Legacy Fundraising

Legacies are generally the biggest gifts received by charities from individuals. In 2007/08 alone they were worth £2 billion to fundraising organisations, representing by far the largest source of voluntary income to the sector.

Legacy fundraising can clearly be a sensitive issue so it is vital that care is taken to ensure best practice standards are met.

Codes of Fundraising Practice

The Institue's Legacy Fundraising Code of Fundraising Practice establishes a series of criteria to be observed by charities to ensure that legacy fundraising is undertaken in a professional, responsible and sensitive manner.

Read the Legacy Fundraising Code of Fundraising Practice.

The Codes set out the law and best practice for a range of fundraising techniques. All of the Codes are available online.

Find out more about the Codes of Fundraising Practice.

Remember A Charity

Remember A Charity is a consortium of over 140 charities which promote legacy giving. Based at the Institute of Fundraising, the group encourage more people to leave gifts to charity in their Will, after looking after their friends and family.

Find out more about Remember A Charity.

Other Institute Resources

We have produced a jargon-busting briefing to help you get to terms with the language of legacy fundraising.

Read the Legacy Fundraising Jargon Buster briefing.

The Institute of Fundraising has a Legacy Marketing & In Memorium Special Interest Group which enables fundraisers to share ideas and network. Institute of Fundraising Groups are made up of volunteers with extensive experience and are a great way to meet new fundraisers.

Find out more about Institute of Fundraising Groups.