Author: Philipp Schrämmli
13.09.2024, 06:00
- 95 billion Swiss francs are inherited in Switzerland every year. That is more than the federal government’s annual budget.
- A large part of this money goes to close relatives, spouses and children.
- Now a new survey shows that Swiss people are increasingly taking non-profit organizations into account in their wills.
A survey by Demoscope
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The survey was conducted by the market research institute Demoscope on behalf of the “Alliance for the Common Good”. Demoscope surveyed a total of 1,014 people between July 24 and August 5, 2024. All of the people were over 45 years old.
Almost one in five Swiss people today mentions a foundation or a charitable institution in their will. More than ever since the «Alliance for the Common Good» commissioned the survey. According to Nicole Kayser from Allianz, it is clear that non-profit organizations are being given more and more consideration, but this is still at a relatively low level – low in relation to the total volume of inheritances.
Even though almost 20 percent of those surveyed now consider a non-profit organization as an heir, only 0.3 percent of the total 95 billion francs inherited goes there.
“At least,” says Nicole Kayser, who works with the “Alliance for the Common Good” to ensure that non-profit organizations receive more legacies. Kayser attributes the fact that this is happening more and more to the fact that the Swiss are generally more concerned with their own death and their legacy.
More people are concerned with death
This is also shown by the survey. Almost two thirds of those surveyed said that they had been thinking more about their own death in recent years. And around half of those surveyed are considering making a will. Both figures have increased significantly compared to the last surveys.
As you get older, you start to think more about the issue.
This trend may be related to the fact that the Swiss population is getting older on average, says Nicole Kayser. “I think that as you get older, you start to think more about the issue.” Another factor may be that various organizations have been drawing more attention to the option of a living will in recent years. This means that you can record which medical interventions you agree to should you no longer be able to do so due to a serious accident.
People have more to give
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As director of the Center for Philanthropy Studies and professor of foundation management at the University of Basel, Georg von Schnurbein confirms the trend identified by the study.
This trend is due to the fact that there is more and more wealth and more to inherit. People are thinking more carefully about what they want to leave to whom.
The current situation in the world, the perception of developments in society, issues such as migration, climate change, environmental protection – all of this, according to Schnurbein, also contributes to people thinking about where they could help themselves, possibly even beyond their own death.
How legacies are discussed
It is always tricky to talk about death, says Schnurbein. Especially when it is linked to money. That is why people have turned to neutral counseling centers where various organizations have joined forces.
These then provide information about living wills or wills. According to Schnurbein, no single organization is in the foreground.
Rather, the aim is to create better information on the subject of legacies and at the same time to draw attention to the fact that legacies are an opportunity to do something good.
“In this context, it makes sense to think about your own assets and death and to record this in a will or inheritance contract,” says Nicole Kayser.
