Remember A Charity releases legacy manifesto

Remember A Charity has released its 2015 general election legacy manifesto. The consortium is encouraging the government to devise and implement a match-funding scheme for charitable gifts in Wills. The manifesto states that if the government match-funded the first £2,000 of all legacy gifts, the annual cost to the treasury would be around £187m. This could prove an inexpensive way to create a "significant step-change in legacy giving rates and the capacity and sustainability of the UK's non-profit sector". According to the manifesto, if the number of estates including a charitable legacy increased from the current rate of 7% to 11%, this would result in a further £1bn per year for the sector. Alex McDowell, chair of the consortium, says: "Incentivising charitable wills for supporters of all levels of wealth would help to socially norm legacy giving. It would also give charities an even greater incentive to promote gifts in wills as a form of donating." The document also calls on the next government to find appropriate incentives for the legal sector to inform customers of the option of leaving a charitable gift in their will. Remember A Charity is also encouraging the government to promote will writing and legacies to private sector firms, and ensure legacy messaging is delivered through government communications such as pensions communications. Download the legacy manifesto.