September Wills Month
New research on charitable bequests - out soon!
Charitable gifts in wills, also called bequests, are an important source of long-term funding for the charities and causes in New Zealand. Through a gift in their will, anyone can leave a specified amount, a percentage of their estate, or what's left (the residual) once their other wishes are carried out.
September Wills Month is a national campaign which was launched by Community Foundations of Aotearoa NZ in 2018. It's grown into a collective campaign that encourages charities across New Zealand to join in, normalising the idea of charitable bequests, and the difference they can make to their work, now and in the future.
It's also a time to encourage New Zealanders to shift from intention to action, by completing their will, at the same time considering something extraordinary - a gift for a charity, a cause or a community they care deeply about.
September Wills Month is a time for conversations, not about the end of life, but about the legacy of a life with meaning and purpose, including touching on the very things that Kiwis hold dear.
Why the campaign matters
- Aotearoa New Zealand will see an estimated $1.6 trillion intergenerational transfer of wealth over the next 25 years, and charitable gifts in wills are an important part of the wealth transfer picture.
- In 2026, Community Foundations of Aotearoa New Zealand (CFANZ) commissioned new research from independent research consultancy BERL.
- The research, in the form of a public survey, explored at how New Zealanders think about giving, including what motivates them to consider a bequest and what barriers might get in the way.
- This August, in time for September Wills Month, the bequest findings from the research are being released in a publicly available report.
- The report is being designed to be practical: charities can utilise the research findings to inform and strengthen their own bequest work during Wills Month and beyond.
- The full Giving in Aotearoa NZ research report will be released in November.
New research on how New Zealanders think about giving
The findings explore how New Zealanders think about gifts in wills, discusses key motivations and suggests approaches which may resonate with potential supporters.
Want to know the moment it lands?
*By submitting your email address, you're agreeing to receive the bequest research report once it's ready, and to join the CFANZ general email list. You can choose to opt out at any time.