Preparing for the great wealth transfer: Why operational readiness matters

Vanguard UK predicts that between $84 and $124 trillion in global assets will shift to younger generations and charities in the next 20–30 years, peaking by 2035. It’s easy to imagine the “great wealth transfer” as something that will simply happen: thousands, potentially millions, of baby boomers handing their savings and assets over to family members, friends or charitable organisations. 

The reality is that this transfer will be mediated by people and structures – intermediaries that determine when and how the money moves. Fund managers, wealth advisers, executors, solicitors, banks, donor-advised funds (DAFs), foundations and family members won’t just manage the wealth transfer; they will shape it. They will influence what gets discussed, what gets prioritised, how options are framed and what feels safe and legitimate. 

Charities that are easy to work with, responsive and clear will receive gifts. Those with processes that are slow, opaque or operationally painful will struggle to benefit. 

With gifts arriving in many forms – legacies, DAFs or community foundation grants, cash, property, shares, cryptocurrency, royalties – what does it actually mean to be operationally ready for this event? A few ideas: 

1. Be an adviser-friendly organisation. 
   Wherever possible, connect with local advisers and solicitors, especially those specialising in legacies or charitable giving. Dedicate a page on your fundraising website that explains your process for working with them, names a contact and makes it easy to ask questions. Then turn enquiries around quickly. 

2. Practise tax literacy. 
   Train your whole team (not just fundraisers) on the changing rules around inheritance tax. They should be able to explain the basics simply and clearly to anyone who asks. 

3. Create a minimally viable legacy operations process. 
   Clarify ownership of the process, how decisions are made and how due diligence and recognition are handled. Be explicit about what can and can’t be accepted. If possible, set time frames for decisions, and circulate the agreed workflow and service standards to everyone involved in handling legacies. 

4. Strengthen the relationship between finance and fundraising. 
   This income is likely to be lumpy and complicated, making forecasts and spending models difficult. Agree assumptions around spending and reserves, how restrictions will be handled and how to manage the emerging risk of relying on large, less predictable gifts ahead of time, rather than when a gift or pledge arrives. 

5. Establish a windfall policy 
   You may already have this in place – in which case, great! If not, best to be proactive to avoid scrambling and hasty decisions. A windfall policy includes a clear and agreed investment strategy, a communication strategy (internal and external) for announcing the gifts and a strategic endowment plan with a vision, goals and identified stakeholders. This will ensure maximum, if unexpected, value of windfalls. 

The great wealth transfer will happen, and it will reward the charities that can receive wealth smoothly, responsibly and at speed. If you’re not there, Cairney & Company can help! Get in touch with us to learn more. 

What else are you doing to ensure your organisation is ready? 

---

Sources

Charities Aid Foundation. Next generation philanthropy. Retrieved March 4, 2026, from https://www.cafonline.org/personal-giving/professional-advisers/next-generation-philanthropy  

Dillingham, W., Jr. (2026, March 3). Have a plan ready for when big gifts surprise you. The Chronicle of Philanthropy. https://www.philanthropy.com/solutions/have-a-plan-ready-for-when-big-gifts-surprise-you/  

RBC Wealth Management. The Great Wealth Transfer and its impact on philanthropy. https://www.rbcwealthmanagement.com/en-us/insights/the-great-wealth-transfer-and-its-impact-on-philanthropy  

Vanguard. Navigating the great wealth transfer. Vanguard UK Professional. https://www.vanguard.co.uk/professional/vanguard-365/financial-planning/wealth-transfer/great-wealth-transfer  

Vanguard. The great wealth transfer. Vanguard UK Professional. https://www.vanguard.co.uk/professional/adviser-support/the-great-wealth-transfer