"Our work simply wouldn’t be possible without the generosity of those who include a gift in their will." 

That’s according to Paul Halpin, Fundraising Manager at The Irish Blue Cross, one of 90 My Legacy member charities. My Legacy Month 2025 was launched today at The Irish Blue Cross’ Inchicore Clinic which was made possible by a large legacy gift in 2009.

The Irish Blue Cross was founded in 1945 and provides care and treatment for the pets of families who are experiencing financial hardship. Thanks to their site in Inchicore, they receive on average 17,000 visitations from pets and their families each year both at their head clinic and through mobile clinic services across ten Dublin locations.

Paul said: “Since 2020, we’ve seen a change in the makeup of our annual income, with an average of 15% now coming from gifts in Wills. We know that our supporters are aware of legacy giving as website traffic for that information section has increased and they’re telling us that they intend to include a gift in their Will. There is great potential in legacy fundraising - it's the future of charitable giving in Ireland".

Niall O’Sullivan, Chairperson of My Legacy, said: “A recent survey of My Legacy members demonstrates that for some members, gifts in Wills make up 25-50 percent of their annual income. For around half of our members, income from gifts in Wills, is less than 10 percent; and for others at the beginning of their legacy journey, it isn’t something they’re quantifying yet but they can see the growing interest from the public and need to foster this stream of very personal support.

“Traditional sources of income are under pressure, with 60 percent of members who responded stating they’d recorded reduced volume or amounts raised through individual giving, while forty percent indicated increased competition for funding from trusts and foundations across the same period.

“The good news however is that there is huge potential for legacy giving to support the increasing demands on charity services across Ireland. This is due to increasing private wealth and an ageing population. The Irish Blue Cross Clinic at Inchicore is an example of what can be achieved by a large legacy gift but it’s important to say that legacy giving is open to everyone. No matter how small or large a gift you include in your Will, which is tax-free to the charity beneficiary, it can have an enormous impact on the good work that charities do.”

Make a Will, include a legacy gift

Compared to some other countries, awareness of the power of legacy gifts through wills has been comparatively low in Ireland. However, Niall says it’s clear this is changing with more interest from the public in making their mark on their communities and favourite causes in this special way. According to a recent public survey by the Charities Regulator, 1-in-4 people said they intend to leave money or property to charity in their Will.

My Legacy membership has also grown to over 90 Irish charities representing a wide variety of causes including health, homelessness, LGBTQ+, International Aid, animal welfare, heritage and environmental issues.

Helen McVeigh, Development Director at St Vincent's Foundation, a founding member of My Legacy said: “Legacies have long supported hospitals and patient care. St Michael's Hospital in Dun Loaghaire, for example, will be marking 150 years next year and at the building stage it was initially funded, in part, by a generous legacy from a local supporter. The long-lasting impact of that kindness can be seen today and that message remains true for anyone considering leaving us a gift for the future”

For more information visit www.mylegacy.ie.