People in Cork have been asked to consider including a gift in their Will to help secure the future of charities in Ireland, at the launch of My Legacy Month 2025. This year the month-long campaign focuses on the security that legacy giving offers to charities, as traditional income sources become less sustainable.
My Legacy represents over 90 Irish charities from a wide variety of causes including health, homelessness, LGBTQ+, International Aid, animal welfare, heritage and environmental issues. This includes Cork Simon Community, Focus Ireland, Irish Guide Dogs, Irish Heritage Trust, Cope Foundation, Age Action, Irish Heritage Trust, Dogs for the Disabled and Crann which support communities in Cork.
Speaking at the launch, Niall O’Sullivan, Chairperson of My Legacy, said: “A recent survey of My Legacy members demonstrates that for some members, gifts in Wills make up 25-50 percent of their annual income. For around half of our members, income from gifts in Wills, is less than 10 percent; and for others at the beginning of their legacy journey, it isn’t something they’re quantifying yet but they can see the growing interest from the public and need to foster this stream of very personal support.
“Traditional sources of income are under pressure, with 60 percent of members who responded stating they’d recorded reduced volume or amounts raised through individual giving, while 40 percent indicated increased competition for funding from trusts and foundations across the same period.
“The good news however is that there is huge potential for legacy giving to support the increasing demands on charity services in Cork and across Ireland. This is due to increasing private wealth and an ageing population. No matter how small or large a gift you include in your Will, which is tax-free to the charity beneficiary, it can have an enormous impact on the good work that charities do.”
MAKE A WILL, INCLUDE A LEGACY GIFT
Compared to some other countries, awareness of the power of legacy gifts through wills had been comparatively low in Ireland. However, Niall says “it’s clear this is changing with more interest from the public in making their mark on their communities and favourite causes in this special way.” According to a recent public survey by the Charities Regulator, 1-in-4 people said they intend to leave money or property to charity in their Will.
For more information visit www.mylegacy.ie.
