Trust Vs legacy

Yes, you probably need to be careful to avoid appearing to try to influence unduly the supporters in what is a financial/estate planning decision for them. However, I think it's perfectly legitimate to indicate to them that from your charity's point of view, the bequest option is the sounder of the two.

You might also indicate that the charity's trustees are obliged under law to maximise income for a charity. Hence all those problems over the years with charities investing in ethically dubious but financially successful companies. Maybe a letter from a trustee supporting your case might help?

Thank, that makes sense. Given that they approached us for advice on setting up the trust to continue the business they've invested years into, do you have any advice on how to explain that if their priority is the cause they should just leave it in their will? I imagine there will be potential trustees with vested interest to keep the business running who could accuse us of being money grabbers, if we persuade them to leave it in the will.

Reuben

Based on my eight years experience as a legacy fundraiser, which ended nearly 10 years ago mind, I'd say your better option would be to receive the property in their will.

Letting the business continue to run could lose you the whole thing if the business folds - which is a risk if the two key personalities in the guesthouse will no longer be part of the business.

Also the property is almost certainly going to be worth many times more than the annual profits of a small guesthouse business. It could take many years for your charity to receive the equivalent value if the supporters chose the trust route.

For simplicity's sake and to secure the value of the gift for the charity at the earliest time, I'd choose the bequest.