The Institute of Fundraising has published a new legacy fundraising code to improve practice and provide guidelines for work.

A skills framework in soliciting legacy prospects and handling legacy gifts is provided by the code.

Charities are urged to promote legacy giving to potential legators at an "appropriate value" and "minimal cost" under the revised Code of Fundraising Practice.

Additional issues that are covered in the fundraising code include the use of communication channels, paying for wills with charity funds, legal information on the subject of charity work and the ethics of relationships between charities, supporters, pledgers and potential legators.

Legacy fundraising code working party chair Justine Williams commented that the code’s purpose is to provide clear guidelines for anyone involved in legacy fundraising to apply within their daily work.

"A legacy is often the largest gift an individual ever makes to charity and as a fundraising mechanism, legacy fundraising remains of significant value to our sector," Institute of Fundraising director of policy and campaigns Megan Pacey added.

The Institute of Fundraising has also announced that a Major Gift Fundraising Scotland conference will take place in September at the Hilton, Glasgow.

More skills framework information.