Will to Give

Guest speaker, member Michael Graham, Director CFR Solicitors, addressed the Club on the Will to Give initiative.

Michael advised that it was originally set up by, and subsequently grew out of, NICVA (the Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action) in 2011 and is now an Association of 54 charities of every size and scale covering a broad range of causes. Their remit is to encourage people to make a legacy charitable gift in their will.

He reported that only 30% of people actually make a will but that, even at this modest level, charities can gain significant revenue, albeit it is difficult for them to budget and plan around. The Will to Give Association urge people to make a will including a charitable gift but, crucially, also to engage with the charity so they can plan for what is to come to them at some stage.

Michael revealed that NI has a good record in lifetime giving but less so in charitable provisions in wills. Analysis of probate office figures indicate that the level of charitable gifts in wills has risen since 1937 until around 1997 but has since fallen back slightly. Michael continued that interestingly the percentage of women making charitable gifts in their wills has risen from 48.5% in 1937 to 65% in 2013 though this may be attributable to husbands dying first and leaving their estate to their wife who subsequently makes the charitable gift. Statistics also reveal that between 2007 and 2016 there has been a levelling out or a slight percentage drop in charitable giving in wills and the Association is looking into the possible reasons.

Michael concluded his very well received talk by urging all to consider making provision for a charitable donation in their will.