|
Americans and
Canadians are among the most
generous in leaving bequests to
charity reports a recent study from
AXA. Thirty one per cent of
American workers and 23% or Canadian
workers reported they expect to
leave a bequest to charity.
Britons are among the
least generous in the world when it
comes to leaving part of their
estates to charity, a report claims
today. Only the Dutch, Belgians,
Italians and Japanese are less
generous to charity than Britons in
their wills. Japan’s results
weighed in at a dismal one per cent
for workers and one per cent for
retirees expecting to make
charitable bequests, respectively.
Research from AXA
revealed that only around 8% of
Britons in work and 9% of retired
people would like to leave part of
their estates to good causes.
In Singapore, 40% of
people in work intend to leave part
of their inheritance to charities,
the highest of any country surveyed.
|
Country |
% of workers
making a
charity bequest |
% of retired
people
making a
charity bequest
|
|
Singapore |
40% |
40% |
|
USA |
31% |
19% |
|
Hong Kong |
25% |
32% |
|
Canada |
23% |
17% |
|
Germany |
19% |
16% |
|
France |
19% |
13% |
|
Portugal |
17% |
17% |
|
New Zealand |
16% |
15% |
|
Australia |
16%` |
13% |
|
Spain |
13% |
11% |
|
UK |
8% |
9% |
|
The
Netherlands |
6% |
4% |
|
Belgium |
6% |
3% |
|
Italy |
2% |
3% |
|
Japan |
1% |
1% |
Although most people
would expect to leave part of their
estate to charity, the results of
this international study display an
interesting contrast in rates
between countries.
The National Committee on Planned
Giving, an organization that
provides training and support to
charitable gift planners in the
U.S., has recently joined in the
International Coalition for Gift
Planning with sister organizations
in Canada and Europe. Tanya Howe
Johnson, CEO of NCPG, says her
organization has been working for
more than 15 years to train
fundraisers and raise public
awareness about charitable bequests
and other types of planned
charitable gifts. "We see some
results from our efforts. Planned
giving is becoming more common in
the U.S., though it hasn`t happened
overnight," Johnson says. "With the
European Association of Gift
Planners now headquartered in London
and operating throughout Europe, we
would expect charitable
organizations to focus on promoting
bequests and an increased response
from the public."
Most people leave
their estates to their children,
followed by partners, other family
and charities. However, those
without wills are cautioned that
their possessions may not end up
with their chosen recipients.
Research shows that
many people do not have wills. This
can lead to even more distress to
the family of the deceased. Not
only do they have to cope with the
death, but also the added stress of
dealing with the financial aspect.
The survey was
conducted by NOP, which questioned
9,200 people in 15 countries across
the world. |