Bequests (gifts in wills)
Invite supporters to leave a gift to the organisation in their will.
Typically raises
$5,000
$0–100,000 per sponsorest.
About $1,429 per organiser hour
Based on one bequest
Is it right for us?
- Money
- $2,000–10,000
- Work
- Weeks, part-time
- Helpers
- 1–2 people
- Lead time
- 4+ months
- Red tape
- None
Rare in NZ: only established charities ask for gifts in wills
- People
- 1
- Organiser time
- 2-5 per year
- Lead time
- years
- Up-front cost
- Nothing up front
- Risk
- none
- Who can use it
- You need a stable legal entity whose exact name a lawyer can write into a will.
How it works
The money, as an example sum
Nothing to pay up front, and the typical result for one bequest is about $5,000 per sponsor.
From the typical figure on this page. Your result will differ.
Where the money figure comes from
ESTIMATE: highly unpredictable; most small groups receive none for years. Context: about 6% of NZ wills include a charitable gift (JBWere Bequest Report 2025, via not-for-profit.org.nz).
Last checked October 2026. Ran this? Tell us what you raised and we’ll use real results to improve the figures.
Step by step
- Make sure the organisation has a permanent legal name and charity/society number.
- Add a short 'leaving a gift in your will' line to the website and newsletter.
- Provide suggested wording and the exact legal name.
- Thank and (with permission) acknowledge people who tell you they have included you.
- Have a policy for how bequests will be used (e.g. capital, not running costs).
Getting the word out
Even a well-run plan fails if nobody hears about it. There are two asks, and the first one goes out first.
- Ask for help
- Members to pass the ask on to people they know.
- Ask people to buy
- People and businesses to give.
- When to start
- Ask for helpers first, as soon as the date is set. Start the public ask about 6–8 weeks out, and book newsletter and paper notices before that: small newsletters close early.
Where to put it
- Asking people yourselfMost yeses come from someone asking directly. Give every member a short message they can send to family and workmates.
- Email lists and group chatsYour members’ email list and the class, team or church group chats. Short, with one date or one link.
- School, club and church newslettersYour own newsletter is free and read by the families most likely to say yes. Check when it closes.
- Local Facebook pages and community groupsPost in your town’s community page and local groups (check their rules), and share from your group’s own page.
The full guide to getting the word out: every channel from flyers to the evening news, with lead times and costs.
What you’ll need
- Place
- Not neededNone needed
- Landowner’s permission
- Not needed
- Council permit
- Not needed
- Food rules
- Not neededNo food sold
- Alcohol
- Not neededNo alcohol sold
- Gambling rules
- Not neededNot gambling
Gifts made by will don't earn a donation tax credit. Never pressure older supporters; suggest they talk to their lawyer.
Tips
- Include a Charity runs NZ-wide awareness campaigns you can link to.
Watch out for
- Spending bequests on day-to-day costs and leaving nothing lasting to show for them.
Bequests (gifts in wills): checklist
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Before
After
Gifts made by will don't earn a donation tax credit. Never pressure older supporters; suggest they talk to their lawyer.
* General fundraising information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Money figures are examples and estimates, not promises. Check current official requirements before you commit. About this guide