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Leaving a legacy
Remembering Keele University in your Will
By leaving Keele University a gift in your Will, you become part of a legacy that shapes the future - helping talented students to achieve their dreams, supporting pioneering research, and preserving the beauty of our campus for generations to come.
Your generosity can create opportunities, drive innovation, and ensure that Keele continues to make a difference in the world. Leaving a legacy doesn’t cost you anything in your lifetime, but it can have an impact that lasts for years to come.
No matter the size, every gift makes a difference.
Why leave a legacy?
For many, Keele is more than just a university. It is a place of inspiration, transformation, and lifelong memories. Leaving a gift in your Will allows you to give back to the institution that helped shape your journey and could last for generations.
Your legacy can support Keele’s continued growth and innovation and no matter the size, every gift makes a lasting difference - helping to create opportunities, inspire new ideas, and sustain Keele’s special community for years to come.
For a confidential conversation about how you can support Keele’s future, please contact alumni.hq@keele.ac.uk or call 01782 733587.
How a gift in your Will can support....
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How can I leave a legacy to Keele?
Including Keele University in your Will is simple and ensures your legacy supports future generations.
1. Decide on your gift
There are different ways you can leave a legacy gift, depending on what works best for you. This might be:
- A percentage of your estate after other gifts and commitments have been fulfilled. Even a small percentage can have maximum impact
- A specific amount of money
- A specific item, such as property, shares, or artwork, that Keele can benefit from. If you are thinking of leaving an object to Keele University in your Will, please speak to a member of the team first so that we can advise whether we will be able to accept the gift
2. Speak to a solicitor
We are unable to offer legal advice, so please always seek professional advice when making a will.
Writing a Will doesn’t have to be expensive or time-consuming. You can find a qualified solicitor in your local area using the Law Society website. A solicitor can help you to add Keele to your Will, ensuring your wishes are clearly stated. If you already have a Will, a simple amendment (called a codicil) can be made.
Keele University is an exempt charity listed in Schedule 3 of the Charities Act 2011. Gifts to charities are exempt from inheritance tax which means that leaving a gift to Keele may help reduce your tax liability.
Our charity exempt number is X80032.
3. Choose how your gift is used
The most impactful gifts are those that allow Keele to decide where it is needed most, these unrestricted gifts allow us the flexibility to address evolving needs, support core operations, and facilitate long-term planning and sustainability.
Alternatively, you can direct it towards a specific area, such as:
- Student scholarships and bursaries
- Groundbreaking research
- Campus improvements and sustainability projects
- A particular school, department, or initiative close to your heart
4. Let us know (if you wish)
You don’t have to tell us about your legacy gift, but if you do, we’d love to thank you personally and keep you updated on the difference that gifts like yours make. Our legators receive our annual Impact Magazine, updates from Keele, and invites to special events such as our Philanthropy Day reception.
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"I am part of the very privileged generation that benefited from free higher education at a time when universities were expanding with an air of optimism and progress which is harder to come by now. The broad education I received in Keele stood me in good stead throughout my varied career both here and abroad. Thus, I wanted to contribute to the University of Keele in some way to help the current generation have as positive as possible experience of university."
Leaving a gift to Keele in your Will: frequently asked questions
A. No, any gift - large or small - makes a significant difference.
A. We completely appreciate that friends and family should always come first, but even a gift of 1% can make an incredible difference and still leaves 99% for family and friends. There could even be tax benefits to leaving something to a charity.
A. Yes absolutely. You can specify how your gift is used in your Will, but we recommend discussing any intentions with us first to ensure we can accept the gift. Gifts which allow us flexibility have the most impact and can be used where there is the greatest need.
A. Of course, a Will can be updated at any time.
A. You don’t have to tell us about your legacy gift, but if you do, we’d love to thank you personally and keep you updated on the difference that gifts like yours make.
A. Yes, and what a wonderful way to celebrate their memory and support something they felt passionate about. You could also consider planting a tree in our Memorial Garden.
A No, gifts left to charity in your Will are tax-free.
A. Charities are exempt from capital gains tax, so when a gift is left to charity in your Will, any gifts to the charity will be exempt from tax. In addition, if your gifts to charity amount to 10% of the estate, it may be possible to use this exemption to benefit your whole estate as the whole estate would then pay a reduced rate of inheritance tax of 36% rather than 40%. This is something you should discuss with a professional adviser when it comes to writing your Will.
See the government guidance on capital gains tax for more information.
