But the final hurdle…….
8 hotels. 4 countries. 3 weeks. A gruelling schedule but what I love about my job is that after 30 years I still have loads to learn and achieve. It’s like being in a race which just gets better. My determination to win gets stronger every year.
But there are some totally infuriating hurdles to get over.
The first hurdle
Wills are the first hurdle and legacies the finishing line.
A gift in a Will needs a Will and the making of Wills is so diverse. Some populations only have 3-5% with a Will, others have 50% +. The Will writer and their role in drafting a Will varies in each country. Each race is a different length.
In spite of being tired, I find myself constantly inspired and yearning to find new solutions to develop legacy giving around the globe or each part of each country. Even in the UK Will making patterns are different in the north to the south – or indeed the east to the west. Norwich is not like Cardiff and Aberdeen is not like Bournemouth!
This is what drives and maintains my enthusiasm – for all populations to reach the winning line. Some countries are like racehorses
UK and USA are leading the race with many countries in hot pursuit: Canada, Australia, Italy, Spain, France, Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, Germany, Sweden, Norway to name a few.
Others are slower and possibly at the first or second fence: India, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Malaysia, China, Vietnam, Singapore but they are showing signs of determined promise. They have the power to persevere and grow. Though I have to say even some of these are showing amazing promise.
And as legacy income continues to grow around the world my hope grows. Lifestyles are changing at an unprecedented pace (as are family structures) and these changes often necessitate a Will.
To this extent the race is being won but it is not over.
The final hurdle
The final and biggest hurdle is NOT fundraisers. Neither is it legacy prospects. Fundraisers are easily fired up to spring into action and start inspiring donors.
The biggest hurdle is: Trustees or board members.
They ask incredibly impossible questions:
- When will we get a return on our investment
- How much will it be
- What will values be
Excuse me Board members: but can I ask you the following questions:
- When are you going to die
- How much will you be worth when you die
- Will your circumstances change in the future
If they do not know then why would anyone else?
What triggered this brief blog? Seven clients in one week contacted me asking the most stupid question: What will our legacy income be in 2025 (or similar period)?
Answer: We, as a sector, should rely on trusting our supporters to give a legacy. Sadly, that trust (and confidence) is rarely reflected in them. And yet board members want them to trust their charity. How one sided can we get?