20% of Germany’s over 50s open to leaving a charitable bequest

In Germany, one in five (20%) people aged 50+ are open to the topic of charitable bequests, according to new data, while just 3% of this age group have included a charity in their will.

The findings come from the German Legacy Insight Programme’s nationwide market research study for 2025 and are based on a survey of more than 2,000 Germans aged 50+. The Programme, from Legacy Futures, is supported by 13 nonprofit organisations and works to pool data and knowledge on charitable bequests, foster exchange, and support the development of the sector.

36% of the study’s respondents said they have a will in place, with a further quarter showing interest in future will-making – 15% of them within the next five years.

While 3% of people over 50 in Germany have named a charitable organisation in their will, this figure stands at 7% in the Netherlands and 13% in the UK, suggesting that the market is still at an early stage of development in Germany with growth potential for legacy giving.

Why people in Germany give

In Germany, the most common motivations for gifts in wills are altruistic in nature: 52% said they want “to do something good,” 46% cited the needs of the organisation, and 31% mentioned their own sense of personal fulfilment.

Communication about legacy giving by charities seems largely unseen by potential legators with 82% of respondents saying they had not noticed any communication on charitable bequests in the past year. With a fifth of over 50s open to the idea of including a charitable bequest, this also suggests an important role for nonprofits to fulfil in offering interested individuals information, guidance, and suggestions for planning their estate.

Nonprofits as trusted partners

The German study also shows that trust in nonprofit organisations is generally strong. 54% of those questioned said that they trusted the charities they support to spend money wisely, and 68% agreed with the statement that organisations must continue to ask for money to continue their work. 52% also agreed that charities could provide more information about the impact of donations.

The full study report is reserved for the Programme’s participating members.

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