Guiding supporters as they shape their legacy

A national charity’s Gifts in Wills team identified key user groups with varying motivations and readiness to engage with legacy giving.
As a Digital Coordinator, I helped shape a website experience that supported these users throughout their giving journey while working within the limitations of the CMS.

Mapping User Mindsets

Gifts in Wills spoke to 3 groups of users:

  • Thinking - “I might leave a gift to a charity. (I have a connection with stroke.)”
  • Deciding - “I have a connection with stroke or this charity, and I'm considering leaving a gift.”
  • Done - "I've committed to leave a gift to this chairty. (I've written my Will)"

Ideation began by mapping what users think and ask at each stage, what the GIW team wants them to take away, how the webpage could support those goals, and the content needed to make it work.

Thinking & Deciding

Section homepage

To support the Thinking and Deciding groups, the homepage was designed to answer their core questions:

  • Why leave a gift to this charity?
  • What can I leave?
  • How do I leave a gift in my Will?

Supporter stories and impact examples were used to reassure and inspire users.

Thinking

The 'Why'

This page focused on the needs of the Thinking audience.

It highlighted how a gift can create meaningful, lasting impact, reinforced with real stories from people whose lives were changed by supporter generosity.

The page also introduced the “What” and “How” to guide users toward their next steps.

Thinking & Deciding

The 'What'

Aimed at both Thinking and Deciding groups, this page explained the different types of gifts users can leave and challenged the idea that legacy giving is only for the wealthy.

Stories from everyday Australians demonstrated how small gifts can create extraordinary impact.

The page then directed users toward the “How.”

Deciding

The 'How'

Designed for the Deciding group, this page outlined:

  • Steps to choose a gift
  • Where to write a Will
  • Suggested Will wordings
  • Toolkits and downloadable booklets

Free Will‑writing services from partner organisations were introduced to make the process feel more achievable.

At the F&P Big4 Conference 2024, the GIW website was recognised as best practice in a session on websites for effectively tailoring content to audience needs and driving positive results.