# 2022 saw charities receive highest number of bequests on record

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2023/01/26/2022-saw-charities-receive-highest-number-of-bequests-on-record/
- Published: 2023-01-26T11:50:17+00:00
- Author: Melanie May

**Almost 16% of wills processed by Smee & Ford in 2022 included a gift to charity–
36,992 out of the 231,582 estates that included a will.**

The number of individual bequests within charitable estates that were granted probate
in 2022 was the highest number [Smee & Ford](https://smeeandford.com/) has ever 
recorded, at 123,298.

The total value of charitable estates also exceeded Smee & Ford’s prediction (£20bn
in its September update), finishing on £21.3bn. Again this was the highest on record.

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In addition:

 * 31% of legacy income came from bequests worth over £500k
 * A further 22% came from bequests valued between £100-£250k
 * This means over half of all legacy income in 2022 came from high value bequests
   worth over £100k

Not all organisations have yet reported their final accounts to the Charity Commission,
so the final legacy income figure for 2022 is not yet confirmed, but as a conservative
estimate Smee & Ford predicts it may sit at around £3.5bn.

Polly Avgherinos, Managing Director at Smee & Ford, said:

> “It is encouraging to see that 2022 was another strong year for legacy income 
> and that the number of charitable bequests recorded in wills has reached a new
> record. The Smee & Ford team look forward to continuing to support the great work
> that charity legacy teams do and ensuring that legators’ wishes to support causes
> close to their hearts are realised.”

Allan Freeman, Chair of Remember A Charity added:

> “In today’s volatile economic environment, it’s hugely encouraging that gifts 
> in Wills continue to be such a significant and vital source of income for UK charities.
> More and more fundraisers tell us that legacy income is what’s enabling them to
> continue delivering services and, perhaps what’s most exciting, we’re seeing growing
> recognition among senior management of the importance of shoring up legacy fundraising
> teams and investment to protect their charities’ futures.”

The full and final statistics will be shared in Smee & Ford’s upcoming [free annual Legacy Trends report](https://smeeandford.com/legacy-trends-2023-register-interest/).

 * **[2022 record-breaking year for legacy income in England & Wales](https://fundraising.co.uk/2023/04/20/2022-record-breaking-year-for-legacy-income-in-england-wales/)**(
   20 April 2023)
 * **[Just under 14% of probated estates with Wills currently charitable, Smee & Ford data shows](https://fundraising.co.uk/2023/08/07/just-under-14-of-probated-estates-with-wills-currently-charitable-smee-ford-data-shows/)**(
   7 August 2023)
 * **[The Legacy Giving Awards return for 2026](https://fundraising.co.uk/2025/11/10/the-legacy-giving-awards-return-for-2026/)**(
   10 November 2025)