The University of Sheffield
Alumni

A gift in your Will – More Information

Thank you for considering leaving the University of Sheffield a gift in your Will. We hope this page will provide you with all the information you need.

Since 2000, the University has received 68 Legacy gifts totalling over £4.3 million. These funds are helping departments, research projects and students in many different ways. We hope you will join our 550 alumni, staff and friends who have already confirmed that they have left a gift in their Will to the University

Contents of page


Contact

If you would like to speak to somebody about any aspect of including a gift to Sheffield in your Will, please contact:

David Meadows - Development Officer - Legacies

Telephone: +44 (0)114 222 1073
Email: d.meadows@sheffield.ac.uk
Online form: www.sheffield.ac.uk/alumni/support/legacy-enquiry-form


Legacy Brochurecoverweb.jpeg.jpg

To request a Legacy brochure, please fill in our Legacy Enquiry Form or download a copy by clicking Legacy Brochure


Types of Legacy Gift

Residuary: A percentage, or all, of your estate (after debts, funeral costs and pecuniary gifts are paid).

Pecuniary: A specific sum, which can be index linked to safeguard its future value.

Specific: A particular item to be used or sold by the beneficiary

Reversionary: Allows you to leave your assets to your friends and family for their lifetime. When the beneficiary dies, the gift will revert to the University of Sheffield.


Areas that you can support

The University can benefit from your help in a variety of areas including medical research, scholarships, student hardship, the Library and facilities for students.

If you are planning to leave a legacy for a specific part of the University, or for a named prize or scholarship, we would be delighted to discuss this with you so that we can fully understand your wishes.

The University is constantly evolving, so gifts that are not dedicated to a particular area are extremely valuable. Unrestricted gifts enable the University to channel resources to areas where the need is most pressing.


Key Information your solicitor will needFirth Court

The University of Sheffield is an exempt charity (Charity number - X1089) and is therefore exempt from Income Tax and Inheritance Tax. This means that the University pays no tax on gifts of money or property made in your lifetime or after your death, and a Legacy to the University normally reduces tax payable on your estate.*

* payable on estates of £325,000 or over, for the tax year 2012/2013

See our page Inheritance Tax Changes to read more about the tax changes after 6 April 2012

The official contact person for solicitors and executors is the University’s Registrar and Secretary.

The University’s formal address is

The University of Sheffield
Western Bank
Sheffield
S10 2TN


Recent Legacy Stories

See our page Recent Legacy Stories to read more about legacies to the University


Suggested Wording

For more details about suggested wording, please contact David Meadows on the details at the top or bottom of this page. We are always happy to discuss your Will wording and draft some ideas for you to consider. However, we would always advise that your Will wording is checked with a solicitor or relevant qualified person.


The Heritage Circle

In 2010, the University launched the Heritage Circle to recognise the special commitment of people who choose to support the University with a gift in their Will.


Members of the Heritage Circle receive

- Priority invitations to selected alumni events including the annual Heritage Circle Lunch
- A commemorative Silver Arrows pin badge
- A Legacy to Sheffield Newsletter
- Tour of the campus


Changing an existing Will – Codicil

You can make an amendment to an existing Will by adding a Codicil form. The form is also available on the right hand menu. Please discuss adding a Codicil with your solicitor.


Please tell us about your LegacyBenefactors' Board

Solicitors and Will writers do not pass any information about their clients Legacy pledges to the intended beneficiaries. If you have left a gift in your Will, please do let us know by filling in our Pledge Form. We want to be able to thank you for the gift you have planned and ensure that you take advantage of all the benefits of The Heritage Circle.


Benefactors' Board

Anyone who leaves a gift in their Will to the University will have their name placed on the Benefactors' Board in the foyer of the University’s most prestigious building, Firth Court.

See our page Benefactors' Board or click on the picture for a larger image.


Testamentary bequests from the USA

Please visit our Bequests from the USA page to read more about a bequest from the USA.


Glossary of Legacy terms

Not all terminology with Will writing is straightforward. We have put together a Glossary of Terms should you need it.

Jessop West
Making a donation now

We understand that many people make a legacy gift because they feel they haven’t got the capacity to make a donation in their lifetime that can make a difference. At the University, even the smallest donation now has a large impact on the life of our students and staff. To read more about donating now visit our Alumni Fund pages.


Giving through your pension

If you have a life assurance provided by your employer’s pension scheme, or you are currently withdrawing income from a personal pension fund, you can nominate the University of Sheffield as a beneficiary on your death. This is an extremely tax-efficient way of supporting the University with a gift that is completely free of Inheritance Tax but could also present your children with an 82% tax bill.

Pension factsheets have been created to help you in the process.


Stocks and Shares

Giving through stocks and shares is a tax efficient way you can make a donation.

For more information visit our Stocks and Shares page.

Certificate in Charity Legacy Administration

In December 2012, David Meadows qualified with a Certificate in Legacy Administration, a course ran through the Institute of Legacy Management (ILM). The course is designed by the College of Law together with practising Legacy Professionals with the aim to benefit the Legacy Professional looking for an understanding of the subject up to an intermediate level. We hope that by having a member of staff at the University with this qualification, it will help to re-assure you that you will be getting best possible advice from a trained professional. To find out more about the qualification or the ILM click here


More Information

David MeadowsIf you would like to speak to somebody about any aspect of including a gift to Sheffield in your Will, please contact:

David Meadows - Development Officer - Legacies

Telephone: +44 (0)114 222 1073
Email: d.meadows@sheffield.ac.uk
Online form: www.sheffield.ac.uk/alumni/support/legacy-enquiry-form

Person profile: David Meadows