Charitable giving in wills has fallen sharply over the past year, new research from Rathbones has revealed.
In an analysis of charitable giving, Rathbones found that 31% of adults have left money in their will to charity this year, down from 46% in 2024. Based on a comparable value of estates, the wealth manager said this fall could represent a drop of £1.5 billion in giving.
The study also showed that more than half (52%) of UK adults have not yet written wills.
Andy Pitt, head of charities at Rathbones, said: “Legacy giving is a cornerstone of charitable funding and a powerful way for individuals to make a lasting difference. The sharp fall in the number of people planning to leave a gift in their will is deeply concerning, especially at a time when charities are under immense financial pressure.”
The Legacy Giving Report 2025 estimates a record £4.5 billion was given in legacy income to charities last year but noted this was due to probate backlogs being cleared. Legacy income accounts for an average of 30% of fundraising income across the top 1,000 charities, the report says, underlining its value.
Despite the fall in legacy giving, the wealth manager said its research highlighted a continued desire to do so. Around a third (30%) of those who are planning to write a will in the future say they will include a bequest for charity, which is the same number who said they do this when asked in 2024.
Rathbones study found that more than one in eight (13%) who have left gifts to charity in their will plan to leave £50,000 or more. Among those planning to write wills in the next three years, who intend to leave money to charity, around one in six (16%) will make gifts of £10,000 or more.
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