Every year, more people across Northern Ireland are choosing to leave a gift to charity in their Will. These special gifts, sometimes large and sometimes small, are transforming the work of charities and leaving a lasting legacy of kindness.
Legacy giving on the rise
Data gathered by Will to Give show just how powerful this trend has become in Northern Ireland. Although in 2020 the number of charitable gifts had dipped to 828 due to Covid-19, by 2024 the number of charitable gifts in Wills more than doubled to 1,868 in 2024[1]. Whilst 2020 saw a dip due to COVID-19 disruptions, the long-term trend remains upward, with gifts rebounding strongly in 2021 and beyond.
- Faith-based and health charities continue to receive the largest share of support.
- Pecuniary gifts (a fixed amount of money) were the most common, but residuary gifts (a share of an estate) and more complex gifts are also increasing steadily.
- The fastest growth has been in “other” types of gifts (such as contingent or reversionary gifts), showing how people are using Wills in more flexible and creative ways to support the causes they care about.
This growth reflects not just generosity, but also growing awareness that a Will can do so much more than pass on possessions, it can help shape the future.
Real stories, real impact
Numbers only tell part of the story, but the real power of a gift in a Will is seen in the lives it changes.
At Cancer Research UK, gifts in Wills fund more than a third of their life-saving research. Gifts in Wills breathe life into researchers’ work by funding over a third of their life-saving research. Legacies enable long-term research projects that allow scientists to achieve breakthroughs every day. Each breakthrough inspires the next, leading us to a world where everybody can lead longer, better lives, free from the fear of cancer.
The late Professor Patrick Johnston and his team in Belfast identified that an important molecule, known as c-FLIP, stops bowel cancer cells responding to chemotherapy.
With over 1,200 people diagnosed with bowel cancer in Northern Ireland every year, this discovery could have a huge impact on improving treatment for people with this cancer. The team are continuing to build on this work, looking for new ways to block this molecule and make cancer cells more vulnerable to treatment – which could help save more lives in the future.
A lasting legacy of kindness
For many, leaving a gift in a Will is about expressing values and ensuring that what mattered most to them in life continues to have an impact after they are gone.
During Will to Give Week, we celebrate this generosity and encourage everyone to consider including a gift to charity in their Will. It doesn’t have to be large. Even a small percentage of an estate can make an extraordinary difference.
Imagine the future you can shape
By leaving a gift in your Will, you can be part of the next breakthrough in cancer research, help an older person find comfort and companionship, protect the environment, or support a cause that’s close to your heart.
Your legacy can be hope, dignity, and change for generations to come.
[1] Sector Matters Will Notification Service
