Example Church Legacy Policy

A legacy policy is a very simple document, normally just one side of paper. It provides assurance to people planning to leave a gift in their Will that the church will spend the gift wisely and in accordance with their wishes. And it gives the church confidence that gifts will not be unduly restrictive and difficult to manage.

It's advisable to discourage restricted gifts since the needs of a church will change over time. But some people will be more likely to consider leaving a gift in their Will if they know that their church will use it for special work and projects, rather than normal running expenses. 

The sample policy, suggests that churches either have a simple statement about how legacy gifts will be used, or highlight broad areas of work to which people may wish to leave a gift. This allows people to mention aspects of the church’s work that are especially dear to them without tying the church to a very specific use which may not be appropriate when the time comes. 

When you have adopted your policy, it's important to communicate it widely and to have resources on hand to help people who may be inspired to leave a gift. You can find Faith Will resources – which encourage a gift to Christian Aid and the local church here.