Income from gifts generously left by supporters in their Wills forms the cornerstone of funding for many UK charities. Without it, charities simply couldn’t provide the vital services so many people rely on. In 2024, income from Gifts in Wills stood at £4.5 billion for the charity sector.

Gifts in Wills, also known as legacies, account for a third of voluntary income for SSAFA. A gift in a Will is an act of kindness that represents the way in which an individual wants to be remembered, an extension of them, the way in which they see the world, of the people and causes close to their heart. The number of people leaving gifts to charities in their wills is on the rise and we all need to be comfortable talking to our supporters about them.

As a volunteer, you can make a huge difference to the charity’s income by sharing with your networks the impact of gifts in Wills. Together, we can raise awareness of gifts in Wills and give our supporters another fantastic way of giving. Talking about gifts in Wills can seem daunting because of the private nature of will writing. If you would like some guidance on how to start some great conversations about this topic and be confident in talking to our supporters about leaving a gift for future generations, the Legacy team at [email protected], are here to offer support and advice.

Does a gift have to be large to make a difference?
No, be it a small proportion of an estate or a specified amount, any gift can make a difference.

How important are gifts in Wills to SSAFA?
Incredibly important. Gifts in Wills accounts for over one third of our voluntary income and so play a huge part in helping us continue our work. 

What would a gift in someone’s Will help to support?
It can help to fund any aspect of our work! We all live and breathe the wonderful work that we do, so be enthusiastic and let them know about it.

How do I leave a gift in my Will to SSAFA?
We advise that anyone wanting to make or update their Will seeks help independent legal advice from a solicitor or professional Will writer. Mention that we have free Will writing partners MyIntent (formerly Bequeathed) Farewill & National Free Wills Network and details can be found on our website. 

If a supporter is showing an interest in gifts in Wills, you could mention some of our key messages:

• A third of our voluntary income comes from gifts in Wills.
• A gift in your Will costs nothing now.
• Just a small percentage share could make a huge difference.
• There are significant Inheritance Tax benefits to leaving a gift in your Will.
• SSAFA offers free Will writing services.

Don’t worry, we don’t expect you to be an expert! If the conversation is starting to go beyond these messages, please email our Legacy team at [email protected] and they’ll be happy to take over.

Legacy administration can be quite complicated and there are many regulations that charities must comply with, this includes issuing formal receipts. The Legacy team has the necessary skills and qualifications to deal with legacies left to SSAFA; this includes gifts left directly to branches.

We are also here to support Executors. If you are made aware of a gift left to SSAFA, please do inform the Legacy team and we will ensure that the gift is dealt with appropriately. Payments for any legacies that are intended for a branch/division will be transferred, once received from the Executors. The administration of an estate can take time (on average 18 to 24 months), so we will try to keep branches updated where possible.

​​If you have any questions, please do get in touch, we are here to help. Email [email protected]

Here is a PDF of our current Gifts in Wills:

Hard copy Gifts in Wills booklets are available to order on the Marketing Hub.

Here is a PDF of our Gift in Wills jargon buster

This jargon buster is for volunteer or employee use only. It must not be shared externally.

Gifts in Wills webpage - https://www.ssafa.org.uk/support-us/other-ways-to-give/gifts-in-wills

Our free Will writing services - Will writing service (free!)

Our legacy fundraising policy - https://ssafa-volunteer-kb.screenstepslive.com/a/1944300-legacy-fundraising-policy

• call 020 4570 0351

• email [email protected]