Church income streams

A gift of life: the value of legacies

Gifts in wills are worth over £2billion a year to charities. It's a number that will keep growing and those gifts in wills change lives. But despite our huge, faithful and committed giving base churches are, on the whole, losing out on income from gifts in wills. We don't translate regular giving into legacies. But there is no practical or theological reason to stop us giving from our estate and this video shows the lasting difference gifts in wills can make.

Legacies are not about death; they are gifts of life and often the largest gift we can make. But many churches lack the confidence to ask for gifts in wills and are, perhaps, unaware of the resources to help. But whilst churches stay silent other charities are asking for legacies and telling remarkable stories, such as those from Christian Aid on this page, of how gifts in willls are changing lives and transforming situations. Chapter six of Beyond the Collection Plate helps churches appreciate the value of gifts in wills and offers practical steps towards a sensitive church legacy strategy.

"excel in this grace of giving" (2 Cor. 8:7)

Church income streams

A gift of life: the value of legacies

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