New research suggests local charities could benefit from growing interest in bequeathing charitable gifts.

The findings are expected to be good news for Western Bay of Plenty organisations, including the Acorn Foundation, which supports community groups through local philanthropy.

Community Foundations of Aotearoa New Zealand commissioned research by independent consultancy BERL which surveyed more than 3000 New Zealanders who donate to charity.

More than half of respondents (52.3%) were interested in bequeathing a charitable gift.

Of those surveyed, 17.4% had done so, while 25.4% were considering it and 9.5% planned to do so.

Acorn Foundation chief executive Lori Luke said the “important” new research mirrored what the foundation saw daily in the Western Bay of Plenty.

“Local people like to support local causes, both during their lifetime and via a will.”

She said more than half of New Zealanders surveyed who gave to charity were open to leaving a gift.

“We know based on Acorn’s $32 million in contributions to the community since inception that our locals share that same commitment to the Western Bay.”

The main factor preventing people from a charitable bequest was prioritising family.

The survey also found nearly nine in 10 respondents supported local causes. The most common reason was that it aligned with personal values.

“With New Zealand set to see an intergenerational wealth transfer of up to $1.6 trillion over the coming decades, the local charities in our region will see a benefit for generations to come.”

September marks Wills Month in New Zealand, encouraging people to create or update their wills and consider leaving a charity gift.

To learn more about bequeathing a gift, visit www.acornfoundation.org.nz.