Legacy giving that strengthens communities

WILLS MONTH BLOG SERIES

During September Wills Month we are sharing thought pieces from our network of member Foundations and supporters.

Simon Bowden
Head of Philanthropic Services
Forsyth Barr
15 September 2025

Wills Month is a time to consider carefully what you will do with your assets and who you will leave them to. It’s an important process that we should all engage in — for our own peace of mind and for the benefit of the people we love and the causes we care about.

Increasingly, clients are considering charitable giving as part of their legacy planning. Some are inspired by the great work of an organisation they’ve supported or benefited from. Others are looking for causes that reflect their personal values. Many are thinking broadly about how to provide resources for the communities they’ve lived in and cared about throughout their lives.

As people explore their options, it’s important to choose a structure that fits their goals. For some, setting up a private charitable trust can seem like the natural next step. However, it’s worth being aware of what this can involve — including legal costs, annual administration, and the need to appoint trustees who will take on long-term governance responsibilities.

An alternative that many people are now considering is working with a local community foundation. These are locally based organisations that manage permanent funds on behalf of donors. The income from each fund is used to support local initiatives, year after year. Community foundations offer a way to make giving simple, effective, and enduring.

We’ve noticed a growing trend toward giving through community foundations with clients asking for advice about how to best approach their local foundation. People appreciate their local focus, their ability to pool resources for greater impact, and the knowledge that their gift will continue to support future needs in the community long after they’re gone.

At Forsyth Barr, we are beginning to build stronger relationships with community foundations across the country. Progress is steady, and we’re seeing early gains, with a number of live conversations with donors now underway. When clients show interest in giving locally, I help connect them with a foundation in their region and support them through the early stages of setting up a gift or endowment. This includes working alongside their legal advisers to ensure their intentions are clearly understood and well supported. We’ve also started developing ways for clients to transfer investments directly into community foundation accounts, which helps make the process more practical and cost-effective.

A gift to a charitable organisation through your will is a powerful gesture — an act of generosity that reaches beyond your own lifetime. It’s a demonstration of trust in the people and organisations working to care for others, for the environment, and for the places we all call home. This kind of legacy inspires those who receive it to aim higher, act wisely, and continue delivering meaningful results for years to come.