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By Legacy futures team

DATE

15 October 2025

When it comes to legacy giving, it’s not always the biggest estates that make the biggest difference.

In a bid for greater understanding of this concept, we’ve taken a deep dive into our data and new analysis from Legacy Futures and Smee & Ford has revealed that estates worth £1-3 million are the most impactful group for charitable giving. Although they represent just 27% of total estate wealth, they contribute a significant 33% of all charitable bequests - worth £1.3 billion.

The generosity of the “middle”

While giving generally increases with wealth, the new findings show that mid-value estates are disproportionately more generous. Only 6% of estates under £100,000 include a charitable gift, compared to 29% of estates over £5 million - but it’s those in the £1-3 million range that give a larger share of their wealth to good causes than any other group.

In contrast, estates worth over £3 million hold nearly a quarter of all wealth but contribute only 12% of total bequest value.

Different wealth bands, different giving styles

The research also highlights how wealth influences giving behaviour:

  • Smaller estates tend to leave residuary gifts - often more generous overall.
  • Wealthier donors are more likely to give cash gifts, perhaps because they’re also giving through other channels such as foundations or trusts
  • Cause preferences vary too: larger estates often support education, culture, and heritage, while smaller ones are more likely to focus on animal welfare, hospices, and medical research.

These patterns give charities valuable insight into how to connect with different types of supporters, and how to make their legacy messaging resonate across audiences.

Why mid-value donors matter

For charities looking to grow their legacy income, the message is clear: don’t overlook the power of the mid-value donor. Ashley Rowthorn, CEO of Legacy Futures, said:

The £1–3 million wealth band represents the real sweet spot for legacy giving, offering significant potential for charities of all sizes. By understanding this group’s motivations and tailoring engagement strategies accordingly, organisations can build deeper relationships and unlock significant long-term value from gifts in wills. Legacy fundraising isn’t just about the very wealthy — it’s about recognising and nurturing the generosity that sits right at the heart of the donor base.

Learn more about Legacy Navigator

Built on decades of experience. Reimagined for the future.

For decades, Smee & Ford and Legacy Futures have been at the heart of the UK’s legacy giving sector. Together, we’ve helped hundreds of charities understand and grow their legacy income.

Legacy Navigator is a transformative resource where market-leading legacy data meets expert insight and peer support to help your charity grow gifts in wills income with clarity and confidence.

Learn more

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