Legacy: The Affordable Gift

For a Christian, tithing your estate can be thought of as part of your final act of thanksgiving to God. It can express what you have valued highly in your life and so enable you to make a big difference in a particular area of Christian ministry. This affordable gift - for it is money no longer needed - enables MH to help future generations. As the Bible says, "So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith" (Gal. 6:10, ESV).

Legacies of every size - large or small - help us build on our successful 23-year foundation of offering Christian key workers the security and joy of having their own home. As London's population grows inner-city ministry is more important than ever. But the cost of living has increased too, making long-term community development more difficult to maintain without secure, affordable housing.

Though Britons loyally give to charities during their lifetimes, only 7% of them leave a legacy. Why not more? After all, money given to a charity in your will is automatically deducted from your estate before any calculation of Inheritance Tax. So would you rather leave your legacy to your favourite charity or the Exchequer?

Here are the types of legacies that benefit charities:

Pecuniary: Gifting a fixed amount of money, enabling you to be sure of the precise amount the charity will receive. (However, be mindful that the value of the gift will likely be eroded by inflation.)
Specific: Gifting a particular item, such as a valuable painting, stocks and shares, a property or the proceeds of a life insurance policy. Depending on the nature of the item, MH could decide to sell it and use the money towards the work of the charity.
Residuary: This is the remainder of your estate after all other legacies and any debts have been paid. Many people choose to leave the whole or part of this balance to the charity (or charities) of their choice.

Your solicitor will know what wording to use when including MH in your will. They will need to know the registered charity number (17128R) and our full address. For a confidential and informal consultation about legacy giving, please call or email Jim Gilbourne, CEO.

"Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously" (2 Cor. 9:6, NIV).

To read about a legacy recently left to MH, click here.