Legacy Giving Awards Return to Champion Excellence in a Formidable £4.5 Billion Sector

Legacy giving has long been a cornerstone of the UK’s charitable landscape, but it is now entering a pivotal era of unprecedented growth. In 2024 alone, gifts in wills contributed a formidable £4.5 billion to the sector, a figure forecast to reach a landmark £10.6 billion by 2050, according to the Legacy Giving Report 2025. This remarkable surge is transforming how charities plan for the future, making legacy fundraising not just a beneficial income stream but a strategic imperative for long-term sustainability and impact. It is within this dynamic and expanding environment that the Smee & Ford Legacy Giving Awards are set to return in 2026, providing a crucial platform to celebrate the talent, innovation, and dedication that drive this vital field forward. This article will explore the announcement of the 2026 awards, examining their significance in an era where the afterlife gift has never been more critical to the lifeblood of charities across the UK.

In a sector increasingly reliant on sophisticated, long-term fundraising strategies, industry awards serve as more than just a celebration; they are a critical barometer of innovation and a valuable tool for benchmarking best practice. For a discipline as nuanced and critical as legacy giving, such recognition is indispensable. The Smee & Ford Legacy Giving Awards stand as the UK’s only event dedicated to recognising professionals and teams across the entire legacy sector. Now entering their fourth year, they have become a key fixture in the fundraising calendar. The 2026 ceremony will take place on Wednesday, 29th April 2026, at the prestigious 8 Northumberland Avenue in London, with a closing date for entries of 16th January 2026. The impact of these awards on the sector’s development cannot be overstated, as they not only celebrate excellence but also inspire others to raise their standards and contribute to the growth of legacy giving.

For 2026, Smee & Ford have introduced significant changes to the event’s structure. Responding to the evolving needs of the sector, the awards will adopt a new afternoon format. This refreshed approach moves away from a traditional sit-down meal, a decision made with the explicit goal of creating a “more inclusive and budget-friendly” occasion. This evolution reflects not only a pragmatic response to sector-wide budget constraints but also a strategic pivot towards fostering a more collaborative and less hierarchical community—a recognition that the most valuable takeaways from industry events often happen in conversation, not during a formal dinner. The move will likely be welcomed by smaller charities and those outside London for whom the cost of a traditional gala can be prohibitive. Attendees will also gain invaluable insights from an expert keynote speaker and receive an exclusive copy of the 2026 Legacy Giving Report, ensuring the event provides tangible value beyond the ceremony itself.

The strategic shift in focus towards legacy income is a direct response to a fundraising landscape where bequests have proven to be a uniquely resilient and vital funding stream. The latest data reveals the sheer scale of this growth: 2024 saw a record 46,000 charitable estates and an unprecedented 145,000 individual bequests. For many organisations, this income is not just significant, it’s transformative. At the RAF Benevolent Fund, for instance, legacy gifts now account for over 60% of the charity’s total revenue, a powerful illustration of how bequests can underpin an organisation’s entire mission and inspire hope for the future of the sector.

Driving this expansion is a significant shift in demographics. Baby Boomers, born between 1946 and 1964, now account for 21% of all bequests and, as the Legacy Giving Report 2025 notes, are “set to become dominant by 2035.” For charities, this is more than a simple audience adjustment; it’s a fundamental test of their ability to shift from a ‘duty and remembrance’ narrative to one that resonates with a generation defined by individualism, activism, and a desire to see tangible impact.

Despite the market’s impressive growth, vast untapped potential remains. According to research from the GOOD Agency, “two in five UK adults over 40 don’t have a will,” and of those who do, “only one in three wills include a charitable gift.” These statistics highlight a significant opportunity for the sector to expand the entire market, rather than just competing for existing supporters. The challenge lies in normalising the conversation around end-of-life planning and making legacy giving a more emotionally accessible act. It is the professionals who successfully navigate this complex terrain—engaging new audiences and building lasting relationships—who are shaping the future of the sector and whose work deserves celebration. This potential for growth should inspire optimism and excitement about the future of the sector.

The Smee & Ford Legacy Giving Awards do more than just hand out trophies; they serve to benchmark best practice, validate innovative strategies, and inspire the entire sector to raise its ambitions. Polly Avgherinos, Managing Director of Smee & Ford, notes that winners are “inspiring examples of how creative and ambitious thinking combined with innovation and collaboration can make such a positive impact.” The awards play a crucial role in promoting best practices in legacy giving, as they recognise and reward those who have implemented innovative and effective strategies. The calibre of this work is evident in past winners. In 2025, the Canal & River Trust was recognised with two awards: Excellence in Working with Lay Executors and Legacy Fundraising Event 2025 (Income Under £3m). This acclaim reflects the tangible success of their burgeoning programme. Having only launched a dedicated legacy strategy in 2022, the Trust has already secured over 200 pledgers, demonstrating how a focused, strategic approach can yield remarkable results in a short space of time.

For charities, the benefits of entering the awards are manifold. Winning provides a powerful tool for improving an organisation’s profile and positioning it as a leader in the field. Internally, it is a formidable way to secure senior leadership buy-in, showcasing the strategic importance of the legacy programme. This recognition serves as a tremendous boost to team morale, acknowledging the hard work and dedication that often goes on behind the scenes. The process of entering itself offers a valuable opportunity for reflection, with expert feedback from a diverse panel of judges providing valuable insights and reinforcing the strategic importance of the legacy programme.

As the sector looks ahead, the long-term opportunity presented by legacy giving is monumental. With forecasts predicting that annual legacy income will reach £10.6 billion by 2050, the time for charities to act is now. The necessity of strategic investment is vividly illustrated by case studies like The Air Ambulance Service, which focused on building staff confidence through an internal conference, and the Canal & River Trust, which prioritised internal understanding to launch its now award-winning programme. Both demonstrate that successful legacy fundraising begins from within.

While celebrating individual success is vital, the sector’s ultimate challenge is a collective one: to catalyse a cultural shift that moves legacy giving from a niche philanthropic act to a mainstream expression of a life well-lived. This reflects the strategic imperative articulated by Pete Esuola-Grant, Head of Planning at the GOOD Agency, who argues the sector must focus on “growing the pie” for everyone, not merely “competing for a slice.” By championing this vision, charities can unlock the full, transformative potential of legacies, securing their mission for generations to come.