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Include a Charity

2022 Gifts in Wills Conference

28 July 2022

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Keeping it real – �making successful connections with Wills Days

Wesley Mission Vision statement

Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.’

Attributed to John Wesley

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A brief history of Wesley Mission

  • 1812 - Wesley Mission commenced its work
  • 210 years - Wesley Mission has been caring for the community
  • 1906 - The Hon. Ebenezer Vickery - legacy gift
  • 1963 - The Rev Alan Walker commenced Lifeline
  • 1973 - David Morgan Centre opens

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A brief history of Wesley Mission Gift in Wills journey:

  • commenced over 40 years ago
  • CEO/Superintendent Rev Dr Gordon Moyes hosted a Sunday night radio show on 2GB

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Wesley Mission Gift in Wills strategic plan includes:

  • visitation program
  • donor surveys
  • prospecting
  • targeted bequest mailings
  • drip feeding through regular appeal mailings
  • include a gift in Wills story in every newsletter

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Supported by Wills days

  • commenced our Wills day in 2005
  • since then we have conducted 66
  • on average we hold 4 per year
  • in FY 19/20 we conducted 12

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Where has Wesley Mission held the majority of our Wills days since 2010?

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Location

# of Wills days held

# of identified gifts where the bequester is happy for Wesley Mission to acknowledge them

# of identified gifts where bequesters wishes to remain anomomus

Overall total

City

18

75

26

101

Gymea

5

5

4

9

Newcastle

4

16

2

18

Blacktown

4

5

-

5

Chatswood

4

4

6

10

Parramatta

3

3

3

Hornsby

2

4

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Results of Wills days from 2010 - 2021:

  • # of days held - 44
  • # of appointments -1,725
  • # of attendees - 2,145
  • # of gifts Identified -111
  • value identified - $1,780,850
  • ave: gift amount - $16,044

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How many bequesters have donated since being identified?

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Keeping it real – �making successful connections with Wills Days

Wesley Mission - Wills days - advertising - what medium did we find as the most effective - 26 May 2022?

  • Family friends (High) – (50%)
  • Hope media – low – (8%)
  • local newspaper – geographically (declining since Covid)
  • Posters - community centre display (low)
  • social media (High and growing) – (42%)

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Wesley Mission - Wills days - how does it work prior to the day?

  • by asking the right solicitor to attend
  • confirm a venue
  • Trybooking – also include the opportunity for people to make a donation
  • advertising 3-4 prior to event
  • 48 booking available per day
  • Cost - $80 – 20 minute appointment

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Wesley Mission - Wills days - once a booking is received what happens?

  • confirmation letter of appointment
  • client instruction form
  • guide to Wills and Bequest booklet
  • reconfirmation 48hrs prior to the Wills day

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Wesley Mission - Wills days - how does it work on the day?

  • clients are allocated a solicitor
  • build an ongoing relationship with the solicitor
  • all client leave with a gift - personal information booklet and folder
  • great opportunity to chat with those that are attending

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Wesley Mission – Wills days – who attends?

  • 50/50 split male/female
  • all demographics
  • representation of that local community
  • staff members
  • members of our congregation
  • clients of our services
  • people updating their Will

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Wesley Mission - Wills days - what have we learnt over the years?

  • there is a need for this type of community service
  • support other community services to assist with their clients
  • its flexible
  • can be the ‘icing on the cake’ with regards to identifying gifts in Wills
  • Solicitors appreciate it as it is a good acquisition stream for them

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Wesley Mission - Wills days - what have we learnt over the years?

  • COVID - changed the way we operate
  • now offering both face to face and virtual meetings
  • you can do a number of arrangements

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Wesley Mission - Wills days - what have we achieved?

  • increase in our Gift in Will pipeline
  • increase our cash donors
  • assisted with brand awareness
  • opportunity to help people

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Wesley Mission - Wills days - what does the future look like?

  • do we continue with Wills days?
  • do we continue as we are?
  • invest further in this current model?

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Wesley Mission - Wills days - what does the future look like?

  • it works and it is effective – for Wesley Mission
  • it will take time to build
  • implement and test

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Thank you

stephen.burfield@wesleymission.org.au

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Be part of a movement

www.includeacharity.com.au