An increasing number of New Zealanders are considering leaving a gift to charity in their will, a trend that could have lasting benefits for Eastern Bay communities.

New research released by Community Foundations of Aotearoa New Zealand (CFANZ) suggests more than half of people who already support charitable causes are interested in including a charitable gift in their will, with almost one in five surveyed saying they have already done so.

Eastern Bay Community Foundation manager Angela Jackson said the findings reflected what the foundation was seeing locally.

“People in the Eastern Bay care deeply about their community.

“For many, leaving a gift in their will is a way of ensuring that support continues long after they’re gone.”

While many people assume gifts in wills are reserved for the wealthy, Jackson said that isn’t the case.

“Anyone can leave a charitable gift in their will, no matter the size of their estate.

“The important thing is that it reflects what’s meaningful to that person.”

According to the CFANZ research, the biggest barrier to leaving a charitable gift is the desire to look after family and loved ones first, while the most common reason people choose to leave a gift is that it aligns with their personal values.

“The research shows that people’s main concern is looking after family first, which is exactly how most gifts in wills work,” said Jackson.

“Once those important responsibilities have been met, many people like the idea of leaving something behind for causes that have been meaningful to them during their lifetime.”

She said people were often surprised by how flexible legacy giving could be.

“Some choose to support education through scholarships, while others invest in the arts, community organisations or local charities.

“What they all have in common is that they’re deeply personal.”

Foundation chairperson Jimmy Heal said the growing interest in charitable giving through wills was encouraging.

“We’ve already seen the foundation grow, thanks to generous people who’ve chosen to leave a gift in their will, and those gifts will continue supporting our communities long into the future.”

September is Wills Month in New Zealand, an annual reminder for people to make a will, update an existing one and consider leaving a charitable gift.

“We’re encouraging locals to review their wills and think about how they would like to be remembered,” said Heal.

“For some people, that may include supporting a cause or community that’s been important to them throughout their lifetime.”

To learn more about leaving a charitable gift in your will, visit www.ebcf.nz/wills