Sometimes I walk into a new client’s office and just know they will act on legacy giving. One of the best was Keele University -with a development team of two: Lauren and Lucy. Little had been done to promote legacies and there were few enquirers. The honesty, openness and insight we gained from their alumni
Legacy Strategy Archives - Radcliffe Consulting – Defining the Future of Legacy Fundraising
19 May 2026
What a legacy success story
- By : heleninter
- Alerts & Updates, Best Practice, Contested Wills, Coronavirus, Legacy Strategy, Making the ask, Our Blog, Tips, Wills
- 0 Comments
11 May 2026
Legacy leaflets/brochures. Are they necessary?
This is real bugbear of mine. Why is it called a bugbear? It is derived from the Middle English bugge (anything frightening, a goblin) and “bear,” referring to a creature that haunts or kidnaps children, often equated to a bogeyman. But now means: a pet peeve. How did that happen? Some questions about legacy leaflets:
- By : heleninter
- Alerts & Updates, Best Practice, Contested Wills, Legacy Strategy, Making the ask, Our Blog, Tips, Wills
- 0 Comments
6 February 2026
Legacies are not transactions
OK I admit this is a lie. But the transaction is only after death. I have just been asked by a big client “We need to measure (for a clear funnel journey and forecast):” The number of enquirers which will convert to considerers to intenders to pledgers to legacy income. When will this happen? What
- By : heleninter
- Alerts & Updates, Best Practice, Contested Wills, Coronavirus, Legacy Strategy, Making the ask, Our Blog, Tips, Wills
- 0 Comments
19 January 2026
Why do I dislike legacy case studies?
#legacycasestudies #legacyconferences Because they do not tell the truth and often mislead fundraisers. So, let’s take a lifetime giving appeal. You get a response. You know the immediate outcome/ROI. Measurable. Now take a legacy mailing/communications: · Does everyone who takes action respond? No. It is private. PS they might also have hated it but never
- By : heleninter
- Alerts & Updates, Best Practice, Contested Wills, Coronavirus, Legacy Strategy, Making the ask, Our Blog
- 0 Comments
7 January 2026
My most surprising embarrassing and proudest moments in my fundraising life of 47 years
I make no apologies for being nostalgic! For good fundraising reasons. Read on · Making my first ask for money (aged 14) to a meals on wheels client who lifted her skirt and there were her knickers stuffed with £5 notes. · 1983 I won my first and only DM award (11% cold acquisition of
- By : heleninter
- Alerts & Updates, Best Practice, Contested Wills, Legacy Strategy, Making the ask, Our Blog, Tips, Wills
- 0 Comments
5 January 2026
Stop being a sheep. Be a shepherd.
So, what really annoys me about trends in legacy fundraisers and legacy fundraising? Sorry. Do not stop reading now. You might have to challenge yourself. Young people think differently, act differently and do not always understand, the mindset and lifestyle of us oldies. I was young once (!) and when I started in legacy fundraising,
- By : heleninter
- Alerts & Updates, Best Practice, Legacy Strategy, Making the ask, Our Blog
- 0 Comments
6 October 2025
Is it good to talk to supporters? NO!
It is Saturday. I start my day by listening to BBC Radio 4. The interviewer ends every interview with “It is good to talk to you”. SO WRONG. Then I go onto LinkedIn and read “we often forget to talk to donors.” WRONG. Talking discovers nothing. On all occasions we should be listening to donors
- By : heleninter
- Alerts & Updates, Best Practice, Legacy Strategy, Making the ask, Our Blog
- 0 Comments
18 August 2025
Contested Wills
Contested Wills up 56% in the last year according to a statement from HMCTS following a FOI request from Taylor Rose. This is the future as there are 6.5 million families are blended. Charities: Be very careful about your Will providers. As a new Wills Act soon gets presented to parliament there is an increasing
- By : heleninter
- Alerts & Updates, Best Practice, Legacy Strategy, Making the ask, Our Blog
- 0 Comments
18 August 2025
Dare To Be Different
Extraordinary – even after 35 years legacy experience. Three assignments completed in the last working week. Not ONE turned out as I expected.I am a passionate discoverer of SI – not AI (more of that later). SI? Supporter Ignorance.There is NO such thing as a typical legacy campaign – each one will have a different
- By : heleninter
- Alerts & Updates, Best Practice, Legacy Strategy, Making the ask, Our Blog
- 0 Comments
15 August 2025
Legacy prospects are changing faster than non-profits in the world of planned giving.
For 35 years I have been helping non-profits grow their legacy/bequest income. I am British but work in over 30 countries and have advised numerous North American non-profits from hospitals to conservation agencies, human rights organisations and universities. I meet donors (so far about 37,000) and ask all about their philanthropic habits, patterns and information
- By : heleninter
- Alerts & Updates, Best Practice, Legacy Strategy, Making the ask, Our Blog
- 0 Comments