Legacy and Major Donor Adviser

Allison Turner

New Lamps for Old

Or……..

New Wills for Old

Introducing Meg and Eileen

Megs story……………

1993 Meg wrote her Will and included a gift to MHA.

1998 Meg died and MHA were notified of the legacy.

Who was Meg?

We had no idea!!!

Along comes Eileen to our rescue…………

It wasn’t all plain sailing

She made demands

but….

We got to know Meg

She had been a Methodist all her life and had sung in the choir at church for many years

Had her name on the waiting list for a place in one of our homes

Believed in what MHA stood for Had supported MHA anonymously

We also got to know Eileen a little

She wanted her friends name to be honoured because of the legacy

She wanted to try and dictate how the money was spent

She started to support MHA by giving to the local home as well as responding to mailings

What mailings?

A tale of two halves

Part 1 Legacy Administration

Who we write to:

Solicitors

Executors

The handover……….

Nothing is precious!!!

Part 2 Legacy Marketing continues………..

Initial contact letter informing about a Gift of Thankfulness Service

Then nothing for a few months Invitation to Gift of Thankfulness Service Supporter magazine Christmas Appeal

Eileen’s response……..

Accepted invitation to the service and the

first meeting took place Second meeting set up to visit local project Entered into lengthy discussions regarding use

of legacy Entered into more discussions

regarding use of legacy!! Agrees on use of legacy

And…….

Invited to special event at project where legacy was used

Relationship deepened with each mailing Moved into an MHA care home in 2007 Died in 2008 Legacy received in 2009

What did we know about Eileen?

A lot!!!

Eileen

She was 92 when she died She had supported MHA since Meg died She was fastidious Had two daughters, one in the UK and

one in Canada

What next?

The cycle starts again

BUT

this time Allison writes

first.

The personal touch….

“I have known your mother for a number of years and met her on several occasions. Even when she had moved into Ryelands she asked me to continue writing to her and keeping her updated on what was happening throughout MHA. She would also ring me once she had received a letter and go through it in great detail so I always prepared for her call a few days after I knew it would have arrived. I remember the day she rang me to tell me that she had moved into Ryelands. She was so pleased to have been able to do so after having had so much contact with the home over the years. She was so happy there.”

The reply….

“Mum spoke of you very warmly on many occasions and she took great interest in your letters. It was so funny to read your comments about her phoning you after your letters arrived to go through things in detail. That was just typical of the way she worked with things that were important to her. My sister and I miss her a lot. As well as mum, she was a best buddy.”

New legacies from old?

Legacies come from real people not names on a Smee and Ford notification

Executors are also real people who are mourning the loss of a loved one

How would I like my mum or dad to be treated by MHA?

You don’t have to be a genie to do magic

You just have to be you

“This invitation is really appreciated and we all feel your

response to the legacy is a model of good practice.”

Not just a one off….