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….