Leave a Legacy
Responding to your needs – whatever your age
Leave a Legacy for Ireland – for good … for ever
Community and Voluntary groups play a vital role in Ireland every day, extending help in many ways, especially to those most marginalised in our society. Since the Community Foundation for Ireland was established in 2000, it has assisted hundreds of these groups throughout the country. That has been possible through the help and generosity of people like you. But more needs to be done. 144,000 children live in consistent poverty in Ireland, and tens of thousands of other people are marginalised by reason of their circumstances. You can help – now and forever.
A lasting tribute
Throughout their lifetime, people volunteer regularly and give to charity. Why let it end there? That support would be greatly missed when they are gone. That’s why many people sustain their investment of time and donations by leaving a legacy through their will or estate plan. In that way, your generosity too will be remembered in your community for ever.
Research the Community Foundation for Ireland commissioned has established that four out of five people give regularly or occasionally to one or more charities. This extraordinary generosity, however, is not being expressed in terms of bequest giving, where fewer continue their support through a gift to their favoured cause(s) in their will or estate plan. Usually, that’s because many people forget that by making a bequest, they ensure that their legacy can do so much for their communities and voluntary groups – way beyond their lifetime.
When it comes to “Leaving a Legacy,” the unique approach taken by The Community Foundation for Ireland ensures that your interests and wishes are fully complied with. Unlike other organisations and charities, the Foundation has few thematic and no geographic limitations. So, whatever your wishes are to be remembered in your community, we can facilitate you.
Responding to your needs – whatever your age
People of all ages, means and walks of life can create a legacy. Through wills, retirement plans, and life insurance beneficiary provisions, you can strategically give to and through the Community Foundation for the causes you care most about
Arranging a legacy couldn’t be simpler. If you avail of the services of a professional such as an accountant, solicitor, private banker or other financial advisor, then talk to them about leaving a gift - and the tax benefits associated with planned giving. If you don’t currently avail of such services, the Foundation would be happy to introduce you to a suitable professional if required.
To help you decide how best to realise your charitable intentions, we can arrange a confidential, no obligation discussion to get to understand what cause(s) you wish to remember beyond your lifetime. Staff at The Community Foundation for Ireland have an extensive range of contacts throughout the community and voluntary sector here in Ireland, ensuring we can match donors’ interests with suitable projects in the community deserving support.
Donors can elect to create a fund established for the cause(s) they value most dearly, setting out the manner in which they wish their charitable intentions to be fulfilled. The Foundation will fully honour their wishes in the years ahead, and donors can remain anonymous if they so wish.
Alternatively, a simpler, but equally effective approach is to bequest our Permanent Endowment Fund, which will help us ensure that whatever social challenges we face in the future, our Board and expert grant making committees will have the capacity to respond to those challenges. The decision is entirely yours.
Making a will is a very sensible step, whether you’re young or old. For those you leave behind, it ensures they have clear direction on how you wish your estate to be distributed, and ensures your wishes are fully respected. If you have already made a will, when did you last review it to ensure it reflects your current wishes and intentions?
There are many social challenges in modern Ireland. Not all of our people have prospered to the extent that they have assets to bequeath. For those that have, it is an opportunity to “give back” and leave a lifetime legacy to their chosen cause(s), never to be forgotten. So why not contact The Community Foundation for Ireland today, and learn about how they are “connecting people who care with causes that matter.”
A few minutes of your time could make a lifetime of difference for a disadvantaged group or Community.
For more information, please contact Niall O'Sullivan, Head of Fund Development on 01 874 7354 or by email nosullivan@foundation.ie
