A cost of living crisis does not instantly seem like an opportunity for fundraising. And, indeed, in 2026, many non-profits are finding that their regular giving campaigns are slowing down while pressure on their programs is heating up as people turn to charities in times of need. Despite these challenges, however, non-profit organisations can still raise unprecedented funds in the coming years — if they can take advantage of alternative revenue streams.
Gifts in Wills programs have always been important for non-profits. They allow organisations to secure long-term funding for their programs and projects, and permit people to create a lasting legacy that supports a cause which is important to them.
But rarely have they been as important as they are in the Australian giving landscape right now. Today, while constrained means of many regular donors may be causing a contraction of resources in one area, but bequests are outperforming their historical value. Australia is currently experiencing the greatest generational wealth transfer in its history, and that accompanies a concomitant rise in the value of bequests. We know this transfer has been ongoing throughout the last several years: the Australian Government’s Productivity Commission reported that inheritances and gifts have doubled in the last 24 years, and the value of gifts “could rise four-fold in real terms between now and 2050.”
Despite the opportunities they represent, Gifts in Wills programs are, necessarily, an exercise in longer-term planning. Prospects require significant nurturing and bequests take time to be realised and transformed into funding for programs. It can certainly be challenging to demonstrate value year-on-year when compared with other fundraising streams that enjoy more immediate returns.
In order to operate a strong Gifts in Wills program, strategy and consistency are vital. In our latest whitepaper, the DCA Data Services team details the challenges associated with getting the most out of your program, including important factors like data governance and management, how to measure impact and program strategy. The whitepaper addresses obstacles to realising bequests earmarked for your organisation and the ways to use or enhance your data to address them, such as by utilising the Australian Death Check. We also discuss the data-driven communications strategies that can serve Australian non-profits in the current landscape of testamentary giving.
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