Help us to continue telling the stories that made our history and inform our future
By remembering IWM in your will, you are pledging vital future support that can allow IWM to continue to tell the important personal stories of modern war and conflict for future generations to come.
IWM is a world leader in developing and communicating a deeper understanding of the causes, course and consequences of war and conflict, enabling people of all ages to reflect on how the past has shaped the world today. As a charity, IWM is more reliant than ever on private support to maintain what is a unique, free, educational and cultural resource for the nation.
You can leave a legacy to IWM as a whole, specify it to one of our branches, or even to a specific area of work i.e. conservation, whichever you prefer. However, unrestricted gifts are especially important as they enable us to use your donation wherever the need is greatest.
1917 Society
The 1917 Society is a dedicated and enthusiastic group of Legacy pledgers, who have committed vital support to IWM in their Will.
Since our founding in 1917, IWM has always been dedicated to using its vast collections to tell the personal stories of the causes, course and consequences of war and conflict. By leaving a lasting legacy in your Will through the 1917 Society, you will help ensure that IWM can continue our essential work.
The 1917 Society allows you to build a close relationship with IWM, stay engaged with its current programme and be amongst the first to hear about our exciting future plans. 1917 Society members also receive annual invitations to our exclusive IWM Supporters’ Party, exhibition private views and special events programme.
For further information on the 1917 Society, please contact Helen Craggs, Patron Manager at [email protected].
Why we give
"We’ve had many days out at IWM sites over the years, and, without exception, they have been enjoyable and stimulating experiences.
"Our visits have allowed us to explore wars on land, sea and air, and have taught us about how leaders like Churchill thought and acted. They have helped us gain an insight into what our parents and grandparents endured in both world wars, and understand how society in general deals with conflict.
"When we made our wills recently, we both felt we wanted to help IWM continue its world‐leading role in telling the stories of the past, and preserving the wonderful collections within its family of museums. As the generations that actually experienced the world wars pass away, it feels more important than ever that IWM finds new ways of teaching and informing future generations about conflict.
"We feel that, in leaving a legacy to IWM, we are playing a part in not only helping the charity in its future work, but also saying a ‘thank you’ for enriching our own lives over the years."
Catherine and Ian Benson, Legacy Pledgers
How to include IWM in your will
Any gift we receive, no matter the size, makes a vital contribution to our ongoing work. Including a legacy gift to IWM in your will is straightforward, gifts can be a specified sum or a proportion of your residuary estate.
When referencing IWM you do not need to quote a charity number as the Imperial War Museum is an exempt charity under the terms of the Charities Act 2011 Schedule 3 paragraphs 23 and 28(1). As such we do not have a Charity Registration Number.
As part of our membership with Remember A Charity we've teamed up with The Co-operative Legal Services, a national provider of Wills and other legal services, offering our supporters 20% off their Will Writing Services.
Alternatively, you can find your local solicitor or Will writer from Remember A Charity's network of professional advisors
We understand looking after your loved ones is your priority and in accessing the services IWM’s membership of Remember A Charity offers, there is no obligation to leave a gift to IWM, but we are grateful to you for considering it.
If you would like more information, or to discuss leaving a gift to IWM in your will, please contact Helen Craggs, Patron Manager at [email protected].
This information is not intended to constitute legal advice, when making your will please do so in consultation with an independent professional adviser.
Useful information
If you would like a copy of our codicil form, please contact Helen Craggs at HC[email protected].
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Already left us a gift?
If you’ve remembered IWM in your Will, please take a few minutes to let us know by contacting Helen Craggs on:
HC[email protected] or call 020 7091 3191 .
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© IWMWant to know more about the difference you can make?
Please contact Helen Craggs HC[email protected] or call 020 7091 3191.
A recent transformative Legacy donation
IWM is delighted to have received an invaluable donation towards IWM Duxford and aircraft conservation through its Legacy Giving Programme. The legacy donor had a long career in the aerospace industry and was a regular visitor to our Duxford site.
Due to his exceptional dedication and love for aviation, the significant donation made in his legacy will go on to help support IWM in undertaking essential Aircraft conservation and restoration.
The Conservation team’s efforts over the past few months have been focused on objects for the new Second World War galleries, which includes the Ohka ‘Cherry Blossom’ kamikaze aircraft, now suspended in the atrium in Lambeth Road.
With the significant gift from our legacy donor, the Conservation team can now plan for long term projects that will enable a number of aircrafts to be restored to their former glory. This is just one example of how support from legacies can play a crucial role in achieving IWM objectives.
Unrestricted donations
Unrestricted donations allow IWM to continue its vital work of remembering and honouring those that lived and died as a result of conflict. Your donation would not only allow IWM to keep its doors open to the public but also continue its education and interpretation programmes to reach an even wider audience.
In 2019 we attracted over 2.6million visitors to our sites who engaged with the permanent and temporary exhibitions on displays. Unrestricted donations allow IWM to assess the greatest need at the time of the donation which may be vital research programmes with the IWM Institute or continuing with an education programme that may not have been possible without your support.