The RSPCA is extremely grateful that there are some very generous animal lovers who wish to continue supporting the charity's work after their lifetime and are able to leave large gifts in their Wills. These large bequests (gifts of £600k or more) are relatively rare, at around 0.5% of all our legacy gifts. And yet, they have accounted for an average of £13m (18%) of our legacy income over the past five years.

Commenting on one particularly large bequest, the RSPCA explains:

Such a gift was received recently from a very generous couple who had a long-standing relationship with the RSPCA. These supporters had frequent contact with the charity during their lifetime and it was known that they’d chosen to pledge a gift in their Will. The couple were born in the 1930s and lived in the Midlands, and they had a lifelong passionate interest in the welfare of animals. Before the hunting ban, they were very active in opposition to that, and got involved in various other animal welfare issues.

Their legacy was made simply via the couple’s Wills, written back in 2006. The husband and wife had mirror Wills – prepared by NatWest & Coutts and Co. The value of the estate was £10 million, comprising two properties, an investment portfolio and a collection of valuable art works. The overwhelming majority went to the RSPCA, with another charity receiving a legacy of £300k. The couple had no children, and there were no other beneficiaries.

In this case, as with many high net worth legacies, lifetime giving and engagement with the charity were a key precursor to the larger legacy gift. The impact of this legacy on the RSPCA was significant, enhancing our capacity to deliver vital animal welfare services.

The impact of legacies at the RSPCA

Legacies contribute 55% of the RSPCA’s income every year, so they are vital to continue the charity’s important work; rescuing and caring for animals in need, advocating for change and inspiring everyone to treat animals with compassion and respect. We receive over 2,000 legacy gifts from our supporters each year of various types and values, and the charity is extremely grateful for every one of these.