Are you leaving money to charity in your will?

[TheRebel]

I work for a solicitor so I see a fair few wills as part of my job, and the majority of the charities that people leave gifts to are animal charities and churches, I don’t think I’ve ever seen money being left to children’s charities or charities that help vulnerable people.

I just wondered if it’s just to do with the local area we’re in or is this the norm?

TheRebel Animal charities do get a huge percentage of giving. There was a report a few years ago that found something like one donkey sanctuary in the South West received more donations than the entire income for domestic abuse across the country (I may have mis-remembered the specific details of this so don't quote me).

Some charities are much easier to market than others. I work in charity and also give to charities (including animal charities). I remember a while ago hearing that the most difficult charity to fundraise for was bowel cancer and then second was criminal justice charities. These aren't particularly sexy causes to gain sympathy for, but cute animals are easier to market.

Many people prefer animals to humans so it doesn't surprise me at all.

Re leaving money to charities. Recently, our hospital charity received £300 which was specifically to be spent on something that would benefit the patients. I was allowed to choose the item and we let them know what we had bought. Just to reassure people that this can and does happen.

I may leave some money to the epilepsy society. Drawing up will this year when house sake complete.

I prefer animals to children. We used to live in a rough area with disadvantaged children who ruined the park, threatened people even at 8 years old, no fucking way I'll ever give a penny to them sorry! They grow up into litte shits.

No definitely not for reasons mentioned upthread like charities having control, having to auction off possessions for every last penny etc. if I want to give I will give now.

Nope every penny will go to my kids !!!!

BrewDoggy The issues you describe are why charities need the money more than ever so they can help tackle those issues.

Of course it's 100% up to you what you donate to or not, but walking away from the issue and not tackling them won't help solve them.

The majority of bequests are likely to be from elderly people and often their main companion at the end of their life may be an animal. They possibly gave to children's charities and cancer charities when younger. They have also maybe had children and grandchildren and provided well for them.

Possibly they have been disillusioned with the way the world is going - the benefits culture, the entitlement attitude when they themselves, (certainly if they are in their 80s) - were likely much poorer than the people they see now who "get given" stuff.

The animals are blameless - and have no way of helping themselves - so there is logic to this.

And for many old people - when they are "boring" and "set in their ways" and anything they might say is now considered "unacceptable" by younger people; when they are slow or irritable or a bit deaf and no-one can be bothered to have them over on Sundays or Christmas - the Church is their family. The Church accepts them and gives them a role and a "home". My own mother and favourite aunt are both leaving big percentages to their churches.

I am not saying all 80 year olds think like this - I am trying to offer a sort of logic to to the OP's observation and surprise about the high percentage of Churches and animal charities who benefit

@PaintedHorizons I think you’re probably right, as a woman in my early(ish) 30s and coming from an area with a high level of deprivation it’s makes more sense that I’d prefer children’s charities, but most of our clients are elderly with adult children or only distant relatives left and we’re in an area known for being quite well off.

Isn't it more likely that the majority of people with children will leave their money to them rather than a charity. Those without children like myself will leave money to causes that are close to our hearts and as I don't have children am not religious they aren't going to feature highly on my list

P.s. my will was written in my 30s so the elderly assumption doesn't count

People tend to like to give money to what they see as 'innocent victims' - which is why they give to animals, and is exactly what you're doing with your assumption that children's charities are more worthy of donations than those that serve adults. Some people give in a sort of insurance-y way (DH gives to both cancer and dementia charities at least in part because he can imagine needing their help in the future) but I guess maybe that's less common in wills?

Animal charities also avoid the uncomfortable feeling that people have with a lot of charities that they're paying for something that the state should actually be providing. I always feel a bit uneasy when I see our local hospital fundraising for specialist equipment - I don't think funding should be charitable for things like that as its so much easier to raise money for some things than others (eg paediatric ward vs lung cancer patients), but that doesn't reflect clinical need.

Animal charities also avoid the uncomfortable feeling that people have with a lot of charities that they're paying for something that the state should actually be providing

I couldn’t agree more with that, I’m always reluctant to give to things like that because I see it as a downward spiral.

The whole lot (currently own multiple houses) is going to a dog charity. No dc.

They grow up into litte shits.
@BrewDoggy

What a horrible sentiment about kids with limited life chances. They'll be the people wiping your arse as you're sitting in a home in your later years, not a pooch. People attach the most bizarre attachment to unknown animals whilst quite happy to see unknown humans suffer. I find it really strange. Well treated humans treat animals well.

I would leave everything to my DC without a shadow of a doubt . I contribute to charity and will continue throughout my life

No absolutely not.

And I also know people who stopped fundraising for certain charities after the way in which they started to make the emphasis all about wanting people to leave them money in their wills. The individual concerned was a speaker for the charity in question for several years until the charity started making the speaking all about people donating to them in their will....

My great aunts husband died suddenly not long after they wed, he hadn’t gotten around to Changing his will and had left it all to a specific charity.. very soon after he died the charity came into their home and took the majority of his possessions and some of hers as she had no proof these items were gifted to her/ Hers. she had to go to an auction to buy back some of these possessions... the charity treated her appallingly and has put me off ever leaving money in my will.

No, because lots of money goes on advertising, company car for managers, and huge wages for those at the top.

CHARITY BEGINS AT HOME. Saying that I do donate unwanted items to their shops, and will give change to Sally Army as they still collect in street as volunteers, not paid staff on wage and bonus to gain dd off shoppers.

I'm not leaving any in my will.

I make quite substantial contributions to a local charity from time to time. But none in my will, to avoid difficulties for the other beneficiaries.

what little i will be leaving will go to my children as i work for a cat charity and support them now while im alive, animal charities rely on donations and will money as they get no funding from government, or even from most charity grant sources like the lottery, the lottery gives to human based charities but excludes animal charities, also any grants available to animal charities tend to be project based, ie; you can resurface the car park or build cattery pens, but cant get grants for food, electric bills or vets bills which are the main outgoings,

No but if I did the whole lot would go to dog and wildlife charities. I like animals. I don't like people.

I've done a lot of probate work in my time and I have to say that the attitude of charities in receipt of legacies has got worse - some are now very grabby and unpleasant - "we are legally obliged to maximise our assets" has become a mantra for inhumane behaviour. I even had one legacy officer on the phone complaining that I hadn't been quick enough off the mark to contact/return her calls - when I had been attending my client's funeral. I can well believe some of the horror stories on here although LondonElle's great aunt must have been badly advised as a wedding normally invalidates a prior will.

I feel saddened that some people have had such bad experiences with leaving money to charities. It doesn't sit right, does it?

Many charities do excellent work and I am leaving money in my will (a set amount and NOT a percentage). If I was worried that this might leave my children with nothing, e.g. if it had all gone in care home fees I would put in a stipulation that the money would only go to charities if the estate amounted to more than £x.

There must be a way of putting money in trust, taking the income in your lifetime and leaving the capital to a charity when you go? Not sure I'm going to be in a position to do that but something to think about.

In terms of choice of charity, I think the frontline ones are really struggling at the moment. Huge demand, people left in need through austerity and other factors. I've also picked out a couple of medical ones for family reasons. Generally I trust the charities to do what they think best - they are the experts in their own situation. If they need to use it for rent or loo rolls than so be it.

ourkidmolly I agree. Most people haven't made the connection.