Legacy income to charities in Ireland grew by more than 60% between 2015 and 2019, according to a new report by Campaign Solutions, a consultancy that provides advice to not-for-profit organisations.

The report finds that charities benefited from €234 million of legacy income in the period, with the figure rising from €30.5 million in 2015 to just over €49 million in 2019.

Campaign Solutions, which reviewed the accounts of more than 750 charities, says the real 2019 figure could be closer to €54 million, when unavailable charity data is taken into account.

Stable source

The organisation believes legacy income could be a more stable source of funding for charities in the future, as COVID-19 has led to the disappearance of some fund-raising channels, as well as an increase in the number of people writing or updating wills.

Campaign Solutions says 116 charities have so far confirmed receiving bequest income since 2015. It adds, however, that most of this money is going to a relatively small number of the almost 33,000 organisations in Ireland’s non-profit sector.

The report shows that one donor, Elizabeth O’Kelly, almost doubled the legacy income in 2017, when she left €30 million to five charities.

At least two bequests of over €1 million were also received by charities in 2017.

No arts bequests

The report finds, however, that no arts or cultural organisation was identified as securing a monetary bequest in the 2015-2019 period, while environmental charities received just 0.15% of the total legacy income over the five-year period, an annual combined average of just over €70,000.

Ten charities received more than 60% of all recorded legacy income in each year.

Campaign Solutions says that while some charities have proactive legacy plans in place, others are securing only sporadic legacy income, or none at all.