Gender Pay Gap and Menopause Action Plans: What’s Changing and When
Employers can voluntarily publish menopause and gender pay gap action plans from April 2026 ahead of the 2027 legal requirement.
Read More
Legacy gifts are often considered the most crucial area of individual giving in terms of the value they can provide to charities.
4 December 2019
Insight
Figures published by Smee & Ford in their Legacy Trends Report 2019 show that legacy income in 2018 reached an all-time high of more than £3bn, representing a growth of 10% from 2017.
Charities can sometimes fail to provide enough investment or priority in their communication plans for legacy fundraising. This could be for many reasons, including a lack of awareness of its importance through to a fear of communicating with people directly about the sensitive issue of death.
As many charities are still missing out on potential legacy income, we have outlined some simple yet effective initiatives that could be implemented into your communications strategy to maximise legacy fundraising opportunities.
A staggering 50% of UK adults still do not have a will in place, so campaigning for them to write their will, whilst also educating them on the benefit of leaving a legacy to your charity, such as reducing inheritance tax or how their donations will benefit your charity, may be an effective method to increase legacy donations.
It is important to ensure that your supporters are frequently made aware that they can leave charitable legacies in their will, and you should try and make it as easy as possible for them to do so. Some charities provide information packs with step by step guides; others build partnerships with solicitors to increase awareness.
Your supporters may be more willing to leave a legacy donation in their will if there was a specific purpose in which their money would be used. We recommend conducting a simple, short survey with supporters of your charity to find out what they are most likely to leave money in their will to support.
Many leading charities run their own will writing initiatives to increase legacy donations. While this is usually a free service, the charities tend to ask their supporters to consider leaving a legacy gift to them.
It may also be worth getting involved with national will writing initiatives such as the National Free Wills Network, Free Wills Month and Will Aid. There is a wide range of free wills schemes available that can benefit both charities and individuals in legacy giving.
You should always maintain and nurture relationships with supporters who may be inclined to leave, or who have already promised to go, a legacy to your charity.
Keep them informed with the great work you are doing, particularly the benefits that legacy donations are providing you with.
Contact Us
For more information and support with increasing legacy donations for your charity, please contact us on 01332 226 122 or complete the form below.
Related Services
Knowledge
Employers can voluntarily publish menopause and gender pay gap action plans from April 2026 ahead of the 2027 legal requirement.
Read MoreUnderstand SSP 2026 updates, employer responsibilities, and common pitfalls to keep your business compliant and protect staff rights.
Read MoreEAT confirms employers should assess redundancies forward-looking, not retrospectively, when deciding if collective consultation is needed.
Read MoreLearn the 2026 National Minimum Wage rates, common employer pitfalls, and how to stay compliant with new Fair Work Agency rules.
Read MoreTuesday
25
March
Join us for breakfast and networking, followed by our expert speaker presentation, a roundtable discussion, and a Q&A session.
Book your placeWednesday
11
March
Join us on 11 March 2026 for our Employment Law Seminar: key changes, tribunal cases, and expert insights for HR professionals.
Book your placeEmployment Law 2025 review covering key legislative changes, consultations and what employers need to prepare for in 2026.
Read MoreUpdate on the Employment Rights Bill, including the removal of day-one rights, a new six-month qualifying period, and potential compensation changes.
Read MoreTop HR Christmas tips to manage staff absence, festive parties, and workplace closures, ensuring a compliant and enjoyable festive season.
Read MoreEmployment Rights Act changes: Government consults on bereavement leave, dismissal protections, and trade union rights.
Read MoreProbation periods will be crucial as the Employment Rights Bill introduces day-one unfair dismissal protections from 2027.
Read MoreEmployment Tribunal deadlines are set to increase to six months. Learn how this change could affect employers and what steps to take now.
Read MoreScroll to next section
Scroll back to the top
On Monday 29 September, Flint Bishop successfully completed the acquisition of the entire business of Lupton Fawcett LLP. You have been forwarded to the page most relevant to your visit.
Please feel free to explore our website and learn more about our legal services and professionals, including those who have recently joined us from Lupton Fawcett.