Research by Campaign Solutions has identified far more legacy income for Irish charities than was previously thought. If charities are more ambitious and proactive – we can double legacy income in Ireland over the coming decade and treble income by 2050.
In 2021 Campaign Solutions established the Legacy Insights research consortium of charities to build a dataset about legacy giving in Ireland. Legacy Insights research is relevant to charities with ambitions to increase and diversify their fundraising income via legacies, and who already have income and therefore data that they can share.
Legacy Insights Clients Benefit:
This is a fee based research service. Among the client benefits are:
- Full sight of a public Legacy Insight Trends report (separate report also written by Campaign Solutions-see below) which covers annual legacy income and is based on data secured from annual reports / accounts or data provided directly by charities on request. It is updated annually.
- Invite to client event to hear new trend insights.
- Provision of a bespoke report – based on the detailed legacy data supplied by clients. This will allow you to benchmark against other charities and can help highlight future opportunities.
- The bigger picture is that, together, we are building a new data bank for Ireland which is essential, as we – as a sector – seek to grow legacy income. The information is also use to support lobbying at government level and more.
Legacy Insights: Client charities provide data, which is combined with other clients’ datasets to created a detailed research further report.
- Information provided by clients covers:
- the bequest itself – € value, type
- the legators (male/female, location – county)
- previous relationship (if any) with the charity
- whether bequest is restricted
- legacy budget
- Data is provided in a standard Excel format.
How Does this Help YOU?
- Help you better plan to increase legacy income in the years and decades ahead.
- Information is power. Have data driven conversations re the allocation of resources, budgets and time for legacies – even if legacy income is new or still occasional.
- Have better conversations with board and management.
- Better present your legacy offering to donors and supporters.
- Learn from the mistakes and successes of others.
- Develop a legacy friendly culture in your organisation.
- Be proud of your legacy work!
Fees
As legacy income can be variable, client fees are based on an average of your legacy income over a recent three year period. For 2025 the years are 2021 / 2022 / 2023. Significant discounts apply for My Legacy members, with discounts also for CII members. Note: VAT is additional. Rates have increased slightly for 2025 to reflect the significant workload involved and changed overall legacy income.
| Legacy Income | Full rate | My Legacy | CII |
| Less than €19k | €200 | €150 | €175 |
| €20k – €99k | €300 | €250 | €275 |
| €100k – €249k | €450 | €400 | €350 |
| €250k – €600k | €700 | €600 | €650 |
| €601k + | €950 | €700 | €800 |
Other Benefits
- This is new research for Ireland. Legacy Insights research helps charities to better plan, to be more ambitious and helps fundraisers in their organisations to better articulate the need for more resources – based on the potential that exists. It also helps organisations, such as My Legacy and others to lobby more effectively for change at government level for better tax opportunities and more re legacies.
- Together we can all grow legacy income in Ireland!
Legacy Trends Report: This is separate body of research completed pro bono annually by Campaign Solutions. It is an annual public report of legacy giving to not for profits. It seeks to answer the following:
- Market size
- Is the market growing, static or falling?
- Income and share of different charity sectors?
- How many charities were identified as receiving bequests in a given year?
- What is the market share of the Top 10 / 20 / 50 charities?
- What other factors are affecting current and future legacy giving?
- The shorter snapshot report is available to all.
- For Legacy Insights research clients – additional information is available: Is your charity’s share rising or falling? Where are you in the ‘Top 100? Each charity client can get additional supplementary information, individual to that organisation.
Year 1 report covered 2015 – 2019 inclusive and each subsequent report adds a new year thereafter. 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 have since been added. Longitudinal data is essential to build our understanding regarding legacy giving in Ireland and helps feed into the shaping of government policy on philanthropy.