Legacy Programme FAQs
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Answers to frequently asked questions about the 1%er Legacy Programme and giving a legacy gift to the Orienteering Foundation. If you have any further questions, please contact admin@orienteeringfoundation.org.uk.
How can I know my gift will make a real impact for the sport?
Our Board is grateful for all gifts to the Foundation and is determined to ensure that they are put to best use. Read about some of the projects we have funded in the past here and about our priorities for the future here.
How do I know that the Orienteering Foundation will use my gift effectively?
If you are considering leaving a gift in your will to the Orienteering Foundation, we promise you that we will use it with care. Read more about our promise to you on the legacy programme page here, or if you would like to speak with one of our Trustees please contact us at email hidden; JavaScript is required and our administrator Viv will put you in touch with your nearest Board member.
I’m a bit confused - is the Orienteering Foundation the same as British Orienteering?
No, the Orienteering Foundation is a separate charity set up to support and promote the sport of Orienteering. Whilst the Orienteering Foundation works closely with British Orienteering it is run independently by a separate Board, chosen for their knowledge of orienteering and their experience of charitable governance. Read more about how we work with British Orienteering here.
I don't have a will at the moment - how do I leave a gift to the Orienteering Foundation?
Leaving a gift in your will is a straightforward process - a solicitor or will writer can help you make your will.
I’ve already written my will - how do I add a gift to the Orienteering Foundation?
You can do this when you update your will, or you can add a codicil which makes a documented change to your current will. Talk to your solicitor or will writer about how best to do this as it is important to ensure that any changes you make don’t invalidate your current wishes.
How much should I leave?
Our suggestion is to leave 1% or an approximate equivalent £ amount. However, we recognise everyone's circumstances will be different, including their financial position and any dependents who will also be benefiting from their will.
I’m not a wealthy person - 1% of my estate will not be a significant sum
The Orienteering Foundation is grateful for all gifts, large or small, to help support and sustain the sport we all love. The Orienteering Foundation is run by dedicated orienteers who make sure that money received is spent on important grants and projects to make the most difference in supporting the continuation of the sport. Have a look at our projects funded here to see the sorts of work we have been able to do to date.
Can I leave more than 1%?
Of course! The Orienteering Foundation is asking for 1% or an approximate equivalent £ amount because we realise that people can have other priorities for their money, and want to take care of friends and family first. The Orienteering Foundation is not going to cure cancer or solve world poverty but it does support a sport which brings pleasure to many. We ask for 1% as a token of recognition of how important the sport has been to you and to help ensure the sport is here for future generations, but if you would like to leave more we would be very grateful for that gift too. And of course there can be inheritance tax advantages in leaving a legacy to charities (see below).
Do I have to leave a fixed percentage?
No, some people prefer to leave fixed amounts to charities so that they know that the amount is capped.
Moreover, it is far easier for the executors of an estate to manage a fixed £ figure rather than a percentage because bequests made as a fixed £ amount can be settled soon after probate has been granted whereas a % of an estate needs the totality of assets and liabilities to be determined which usually takes far longer.
Could it be better to gift a fixed amount rather than a fixed percentage of my estate?
We will be very grateful for whatever gift is made. For large or complex estates, there may be advantages in gifting a fixed amount rather than a percentage of your estate. For small estates a small percentage of your estate gifted to the Orienteering Foundation means that irrespective of your circumstances in the future, you have the assurance that there will always be a large percentage of your estate available for family, friends and other charities. Chattels also need to be considered carefully. It is best to speak to your advisor about what type of legacy will suit you.
Can a gift to the Orienteering Foundation help me pay less tax?
Yes, as the Orienteering Foundation is a charity and gifts to UK registered charities are exempt from Inheritance Tax so they reduce the amount of IHT paid. This means that there are IHT benefits from any legacies to charities where IHT is payable on at least part of an Estate because charitable legacies are deducted before IHT is calculated e.g. a £10,000 legacy to a charity can save £4,000 of IHT. Or to put it another way, for every £1 gifted, the reduction in value distributed to other beneficiaries is only 60p.
Moreover if you donate at least 10% of your Estate to charities then the rate of IHT on the remainder of your estate reduces from 40% to 36%. See an example of the effect of this below. We recommend you speak to a solicitor or accountant for advice on tax issues.
How does donating 10% of my Estate to charities help?
This applies if the total of charitable donations is 10% or more. That could be all to the Orienteering Foundation - which would be extremely generous - or more likely across several charities of which the Orienteering Foundation is one.
| Without charitable donations | With 10% charitable donations | |
|---|---|---|
| Gross value of Estate | £1,000,000 | £1,000,000 |
| Nil rate band | £325,000 | £325,000 |
| Net value of Estate | £675,000 | £675,000 |
| Total of charitable donations | £0 | £67,500 (10% of net value) |
| Net Estate after donations | £675,000 | £607,500 |
| IHT rate | 40% | 36% (reduced due to donations) |
| IHT | £270,000 | £218,700 |
| Remaining Estate to other beneficiaries | £730,000 | £713,800 |
So you can see that giving £67,500 to charities has only resulted in a reduction of £16,200 remaining to other beneficiaries. Or putting it another way, for large Estates, where 10% in total is gifted to charities, for every £1 gifted, the reduction in value distributed to other beneficiaries is only 24p.
Once again, we recommend you speak to a solicitor or accountant for advice on tax issues.
Is there any independent advice available on wills and the tax aspects of giving to charities?
Yes, the Money Advice Service is set up by government to provide free and impartial financial advice to members of the public in a wide range of circumstances, including wills and Inheritance Tax. They do not seek to sell anything and/or receive commission.
Wouldn’t it be better to help now rather than later?
We welcome all forms of support. Some of our regular donors also include us in their wills, but other people may support us for the first time when they include us in their wills. If you would like to support us now please have a look at our regular giving programme, or some of the other ways clubs and individuals have supported us here. Recurring monthly donations and one-off gifts are naturally always welcome.
Can I choose what my gift is spent on?
Yes, of course but we would encourage you to talk to one of our Board members before you finalise your will so that we can share information on how we are putting funds to use in areas that are important to you. Gifts in wills have the most impact when they are left without conditions because this allows our Board to use the gift in priority areas. It can be hard to know what those priorities will be 20 years ahead. If you contact our administrator at email hidden; JavaScript is required they can arrange for you to talk to one of our Board members.
Do I need to let the Orienteering Foundation know that I have left a gift in my will?
You don’t need to, but if you would like to we would love to hear the news. It gives us an opportunity to thank you, and if you would like, we can keep you up to date on what we are doing, as well as asking for your input on our plans for the future. You can let us know at email hidden; JavaScript is required and one of our Board members will be in touch.
What if I change my mind about a gift to the Orienteering Foundation?
Things change and we understand that. You can absolutely change your mind. The Orienteering Foundation only plans to use funds which are already received so there is no problem if you find that your circumstances have changed and you are no longer able to support in this way.
What is the Orienteering Foundation’s postal address and its registered charity number?
The Orienteering Foundation
c/o British Orienteering
Scholes Mill
Old Coach Road
Tansley
Matlock
Derbyshire
DE4 5FY
Registered charity number 1118793
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