach more people. But, to ensure we’re here for everyone living with a terminal illness in the future, we need to inspire more people to support us in their Wills after they have looked after their loved ones. Gifts in Wills are vital to help us continue growing the care we provide long into the future.
As a founding member of Will to Give we know the strength of having a wider movement to raise awareness of this special way of giving for the collective benefit to all charities. Member charities are working together to achieve a larger goal to encourage more people to think about leaving charitable gifts when writing a Will, so that over time we can make legacy giving a social norm.
Together we can do so much more. Will to Give members have a shared aim to grow the legacy giving market. It enables members to talk more about legacies, share sector updates and best practice, and ultimately raise more money to ensure the future growth for some of Northern Ireland’s best loved charities.”
Sharon Gorman, Donor Development Officer, Northern Ireland Hospice
“Northern Ireland Hospice provides specialist care to local people living with terminal illnesses both in our Adult and Children’s Hospices and in their own homes. We also offer invaluable support to their families. Over 15,000 people die in Northern Ireland each year and we are currently able to care for around 3,000 of these people.
With annual running costs of over £9 million, increasing demands on our services and limited government funding we rely more heavily than ever before on people remembering us in their Wills. Legacy gifts are crucial to Hospice as they fund the care of 1 in 5 of our patients. Large or small, every gift in every Will makes a life changing difference to local people needing our care both now and in the future.
As a founder member of Will to Give, Hospice has benefitted greatly from invaluable information sharing with other local charities. By working together in this way we are in a much stronger position to raise awareness of the importance of charitable gifts in Wills. The regular training sessions with other charitable organisations, Cleaver Fulton Rankin Solicitors and global legacy expert Richard Radcliffe have provided us with strategic guidance, support and inspiration. Furthermore, Will to Give has devised a free Will Writing guide which provides clear information to the general public about making a Will.
Many people across the province support charities yet at present only 3% of them consider leaving a gift in their Will. Will to Give endeavours to change this so that more vital funds can be raised to help future generations whenever and wherever they need it.
Will to Give membership has made a really positive impact to Hospice and I would recommend its services to any local non profit organisation.”
