A record amount of charity donations were included in Wills in 2022

According to recent data, 2022 saw a record amount of bequests to charities. Of the 231,582 wills that Smee & Ford handled, 36,992, or nearly 16%, contained a gift to a charity.

The overall amount of charitable estates was higher than Smee & Ford's forecast of £20 billion from September, coming in at £21.3 billion, the highest amount ever. The total number of individual bequests within charitable estates awarded probate in 2022—123,298 in England and Wales—was also the highest amount ever recorded.

Over half of all legacy revenue in 2022 came from high-value bequests worth over £100k, with 31% of bequests valued at over half a million pounds and another 22% coming from bequests valued between £100-£250k.

“It is encouraging to see that 2022 was another strong year for legacy income and that the number of charitable bequests recorded in wills has reached a new record,” said Smee & Ford's managing director, Polly Avgherinos. 

She continues, “The Smee & Ford team look forward to continuing to support the great work that charity legacy teams do and ensuring that legators’ wishes to support causes close to their hearts are realised.”

Allan Freeman, Chair of Remember A Charity, added: “In today’s volatile economic environment, it’s hugely encouraging that gifts in Wills continue to be such a significant and vital source of income for UK charities. More and more fundraisers tell us that legacy income is what’s enabling them to continue delivering services and, perhaps what’s most exciting, we’re seeing growing recognition among senior management of the importance of shoring up legacy fundraising teams and investment to protect their charities’ futures.”