Add the gift of a donation in your will
Including the gift of clean water in your will is a wonderful way for you to help future generations transform their lives.
WaterAid's mission is simple
We won’t stop until clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene are normal for everyone, everywhere. You can help create this future with a gift in your will.
Adding water to your will is not just practical, giving people clean water that’s safe to drink, somewhere decent to go to the toilet and the means to wash their hands through good hygiene. It’s more personal than that. It’s your life meaning the most to someone else’s by giving them the opportunity to unlock their potential.
1 in 10 people around the world have no access to clean water. 1 in 4 have no access to a decent toilet. By adding water to your will, you can fund the taps and toilets that communities need to help them change their own lives forever.
The impact your future gift can have
At WaterAid, we are grateful for every gift we receive from wonderful supporters like you. This income meant that in 2019-20, we were able to deliver more of the taps and toilets needed to ensure that everyone, everywhere has the clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene they need to transform their own lives.
How donations are used to have the greatest impact
We spent every pound carefully, making sure that we used these gifts in the best possible way by ensuring that each community got the clean water systems, decent toilets and hygiene awareness that are right for them, and that will last well into the future.
In every £1 we spent, 76p went on delivering services and making change happen and 24p on fundraising and governance. We see a return on every pound we spend. For every £1 we spend on fundraising, we raise £4.11.
Find out more by reading our annual reports
With the help of amazing people like you, we're working with our partners in some of the toughest places in the world. Together, we've already reached millions of people with clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene, enabling entire communities to unlock their potential, break free from poverty and change their lives for good.
In the last year alone, we supported:
Communities to reach the following numbers of people in or near their homes:
315,000 with clean water
693,000 with decent toilets
236,000 with better hygiene facilities and 1,600,000 with behaviour change activities.*
315,000 with clean water
693,000 with decent toilets
236,000 with better hygiene facilities and 1,600,000 with behaviour change activities.*
Schools to reach the following numbers of children and staff:
135,000 with clean water
180,000 with decent toilets
110,000 with better hygiene facilities and 255,000 with behaviour change activities.*
135,000 with clean water
180,000 with decent toilets
110,000 with better hygiene facilities and 255,000 with behaviour change activities.*
Healthcare facilities to reach the following numbers of patients and staff:
1,000,000 with clean water
1,000,000 with decent toilets
941,000 with better hygiene facilities, and 49,000 with behaviour change activities.*
1,000,000 with clean water
1,000,000 with decent toilets
941,000 with better hygiene facilities, and 49,000 with behaviour change activities.*
* For full statistics and breakdowns see our latest annual report.
Behind these figures are real people whose lives have changed forever because of gifts from people like you – including those who so kindly chose to remember WaterAid in their will.
Beyond our planned projects, we were able to respond quickly when the COVID-19 pandemic shut down many countries in March 2020, using our expertise in clean water and hygiene to deliver handwashing stations, hygiene promotion campaigns, and shape national emergency response plans through government-led working groups and various civil society platforms. This work has continued throughout the pandemic.
How to add a gift to your will
To add WaterAid to your will you need our name, address and registered charity numbers:
WaterAid, 6th Floor, 20 Canada Square, London, E14 5NN
Charity registration numbers: 288701 (England and Wales) and SC039479 (Scotland)
You can order your free information pack, which contains all the practical information you need to include a gift to WaterAid in your will by filling out the form below.
Order your free gifts in wills guide
Or, you can simply download the information pack (PDF) now here.
WaterAid’s promise to you
Your will is personal, and we will never ask you to tell us your decision. Although, we’d love to have the opportunity to say thank you.
- We understand that your loved ones will always come first.
- We will never put you under any pressure – it’s your decision to make in your own time.
- If you choose to add WaterAid to your will, we will use your future gift carefully, so it achieves the greatest impact for the families and communities we work with.
- You can change your mind at any time.
Frequently asked questions
Questions about leaving a gift in your will answered
To include WaterAid in your will please use our charity name, address and registered charity numbers, which will ensure your gift reaches us in the future.
WaterAid
20 Canada Square
6th Floor
London
E14 5NN
Registered charity numbers: 288701 (England and Wales) and SC039479 (Scotland).
Share of your estate
This is a percentage of your estate after all other gifts and expenses have been paid. Many people choose to add a percentage of their estate to WaterAid as this means our gift remains in proportion to what they want to leave to loved ones.
A specific sum
This is a gift of a set amount of money.
A specific item
This could be something of value such as jewellery, a painting, property or shares.
Yes, at the moment, if you leave a gift to WaterAid in your will it will not be included when valuing your estate for Inheritance Tax purposes. The value of your gift will be deducted from your estate before Inheritance Tax is applied.
However, Inheritance Tax rules can change so it’s always best to discuss your will and the type of gift you might like to leave with your solicitor.
Yes, under Wasiyyah Muslims can leave up to a third of their estate to other beneficiaries, such as WaterAid. A gift in your will can transform lives by bringing the joy of long lasting clean water and decent toilets to entire communities, helping them break free from poverty and changing their lives forever. Your gift could be an act of Sadaqah Jariyah and help change the lives of the world’s poorest families through a sustainable supply of clean water.
It’s a good idea to speak to your loved ones about your will, if you can. It doesn’t have to be uncomfortable, although we understand that everyone has different situations. If you are able to, the best way is to have an open, honest and friendly discussion with loves ones about your wishes. Remember, this is your will and only you can decide on the beneficiaries. It could be an opportunity to share why adding an gift to WaterAid is important to you and why you have chosen to support more communities to have clean water in the future.
Gifts in wills to WaterAid are vital in helping everyone, everywhere have access to clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene. These kind gifts make up 10% of our income and are essential in helping to fund our work. They contribute to installing the taps and toilets that are crucial in transforming communities, schools and health centres. Your legacy can empower people to change their lives and reach their potential.
You do not need to tell WaterAid if you choose to add a gift in your will. However, we would love to be able to say thank you. Any information you share is completely confidential and we understand that you may change your mind.
Useful links
- Citizens Advice: advice on creating a will and why it's important.
- HMRC: the basics of inheritance tax.
- GOV.UK: an overview of creating a will.
- The Law Society: help with finding a solicitor in your area.
Supporter stories
Meryl Knapp, West Yorkshire
"What I love about WaterAid is that they empower people to deliver and manage the taps and toilets in their own communities. By leaving this gift, it’s a way for me to continue doing good after I’m gone."
Linda and David Shurlock, West Surrey
"WaterAid has been a part of our family’s life for a long time. Clean water gives people the chance to transform their lives. Adding a gift in our wills gives us an opportunity to create a better future."
"I’ll never forget Margaret, clean water changed her life. She told me the design of the water pump is good, she can access water while sat on her wheelchair."
"Clare and Sally were remarkable women. That they will continue to make such a difference makes their passing a little bit easier."
Information for executors
If you are administering an estate where WaterAid have kindly been left a gift, please contact Alison Rirsch on [email protected]
Alison can provide support and guidance to both personal and professional executors, together with our paying in details.
Due to the pandemic, staff are working from home. We would be grateful if you communicate with us by email as post and cheques are taking longer to reach us. Thank you.
Contact us
Should you have any queries about adding a gift to your will, would like to know more about the impact your gift could have or share that you have included WaterAid in your will, please do get in touch with John Sharp from our Gifts in Wills Team.
Phone: 020 7793 4594
Email: [email protected]
Please note that, due to the pandemic, the Gifts in Wills team are working from home. Your call will be answered by one of our Supporter Care Team, who are also able to help.
We would love to say thank you if you have left WaterAid a gift in your will or intend to do so. Thank you.