Gifts in Wills

With your help we can save the Earth’s rich and beautiful biodiversity.

Biodiversity is critical for the life support systems that humans and all other species rely on – from provision of freshwater to shelter and food. Without the diversity of species, ecosystems are more vulnerable to natural disasters, human disturbances and climate change.

Sadly the Earth’s stunning array of species is under serious threat, from habitat loss, hunting and countless other pressures. Biodiversity is being lost at 1,000 times the natural rate.

With only 280 individuals left, the magnificent Cross River gorilla is amongst a host of beautiful fauna and flora that is under serious threat.

Leaving a gift to FFI in your Will means we can save the natural world.

We will use your gift to:

• React to the most critical conservation needs as they arise;
• Train and inspire then next generation of conservation leaders; and
• Work with local communities and partners to find conservation solutions that take account of human needs.

Please remember Fauna & Flora International (FFI) in your Will.

“After a happy and fulfilling life one would like to be able to leave this wondrous planet Earth with its full compliment of plants, trees, flowers and wildlife all unspoiled, healthy and beautiful to be enjoyed by future generations to come. Then, like the classic poet Horace, one could say: ‘I have raised a monument more lasting than bronze’.”

Mrs W. Shackleton, FFI legacy pledger since 2000

How we can help

If you are interested in leaving a gift to FFI in your Will then we can:

• Explain how a gift in a Will can help FFI continue to protect endangered species and habitats for years to come;
• Arrange for you to meet with a member of our conservation teams to hear first hand how your gift will make a difference;
• Explain the different ways you can remember FFI in your Will and the benefits of each approach;
• We can provide you with some suggested wording tailored to the type of gift you wish to leave;
• Explain how a gift to FFI can help to reduce the burden of Inheritance Tax;
• Help you to find a solicitor in your area; and
• Provide you with a pack to read at your leisure which includes information on all of the topics mentioned here, as well as information on how to update or amend your Will and information about specific projects that have benefited from gifts in Wills.

Thank you for your interest in gifts in Wills. Below there is information on gifts in Wills that you should find useful and interesting, as well as my contact details should you have any questions at all. We also have a Gifts in Wills information pack (opens in PDF) which includes details on the types of gifts that you can leave, frequently asked questions, and even some suggested wording which you can give to your solicitor once you have decided how you would like to remember FFI.

How can I leave a gift to FFI in my Will?

Should you feel that the time is right and you would like to include FFI in your Will then the information on these pages will provide you with the ‘tools’ you will need to make this happen. Quite simply there are two approaches:

If you are writing a new Will, or wish to update an existing one, then you will need the Suggested Wording form which can be found in the Gifts in Wills information pack (opens in PDF). This explains the different types of gifts and once you have chosen the one which best suits your wishes, simply complete the appropriate blank space and take it along to your solicitors who will include it in your Will.

If you are amending an existing Will and do not want to write a whole new Will, then you may find the simplest thing to do is complete a Codicil Form. A Codicil is an instruction which amends a previous Will rather than replacing it. It allows you to alter your Will in anyway that you see fit. The Gifts in Wills information pack download includes a Codicil that you can use. If you do choose to use it, fill it in, and then you must have it witnessed formally in the same way as your Will. Once this is done , instruct your solicitor to include it with your Will.

We are always happy to assist in anyway possible, however we do advise when writing or amending your Will that you speak to a qualified legal advisor – they will be able to ensure that your Will is valid and will stand up when the time comes to realise your wishes.

If after having read any of the information on this page you have any questions at all, please do not hesitate to contact me, I am always happy to help and meet in person if you wish to talk about any matters further.

Paul White

Telephone: +44 (0) 1223 431 952

Email: paul.white@fauna-flora.org

Post: Paul White, Fauna & Flora International, 4^th Floor Jupiter House, Station Road, Cambridge, CB1 2JD

Letting us know…

We understand that writing a Will is a private matter. It is entirely up to you if you wish to share the contents of your Will during your lifetime and we will never ask you to tell us your wishes. However, if you would like to share your intentions with us we would love to hear from you.

Quite simply, knowing in advance of any gift you wish to leave to FFI gives us the chance to thank you for choosing to support FFI in such a valuable way. We see all donations as acts of faith in our ability to carry out effective conservation work – but none more so than a gift in a Will. Each time we receive one, or are notified of a supporter’s intention, we are reminded of how important our work is and how much faith you have for our ability to save endangered species.

You can let us know by either contacting Paul White using the details above, or by using the Letting us Know form which is part of the Gifts in Wills information pack.

Any information that you choose to share with us will be treated in the strictest confidence. It will be kept secure and not shared with any third party.

A pledge does not place you under any legal or moral obligation.

The Inheritance Tax benefits of leaving a gift to FFI in your Will

Leaving a gift to FFI ensures that positive conservation work takes place in the world that we leave behind. It can also help to reduce the burden of Inheritance Tax and ensure that the people and causes you care about most receive the full gifts that you intended.

Presently you do not pay any Inheritance Tax on your estate up to the value of £325,000. However anything over this threshold is subject to a 40% Inheritance Tax. For example, if your estate is worth £10,000 more than the Inheritance Tax threshold (currently £325,000) and, assuming Inheritance Tax is at 40% (its current rate) at the time of your death, there would be Inheritance Tax of £4,000 to be paid out of your estate.

The good news is that a legacy to a registered charity is exempt from Inheritance Tax and is deducted from the value of your estate before taxation. Therefore, if your estate was worth £10,000 more than the Inheritance Tax threshold (as in the example above), but you made a gift to FFI of £10,000, the notional value of your estate would be reduced by that amount and there would be no Inheritance Tax to pay.

From April 2012 this good news gets even better thanks to the last budget announcement. It means that if you leave 10% or more of the value of your estate to charity then the rate of Inheritance Tax you pay on anything over the taxation threshold reduces from 40% to 36%.

If you are an Executor

We are used to dealing with the administration of Estates, and are happy to help where possible with any questions you may have about being an Executor. In some cases we are also able to advise on which parts of an estate are the most beneficial to pass on in realising a gift in a Will in order to avoid unnecessary costs and taxes.

Please contact Paul White on +44 (0) 1223 431 952 or by email on paul.white@fauna-flora.org

“Without FFI’s dedicated untiring efforts one would be tempted to despair. I know that there are other organisations world-wide which are doing great work for conservation but FFI is something very special.”

Mr & Mrs JD Chapman, New Zealand, FFI members since 1953

Thank you for your interest in remembering FFI with a gift in a Will.

FFI are proud to support the Legacy 10 campaign. For more information on how the changes to Inheritance Tax have made it more attractive to support charities through legacy giving, please visit the Legacy10 website by clicking on the icon below.