International Legacy Giving Day delivers ‘world’s biggest thank you’

Charities and legacy consortia around the world joined forces to celebrate International Legacy Giving Day on Friday 13 September, saying the ‘world’s biggest thank you’ to supporters who had generously left a gift in their Will to their favourite charities.

Events and promotional activity took place across the world, coordinated by national legacy consortia and complementing their own legacy promotion campaigns.

During September, Testamento Solidale Italy launched a new campaign, “how do you want to be?” on web, radio, press and TV, as well as hosting a media event in Rome. In Denmark, Det Gode Testamente held events in three major cities along the theme of “pass on something good”, where locals could leave a message for future generations in the form of a letter or gift, to be locked up in time capsules that will be opened in 100 years’ time. While the UK’s Remember A Charity consortium launched a humorous 70s inspired video show designed to break down the myths around legacy giving.

In Belgium, 13 September kicked off a new online advertising campaign along the theme of “what’s in your Will?”: a series of short films that reveal the real-life stories of what people have included in their Will, and in Austria, the results of brand new market research about charitable legacies will be launched to media to coincide with the awareness day.

Many countries, including Denmark, Italy and Norway, also offered free advice from lawyers to assist in updating their Will to leave a small gift to charity, after family and friends have been taken care of.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the world, Include a Charity Australia launched its first ever Australian Legacy Foresights report, and G2/Give Green Canada celebrated how green legacies have made a difference.

Read more: Your Voice: Collaborating across national borders to grow legacy giving