Charitable estates rise 22% from previous year
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 has enabled the most comprehensive legacy data and market review ever available.
Designed to support charities of all sizes, the free report provides valuable statistics, projections and insightful case studies to help charities maximise the potential of legacy income.
The average estate size for those leaving a charitable gift was £599,000, compared to £394,000 for non-charitable estates.
Average gift values reached £65,000 for residual gifts and £4,500 for pecuniary gifts.
The south coast and London remain the strongest regions for charitable bequests, with nearly 18% of probated estates in the south coast containing a legacy gift.
Baby boomers (born 1946–1964) now make up 21% of all legators and are set to dominate legacy giving by 2035.
Rob Cope, executive director membership and operations at the Chartered Institute of Fundraising, said: “Legacies play a pivotal role in supporting charities, of every shape and size, across the UK to continue their vital work. As such, resources like this report are invaluable. In sharing such a comprehensive overview of the nation’s legacy giving, with key trends and projections for the future, The Legacy Giving Report will no doubt become a go to benchmarking and guidance resource for fundraisers looking to develop their legacy fundraising and bolster broader fundraising strategies.
“It is also an excellent example of agencies working together to provide, for free, the kind of unique data and insight that can help charities grow and thrive, something the Chartered Institute of Fundraising is pleased to encourage and support.”
One of the key drivers behind the record growth in 2024 was a 15% surge in charitable bequests, largely due to HM Courts & Tribunals Service clearing a longstanding backlog of probate applications. As a result, bequest numbers in 2024 reached an estimated 145,000 — the biggest number ever recorded.
The report also explores the impact of upcoming changes to inheritance tax rules and highlights opportunities for charities to engage supporters who may be motivated to leave a charitable gift for this reason.
Ashley Rowthorn, executive director of Legacy Futures and Smee & Ford, said: “This report represents an important step in improving our shared understanding of the legacy giving landscape. By bringing together data, analysis and real-world examples, we hope it will help charities of all sizes to better navigate current challenges and plan for the future.
“Legacy income is a long-term, resilient source of support for the sector, and having access to clear, evidence-based insights is vital for organisations looking to grow or sustain this important form of giving.”
