LEAVE A LEGACY^® is the public awareness campaign conducted by the National Committee on Planned Giving.^® The goal of the LEAVE A LEGACY^® program is to increase the quantity of charitable legacy giving across North America. Currently, there are licensed LEAVE A LEGACY^® programs in 70 communities in the United States and 21 in Canada.

In the United States, community-based LEAVE A LEGACY^® programs are coordinated by NCPG -affiliated planned giving councils to help the general public to learn about charitable giving through a will or from an estate. The LEAVE A LEGACY^® program does NOT solicit gifts for any particular organization. Instead, the program is a partnership of nonprofit groups including social service and arts organizations, churches, hospitals and educational institutions and by professionals who assist donors with charitable estate planning. These partners help promote the message that all of us have the ability to “make a difference in the lives that follow” by leaving a charitable legacy.

Charitable, nonprofit groups play an important role in our lives, extending help in many ways, from giving seniors a hot meal, to linking up children with good role models. Help may also come in the form of fighting a terrible disease, leading a spiritual experience or bringing beauty to your world through the arts.

The truth is that these special organizations need financial assistance from people like you in order to continue their good deeds. More than 80 percent of Americans contribute to the nonprofit groups of their choice throughout their lifetimes. But according to research conducted in 2000, only around 8 percent of people who have wills choose to continue this support through a charitable bequest. By making these "planned gifts," you can continue to help organizations that are making an important difference in your community.