We know that, for some charities, the funds they receive each year through wills, after death, far exceed the amounts collected from the living. Without people dying, they would be out of business. For smaller (and more recently established) charities, legacy income can be an occasional windfall – not reasonably predictable income.

Some of those who leave money in a will have been keen supporters of the charities. Sometimes, however, a charity receives a handsome lump sum through a will, without, apparently, having had contact during the legator’s lifetime. Perhaps such people always would have liked to donate, but were not in a position to do so during their lifetimes.

Most charities are only too keen to increase their ‘legacy income’. A big push, in practice,can start to yield results after five years or so.

Many charities have formed a consortium Remember a Charity, to promote the whole concept of leaving money or property at death to a charity.

One practical problem is that many people dislike the use of the word legacy. I favour the simple approach of ‘please leave us something [or whatever] in your will’. I don’t know how some people might react to one suggestion that this should be referred to as pay-as-you-go giving.

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