Legacy giving on the rise in Spain – Over €23 million donated in 2020

In 2020, a group of 21 Spanish nonprofits raised more than €23 million through gifts in Wills, according to new data released by the nation’s collaborative legacy campaign, Haz Testamento Solidario.

The nonprofit collective has been working to boost awareness of legacy giving since 2006, growing from a group of 5 organisations in 2006 to 21 today. 

Leyre Ayastuy, coordinator of HazTestamentoSolidario campaign says: 

“Back in 2006 in Spain, no one spoke about the option of legacy giving and the studies we carried out told us that society was unaware of it.”

However, over the past decade alone, awareness has risen considerably and figures from the General Council of Notaries show that there has been a 35% rise in the number of Spaniards choosing to give in this way, rising from 665 to over 1,026 in 2020.

Ayastuy comments:

“This shows that, if we work together to show people what a difference legacy giving can make, the ‘solidarity society’ will use this channel to support the causes that inspire them.”

The data reveals that charitable bequests can be wide-ranging and people including legacies in their will have diverse profiles and very different social backgrounds. The amounts that are bequeathed vary on average from €70,000 to €300. Gifts are most often left by women (54% of legators) and those who are unmarried.

While the most active group for legacies continues to be those between 60-70 years of age, those writing gifts into their wills are getting younger. Legacies are increasingly prominent in the 50-60 age bracket. Regionally, Madrid, Catalonia and the Basque Country are the areas where legacy giving is most prevalent.

Ayastuy adds:

“Although in recent years more and more people are making this decision in Spain, we are still far from reaching the figures of other European countries such as the United Kingdom, and there is much more scope for growth.”

For more information, see https://haztestamentosolidario.org

Related news: See more legacy news here.