A gift in your will
Imagine the lasting impression our collection has made on millions of people. If you are inspired by the National Gallery, perhaps you would consider leaving us a gift in your will?
Why leave a gift in your Will
The National Gallery is a charity and was founded in 1824 thanks to a promise from painter and collector, Sir George Beaumont, who offered his collection of paintings to the nation. Beaumont believed that art enriches lives and a nation must have a great public art collection.
Since then, the collection has grown through painting bequests and the hundreds of art lovers and supporters who have made gifts of all sizes in their wills. Nearly a quarter of the collection has been acquired thanks to these acts of generosity.
Contact us
To find out more or to let us know you have left a gift in your Will to the National Gallery please contact:
Meredith Loper, Legacy and Appeals Manager
Email: Meredith.Loper@nationalgallery.org.uk
Phone: 020 7747 5982
How your gift helps
How to make a gift
Ways you can support our work
- Leaving a gift in your Will to the National Gallery Trust (charity number 299509)
- Amending an existing Will to add a gift for the benefit of the Gallery by filling out a codicil form
For more information on how to make your gift, please download our information booklet.
A residual bequest
This is a gift of the remainder (or proportion of the remainder) of your estate, after all payments, taxes and other bequests have been made. This option allows you to take care of friends and family first and still make a meaningful donation. We suggest the following wording:
"I give ___% / all [please specify] of the residue of my estate to the Trustees of the National Gallery Trust (registered charity number 299509) of Trafalgar Square, London, WC2N 5DN, to hold on trust for its general charitable purposes."
Pecuniary bequest
This is a fixed sum of money decided by you. We suggest the following wording:
"I give the sum of ___ to the Trustees of the National Gallery Trust (registered charity number 299509) of Trafalgar Square, London, WC2N 5DN, to hold on trust for its general charitable purposes."
A specific bequest
You can also bequeath specific personal possessions such as property or shares. We suggest the following wording:
"I give ___________ [detailed description of specific item] to the Trustees of the National Gallery Trust (registered charity number 299509) of Trafalgar Square, London, WC2N 5DN, to hold on trust for its general charitable purposes."
As the National Gallery Trust has charitable status, your gift will be exempt from Inheritance Tax.
Tax rules introduced by the government with effect from 6 April 2012 may also mean that if you leave at least 10% of your estate to charity, the Inheritance Tax rate on the rest of your estate may reduce from 40% to 36%. The rules are complex, however, and you should seek advice from your solicitor or tax advisor on how they may affect you.
Letting us know
If you decide to include a gift to the National Gallery Trust in your Will, please let us know – this will give us the opportunity to thank you and show you how your gift will make a difference to the Gallery.
You can let us know by completing the form online or by contacting the Development Office.
For further information please contact Meredith Loper in the Development Office via Meredith.Loper@nationalgallery.org.uk.
Gift recognition and community
Gift recognition
We like to acknowledge our generous legacy pledgers in our Annual Review and those who have left a legacy in our Memorial Book, which is on display both online and inside the Gallery between rooms 15 and 17. We want your gift to have the most appropriate recognition so please do get in touch to discuss your special wishes with us, or to become more involved in the life of the Gallery.
Become part of our community
Let us know if you have left a gift in your Will as we would love the opportunity to thank you for your generosity and foresight by involving you with the Gallery throughout the year and inviting you to our annual legacy events at the National Gallery.
'I have enjoyed and benefited greatly from the National Gallery’s superb collection, informative lectures, and excellent exhibitions for over forty-five years. I very much want others to have the same wonderful experiences and opportunities. I am therefore delighted to assist the Gallery in its invaluable work in inspiring and creating art lovers of the future.'
Marlene Robinson, Legacy Pledger