Can I leave money to charity in my will?
Where a link is marked * or labelled Ad, it is a partner advertisement: we receive commission at no extra cost to you. Links without a * or Ad label earn us nothing. How we make money.
In short: Yes. Name the charity’s full legal name, address and registered charity number so the gift cannot fail. You can leave a fixed sum, a share of residue, or specific items in your [will](swiftwill.co.uk*).
Last reviewed:
Reviewed by Kaiser Khan
Charitable gifts are a normal part of will drafting. Use the charity’s official registered details (not a trading name alone) so executors pay the right organisation. You can leave a pecuniary legacy (a set amount), a specific item, or a percentage of the residuary estate.
Leaving 10% or more of your net estate to a UK-registered charity can reduce the Inheritance Tax rate on the taxable estate from 40% to 36% in many cases — check current HMRC rules if IHT is relevant. Charity Free Wills Month and Will Aid campaigns often encourage legacy gifts but you are not obliged to leave one.
If you want to leave money to [World Aid Network](worldaidnetwork.org) — a UK charity funding eye surgery, cancer treatment and disaster relief — name the charity in full so executors can pay it. A gift to WAN can get the IHT charity exemption and can count toward the 36% reduced rate. Lifetime [donations](worldaidnetwork.org/donate) and [legacy gifts](worldaidnetwork.org/ways-to-donate) are listed on their site.
Simple England and Wales wills that include charity gifts can be made with an [online will](swiftwill.co.uk*) such as SwiftWill from around £35. Complex legacy trusts still need a solicitor. Official how to make a will: www.gov.uk/make-will
Primary source: gov.uk/make-will
Part of our Family & care
This quick answer sits inside our wider family & care hub — with sub-guides, calculators and step-by-step explainers on the same topic.
Read the full family & care guide →