Leave a Legacy

Yes – donations of all sizes make a significant contribution to the University. Many people underestimate the difference their donation can make. Donating 1% of your estate can have a vast impact.

No. We understand that you need to think of family and friends first, and that most people won’t know the value of a donation in their will may be when the time comes. Life is unpredictable.

While we are very happy for people to provide us with information on how much they plan to donate, you do not need to disclose this information.

Yes, you can. We understand a donation in your will is deeply personal, and you may wish to leave a donation for a specific purpose that is important to you.

However, we do advise you to provide as much flexibility as you are able. We hope it will be a long time before we receive your donation and we cannot know for certain what need will be most pressing when such a donation is received.

Our Legacy team are very happy to discuss your aims for a donation in your will, and how these can best be achieved. Contact us to organise an exploratory conversation by emailing advancement@newcastle.ac.uk or calling us on 0191 208 7250.

You leave a donation to the University by including Newcastle University as a beneficiary in your will.

A free will writing service is available to all University alumni and supporters, irrespective of whether or not they choose to leave a donation to the university.

If you already have a will, you may be able to amend it to include a donation to Newcastle University. Our free will writing service can often assist with this.

A Residuary Bequest to the University allows you to donate a percentage, or all, of your estate after the payment of tax, debts, expenses and the distribution of any pecuniary legacies and specific bequests.

An example of the type of wording you may wish to use in your will to make a Residuary Bequest:

I give ( %) (all) of the residue of my real and personal estate to Newcastle University, HMRC number X61406 of King’s Gate, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU to be applied for [its general purposes or insert details of the preferred area] and I declare that the receipt of the Director of Finance or other duly authorised officer of the University shall be good and sufficient discharge to my Executors.’

We recommend that you seek advice from a solicitor for the appropriateness of wording used in your will. A free will writing service is available to alumni and supporters.

A Pecuniary Bequest to the University allows you to donate a specific sum of money. If you are considering this option, you may wish to consult your solicitor or financial adviser on how to protect the value of pecuniary donations from inflation.

An example of the type of wording you may wish to use in your will to make a Pecuniary Bequest:

I give [in words] pounds (£ ) to Newcastle University, HMRC number X61406 of King’s Gate, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU and declare that the receipt of the Director of Finance or other duly authorised officer of the University shall be good and sufficient discharge to my Executors’.

We recommend that you seek advice from a solicitor for the appropriateness of wording used in your will. A free will writing service is available to alumni and supporters.

We recommend contacting our Legacy team via email advancement@ncl.ac.uk, or by calling 0191 208 7250 who can advise whether the University is able to accept the specific non-monetary item(s) you wish to bequeath.

An example of the type of wording you may wish to use in your will:

‘I give to Newcastle University, HMRC number X61406 of King’s Gate, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU absolutely my [name and describe the item(s)] and declare that the receipt of the Director of Finance or other duly authorised officer of the University shall be good and sufficient discharge to my Executors’

We recommend that you seek advice from a solicitor for the appropriateness of wording used in your will. A free will writing service is available to alumni and supporters.

A Contingent Bequest can be used if you would like to only make a donation to the University in certain circumstances, for example; if other beneficiaries named in your will pass away before you do.

We recommend that you seek advice from a solicitor for the appropriateness of wording used in your will for a contingent bequest. A free will writing service is available to alumni and supporters.

You aren’t obliged to, however; we are always grateful for the opportunity to thank donors during their lifetime.

Many people also find it reassuring to share the wording of the donation in their will with our team, so we can ensure the funds will be used as they intend.

Fill in our Contact Form (above) or contact our team by emailing advancement@newcastle.ac.uk or calling us on 0191 208 7250.

You can do so at any time by changing your will. Telling us you plan to leave a donation to the University in your will, or making a “pledge”, is not legally binding.

If you have previously said you planned to leave a donation to the University in your will, and no longer wish to, it is helpful for you to let us know. However, you are in no way obliged to do so.

Newcastle University is an exempt charity under the Charities Act 2011. This means it is legally recognised as a charity, but is exempt from registration with the Charity Commission and does not require a registered charity number. Our HMRC number is X61406.

Yes – we are very grateful to those who generously donate in memory of their loved ones and friends.

Please contact our team by emailing advancement@newcastle.ac.uk or calling us on 0191 208 7250.

In some circumstances, it is possible to change a will to add the University as a beneficiary. This is often achieved by a Deed of Variation; a legal document that allows the beneficiaries of a will to change how an estate is distributed after someone has died. This means they can choose to redirect part of their inheritance. To be valid, the deed must be signed by all affected beneficiaries, and completed within two years of the date of death.

There are important factors to consider regarding Deed of Variation, and we recommend contacting your solicitor about this.

While our team are not financial advisors, and cannot offer specific financial advice related to the management of your estate, we can signpost you to further information and discuss your hopes for a donation via Deed of Variation.

You can contact us by emailing advancement@newcastle.ac.uk or calling us on 0191 208 7250.

Newcastle University is an exempt charity and leaving a donation to the University in your will may reduce the overall amount of inheritance tax you are liable to pay.

For specific advice related to tax, we suggest contacting your solicitor or financial adviser. Our team can answer general questions, and signpost you to other sources of information, but are not financial advisors and cannot offer specific financial advice related to the management of your estate.

We suggest contacting our team, who can provide advice tailored to your specific circumstances.

Fill in our Contact Form (above) or contact our team by emailing advancement@newcastle.ac.uk or calling us on 0191 208 7250.

We are happy to help. Fill in our Contact Form (above), or contact our team by emailing advancement@newcastle.ac.uk or calling us on 0191 208 7250.