Charity Commission u-turn on legacy advice

Fundraising | Vibeka Mair | 23 Mar 2010

The Charity Commission has ruled that the JNF Charitable Trust can draw up wills for free in return for a bequest to the charity, despite Commission guidance advising against the practice.

The Commission opened an investigation into the Jewish charity after a complaint was made about the KKL wills service, run by the JNF.

Charity Commission guidance Paying for wills with charity funds advises that charity employees should never become involved in drafting an individual’s will, warning that it is likely to be viewed with suspicion and could well increase the risk of a legal challenge to a legacy left to the charity in the will.

However, after meeting with JNF to discuss its legacy fundraising practices, the Charity Commission decided the charity could effectively manage the risks to the charity in providing the free will-writing service. It said the charity had strengthened its safeguards and internal procedures to help manage these risks.

The Commission also decided the benefits to the charity outweighed any potential disadvantage.

Directory: Charity Commission

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