New analysis reveals “The £1-3 million optimal wealth band”

When it comes to legacy giving, it’s not always the biggest estates that make the biggest difference. In a bid for greater understanding of this concept, we’ve taken a deep dive into our data and new analysis from Legacy Futures and Smee & Ford has revealed that estates worth £1-3 million are the most impactful group for charitable giving. Although they represent just 27% of total estate wealth, they contribute a significant 33% of all charitable bequests – worth £1.3 billion. The generosity of the “middle” While giving generally increases…

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New data reveals most impactful estate value range for charitable legacies, as groundbreaking Legacy Navigator tool launches

New analysis from Legacy Futures and Smee & Ford reveals that estates worth £1-3 million are the most valuable segment for UK charitable legacies, delivering a disproportionately high share of gifts in wills.  Estates falling within this “optimal wealth band” account for just 27% of total estate wealth but deliver an impressive 33% of all charitable bequests – amounting to £1.3 billion in value.  Key data highlights: Legacy giving by wealth band   Giving correlates with wealth: Just 6% of estates under £100,000 include a charitable gift. This rises to 29%…

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Over one third of UK adults made an in-memory donation in the past year

New research from Legacy Futures and Smee & Ford has found that faith and cultural identity significantly influence how and why people give to charity in memory of a loved one. The findings provide vital insight for fundraisers seeking to engage a broader and more representative range of supporters and to help build a case for investment into this vital income stream. The study, part of the long-running In-Memory Insight programme, draws on multiple research stages including desk research, a consumer survey, and focus groups with charity supporters. This year’s theme…

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Inaugural Legacy Giving Report reveals 9% legacy market growth reaching £4.5 billion

Despite a challenging external environment, legacy income rose by 9% in 2024, up significantly from the 1.3% growth seen in 2023. Legacy gifts now make up an average of 30% of fundraised income across the top 1,000 legacy supported charities, with some sectors such as animal, conservation, and disability charities seeing figures as high as 50%.  These are just some of the key findings from The Legacy Giving Report 2025 — the first report of its kind from the Smee & Ford and Legacy Futures’ partnership announced last year that…

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Still time to enter the 2025 Legacy Giving Awards

The Smee & Ford Legacy Giving Awards are now open for entries, with a deadline of 15 November. The awards recognise excellence, innovation and impact, celebrating the achievements, talent, and dedication of legacy giving professionals, and spotlighting the valuable income that gifts in wills provide. Smee & Ford says they aim to “inspire charities and their partners to think bigger and aim higher and to raise the profile of the valuable work of professionals within their own charities, whilst also providing a platform to benchmark the progress made through collaboration…

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