# Legacy income tops £2.24 billion annually in the UK yet only 7% leave a charity bequest - Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2017/01/05/legacy-income-tops-2-24bn-annually-uk-yet-7-leave-charity-bequest/ - Published: 2017-01-05T11:54:50+00:00 - Author: Melanie May **Legacies account for a quarter of the total amount given to charities each year, and now top an [annual £2.24bn](http://www.charityfinancials.com/charity-financials-insider/legacy-income-update-1661.html).**   However, while 35% of people say they would leave a legacy to charity in their will, only seven percent actually do so, according to [nfpSynergy](http://nfpsynergy.net/)’ s [_Facts and Figures: Legacies for Charities _](https://nfpsynergy.net/free-report/facts-and-figures-legacies-charities) report, which, it suggests, leaves an opportunity for charities to increase their income if they can solve this challenge. ## Advertisement [⌊Posthub advert. You create the campaign. We'll handle the postal journey. Get started at post-hub.co.uk.⌉](https://fundraising.co.uk/ads/posthub-20261007-300x250/)   Figures from nfpSynergy show that 37% of people have made a will, and of those, 24% had mentioned a charity in it. In total, the percentage of those saying they would leave a gift to charity in their will has increased by three percent over the last two years from 25% in 2015 to 28%. In comparison, the amount of people saying they would not consider leaving a gift peaked in 2011 at 45% then fell to 27% in 2012.   Of those who have made a will, younger age groups were more likely to have left a gift to charity in their will, such as 50% of 16-24 year olds compared to 21% of 65+ year olds. This is also mirrored among those who have not yet made a will. Of this group, 50% of 16-24 year olds said they would consider leaving a gift, compared to 17% of those aged 65+. 61% of this age group said they would not.   [⌊nfpsynergy legacies⌉](https://wfay6x.infiniteuploads.cloud/2017/01/rsz_screen_shot_2017-01-05_at_113520.png)   Cancer is the most popular cause to give money to, with 48% saying that their favourite charities fell under the cause. This is supported by figures from [Charity Financials](http://www.charityfinancials.com/), which are cited in the report, and which show that this is also reflected in legacy giving, with Cancer Research UK the most popular charity to leave a legacy to in 2016, receiving £56,200,000 more than [RNLI](https://rnli.org/), which was ranked second.   According to Charity Financials, Cancer Research UK received £169.1m through legacy giving in 2016, accounting for 38% of its fundraised income. In comparison, RNLI received £112.9m: 66% of its fundraised income. The [RSPCA](https://www.rspca.org.uk/) was the third most popular charity for legacy bequests last year, receiving £63.7m: 59% of its total fundraised income.   The [full report](https://nfpsynergy.net/free-report/facts-and-figures-legacies-charities) can be accessed via the nfpSynergy site. * **[Higher 2016 death rates likely to increase legacy income this Spring](https://fundraising.co.uk/2017/02/14/higher-2016-death-rates-likely-increase-legacy-income-spring/)**( 14 February 2017) * **[Legacy income up 10% in 2016](https://fundraising.co.uk/2017/03/07/legacy-income-10-2016/)**( 7 March 2017) * **[Increase in probate fees could cost sector annual £16 million in legacy income](https://fundraising.co.uk/2017/03/16/increase-probate-fees-cost-sector-annual-16m-year-legacy-income/)**( 16 March 2017) ![Loading](https://fundraising.co.uk/wp-content/plugins/page-views-count/ajax-loader- 2x.gif)