Gift in Will - Leave a Legacy to Encephalitis International
Encephalitis International’s mission is to rebuild futures around the world by saving lives, accelerating awareness and driving research. Like many other non-profits, we depend on gifts in wills to survive.
Let’s be honest, the subject of ‘what happens when I’m no longer here’ is not something many of us like to think about, much less talk about. But writing a will to detail your wishes is important and it can provide an opportunity for you to continue supporting a cause close to your heart, or to leave a legacy in memory of a loved one.
Of course, you may need and want to provide for your loved ones, but you can give much of your estate to family/friends and still leave an impactful and lasting legacy to benefit a charity (or multiple charities).
One of the most profound ways you can support Encephalitis International long into the future is to leave us a gift in your will – it can improve sustainability and bring hope for future generations affected by encephalitis.
By supporting us with a legacy gift, you will help us deliver:
- increased awareness of encephalitis and its impact;
- a dedicated support service and accredited information for anyone affected;
- resources and training opportunities for medical professionals;
- at least £100,000 of funding for life-saving research each year;
- better diagnostics, improved treatment and more effective after-care.
Gift in Will / Legacy - FAQs
No - and the amount is completely up to you. Any amount will make a difference.
When it comes to leaving a bequest, you have a couple options:
• Name Encephalitis International as the primary beneficiary for a specific monetary amount, or specific valuable assets (see more below).
• Allocate a percentage - rather than an amount - of your total estate to leave to us. This can help protect legacy gifts from being devalued by inflation.
A SPECIFIC gift is where you leave a specific item or class of items, e.g. a family heirloom or your artwork collection, to a beneficiary.
A PECUNIARY gift is a specific amount of money. You can stipulate one or many different pecuniary gifts in your will.
A RESIDUARY gift is a percentage (a share of) your estate once all other debts, expenses and gifts have been made. This can also be called the 'residual estate'.
You can choose to give the whole of your residual estate to one beneficiary, or it can be divided between several beneficiaries, so they each receive a particular percentage/share.
In all cases outlined above, beneficiaries can be individuals or non-profit (charity) organisations.
Many people choose to leave money to a charity in their will, but you can give any of your assets to a non-profit like Encephalitis International.
This includes:
• Financial assets - like cash, stocks and bonds.
• Real estate - you can even donate your house, or a percentage / fixed amount from the sale of your house.
• Personal property - such as your vehicle, jewellery, artwork, etc.
• Non-probate assets - like your life insurance policy or pension fund.
You need to decide what kind of beneficiary you want us to be, if you wish to leave a legacy to Encephalitis International:
• PRIMARY beneficiary - the first person(s) or entity to inherit from your estate.
• SECONDARY beneficiary - if your primary beneficiary passes away before you, your estate would go to the next beneficiary in line. For example, you might choose your spouse / family member as a primary beneficiary but then name Encephalitis International as the secondary beneficiary.
• RESIDUARY beneficiary - we will receive any assets that you didn’t specifically name a beneficiary for in your will.
Yes, if you wish to. It is important for Encephalitis International to invest the funds we have in the areas of greatest need, but we understand that you may want to leave money to go towards a specific service we offer, or to fund a specific area of our work.
If you do wish to specify how we should use your legacy gift, please express this clearly in your will.
Where your gift is for a specific purpose, we are bound to use the funds exactly as specified and this can sometimes cause issues if we have changed our services, objectives or operational areas at the time we receive your legacy gift. If this happens, we would need to apply to the Charity Commission to be able to use the funds for a different purpose, but one that matches the original purpose as closely as possible.
To avoid possible complications in the future, we recommend you express your preferences in the form of a non-binding wish and be more general rather than specific:
E.g. “It is my wish, but without creating any legally binding obligation, that my gift is used by Encephalitis International to support people affected by encephalitis”.
If you would like more information on restricting your gift then please call the Fundraising Team: +44(0)1653 692 583 or email fundraising@encephalitis.info
Leave a life-saving legacy...
Could you help secure Encephalitis International's future, to ensure we can support the encephalitis community now and in to the future?
Free wills for UK supporters...
Thanks to the award-winning folks at Farewill, our UK supporters can use their online or telephone will writing service free of charge.
Wunmi's Legacy
“I usually refer to this dreadful condition as a ‘thief of self’ because it took so much away from me.
Encephalitis International is a lifesaver, I really do not know how I would have coped with the new me without the information and support from Encephalitis International. Leaving a gift in my Will is a no-brainer!
I would like more investment in Encephalitis International. A lot more. Because what you’re doing, money can’t really buy. It’s specialist, it’s different and it’s incredibly important.”
Godfrey's Legacy
“Three years ago my wife, Gill, fell ill to what we discovered was viral encephalitis. Despite her valiant battle over a number of months, she finally lost her fight.
Both she and I knew nothing about this illness beforehand and people are shocked when you tell them.
She was passionate about supporting medical charities and I’m sure had she known about Encephalitis International, she would have been encouraging public awareness of the need for more research and support for those affected.
That’s why I am supporting Encephalitis International in my will.”
