How do I make a gift of shares to WaterAid?

The process of giving shares to WaterAid is very straightforward. However, if you have any queries, for example relating to the procedures involved or how the money might be spent, we recommend that you get in touch with us to discuss these. Please contact Ian by emailing shares@wateraid.org, telephoning 020 7793 2243 or writing to the address at the bottom of this page.

How we then proceed depends on the following:

What type of shares do you wish to donate?

Tax relief is available to UK taxpayers who donate shares and securities listed on the UK Stock Market, the Alternative Investment Market, and recognised stock exchanges overseas. It is also available for units in a UK unit trust, shares in a UK open-ended investment company (OEIC), and some similar foreign investments. Full details are available from the Inland Revenue (see FAQs for contact details).

Unlisted and some overseas shares, however, are not eligible for tax relief and may also be difficult for WaterAid to sell. In such cases, it may be more efficient for you to sell the shares yourself and donate the proceeds to WaterAid using the Gift Aid scheme  (a system of tax-efficient giving under which we can claim back from the government the basic-rate income tax paid by you, thereby effectively increasing the value of the gift). In such cases, we recommend that you seek advice from an independent financial advisor.

How are the shares held?

You probably already hold a share certificate (i.e. proof of ownership in paper form). However, if you have lost this, you will need to write to the company's registrar asking for a letter of indemnity, which must be completed and signed, and can then be used in place of the lost certificate.

Alternatively, if your shares are held in a nominee account (ie proof of ownership in electronic form) then these can be transferred directly to WaterAid's own account. Please contact us for our broker's details. Alternatively, if you wish, you can ask your broker to issue a share certificate on paper. The broker may charge a small fee for this service, however if this is the case you should be able to obtain tax relief on this as well as on the value of the shares.

Depending on how you wish to proceed, the process is as follows:

Handling the gift yourself

Contact your broker or the company's registrar (their details can be found on your share certificate, dividend vouchers, the company's annual report, or their website) who will provide a Transfer Deed for you to complete and return to them.

It is important that you keep a copy of this form. It is your evidence to the Inland Revenue concerning the details and date of the gift.

The company registrar will then issue a new certificate in WaterAid's name. If you send this to us, we can pass it on to our brokers who will sell the shares on WaterAid's behalf.

Letting WaterAid handle the gift

Send us your share certificate with a letter of instruction agreeing to the disposal of the shares, and we will send you a Transfer Deed, which you will simply be asked to sign and return to us (remembering to keep a copy for your own records).

We can then forward the certificate and completed Transfer Deed to our brokers with instructions to sell the shares and pass on the proceeds to WaterAid.

Once the shares have been sold, we will contact you to let you know the final value of your gift. WaterAid will be able to use the proceeds to help fund out projects in Africa and Asia

WaterAid cannot accept responsibility for the safe receipt of share certificates sent by post. The value of shares can fluctuate greatly. WaterAid will seek to sell all gifts of shares as soon as practicable and cannot accept responsibility for the value of the shares at the time of the sale.