News Information

Life is a wonderful gift... and just one of its many joys is being able to pass that gift on to people and causes that are important to you in your will.
A charitable legacy is when you leave a sum of money in your will to a charitable cause. Some people leave their entire estates, but most leave a modest sum. However much you choose to leave, it is your choice. But rest assured... every legacy counts, no matter how large or small. Maybe you've always wanted to give money to a worthy cause, but have never been able to, because of the pressures of everyday life and looking after family. Either way, many people find that leaving a legacy to benefit others after they've gone, is one of the most wonderfully, rewarding experiences of their lives.

There are two types of legacy you can leave in your will, a residuary and pecuniary legacy. A residuary bequest is where you make provisions for your nearest and dearest first, then leave the remainder, or part of the remainder of your estate to one or more preferred charities.
A pecuniary bequest is where you state in your will that a specific sum of money will go to a particular charity, or charities of your choice.

40 charities in Ireland have come together to increase awareness about legacy giving and in turn, increase the number of people who leave legacies in their Will in Ireland. Susan O’Dwyer CEO of Make-A-Wish says, “Make-A-Wish is delighted to announce that we have received our first legacy of €5000. We hope that we can continue to grant more magical wishes to children living with life-threatening medical conditions through awareness of a new tv campaign on legacy promotion.”

Speaking at the launch of a new TV campaign, Nichola Mullen, Chair of Legacy Promotion Ireland and Corporate Development Manager, Arthritis Ireland said, “Our aim is to reach out to these people and their financial advisors in a very sensitive way and ask them to think about leaving a legacy in their Will to create a better future for others.”

Also speaking at the launch of the Legacy Promotion Ireland TV campaign was Richard Radcliffe, a UK based legacy specialist. Richard who has held over 1200 focus groups in over 30 countries and met over 13,000 people to ask them why they make Wills, why people do and do not leave  legacies and how they want to be asked for a legacy said,“This is a really exciting moment in Irish fundraising. All our research shows that up to 60% of people who support charities are happy to consider leaving a gift in their Will. And let’s not forget – on average you live three years longer if you leave a legacy to charity than if you don’t”

The 40 charities and not-profit organisations under the umbrella of Legacy Promotion Ireland (LPI), established in 2003, will be launching the national TV advertising campaign. The aim of this campaign is to encourage more people to consider leaving a donation in their Will to their favourite charity to support a cause they care about and have a positive impact on the lives of future generations.

This TV campaign will run on RTE1, RTE2, TV3 and SKY NEWS from Monday 7th July to Sunday July 27th.
Please contact Susan O'Dwyer at email susan@makeawish.ie or 01 2052007 for information on leaving your legacy to Make-A-Wish Foundation. Please seek the advice of your solicitor and use the following guidelines to help you.

A Pecuniary Legacy
I GIVE AND BEQUEATH the sum of €_____ [or] [insert the specific item] to [Make-A-Wish Ireland. 2, Leopardstown Business Centre Ballyogan Avenue, Leopardstown Dublin 18] for the charitable purposes of the organisation and I DECLARE that the receipt of the treasurer or other appropriate officer of the charitable organisation shall be a sufficient discharge to my Executors.
Residuary Bequest (Of the entire residue)
I GIVE DEVISE AND BEQUEATH the rest residue and remainder of my estate after the payment of my debts, funeral and testamentary expenses and cash and specific legacies to M [Make-A-Wish Ireland. 2, Leopardstown Business Centre Ballyogan Avenue, Leopardstown Dublin 18 ] for the charitable purposes of the organisation and I DECLARE that the receipt of the treasurer or other appropriate officer of the charitable organisation shall be a sufficient discharge to my Executors.

Residuary Bequest (Of part of the residue)
I GIVE DEVISE AND BEQUEATH the rest residue and remainder of my estate after the payment of my debts, funeral and testamentary expenses and cash and specific legacies as follows;
- [insert fraction – eg one half] to [insert the name and address of the charitable organisation] for the charitable purposes of the organisation and I DECLARE that the receipt of the treasurer or other appropriate officer of the charitable organisation shall be a sufficient discharge to my Executors.
Or
- [insert fraction – eg one half] to be divided equally between the following organisations for the charitable purposes of those organisations;
• [Make-A-Wish Ireland. 2, Leopardstown Business Centre Ballyogan Avenue, Leopardstown Dublin 18]
• [insert the names and addresses of the charitable organisation]
• [insert the names and addresses of the charitable organisation].
And I DECLARE that the receipt of the treasurer or other appropriate officer of the charitable organisations shall be a sufficient discharge to my Executors.