A FirstClass approach to bequest management

It's been nearly 3 decades since we first launched our bequest (Gifts in Wills) management software FirstClass, which was designed by charities for charities to improve the bequest administration processes, optimise their income, and help them to build the profile of their charity brand for future legacies.


Over that period of time, we’ve become very familiar with bequest gifting and everything delivering effective bequest management strategies entails, as well as maximising bequest giving as a form of income.


But what is bequest giving, why is it important, and how can charities benefit from having a bequest management system in place?

 

A brief overview


Bequest income is booming, with recent research showing a 43% increase in Gifts in Wills in the last decade. In fact, it has been on an upward trajectory for as long as FirstClass has been in this arena. There is a considerable opportunity to be found, with legacy income predicted to measure up at an estimated £3.9bn a year from 2022-27.

 

Why is bequest giving important?


Co Op Legal Services reports that only 6% of people leave a gift to a charity in their will, however 35% of those aged over 40 would be happy to do so, which suggests that that there appears to be a huge – and potentially untapped – market when it comes to bequest gifting.


Having worked alongside charities for many years, we know that there are many who work exceptionally hard to ensure that their bequest pipeline is not only firmly in place, but also well-managed. Once a charity has built a bequest profile and is receiving Gifts in Wills, here are five key points to consider when implementing a bequest management solution.

 

 

1. Collecting & Storing information

 

There is an incredible amount of data that is collected during an administering process including financial, biographical, communications and timeline data. All of this data needs to be organised and accessible in structured logical format. The consequences of this are that process can be cumbersome, time consuming and ineffective which could lead to a loss bequest income.

 

2. Accessibility & Security

 

There is a lot of sensitive information included when administering a bequest, therefore the system should be governed with different levels of access to ensure the right people can access and update the information they need when and where they need it.  

 

3. Processing & Updating records

 

Bequest gifting can be complicated. There are generally multiple people within a charity inputting and progressing a case, all of which needs to be logged in order to provide a true and chronological picture. And then there’s communication from external parties, such as solicitors, which also needs to be recorded. With a bequest management platform, all contact history can be instantly accessed and updated. Not only that, but you can also add permissions so that only those who need to access what might be sensitive information can do so.

 

4. Balance the books

 

With bequest management software, you can record a giftor’s individual assets, cash, property and investments alongside draft and final estate accounts. By storing everything in one place, you’re able to maintain full visibility of anything and everything that your organisation is due. With FirstClass, we’ve created an Estate Valuation tool which allows you to do just that. We’ve also incorporated an inheritance tax calculator, which provides users with enough detail to leverage the amount of tax that can be reclaimed from HMRC.

 

5. Reporting

 

Whether you need to analyse market trends for gifting, establish what level of organisational spending and investment your bequest programme will support for the forthcoming year, or simply need a true and accurate bequest income report for that all important board meeting, good bequest management software will allow you to do just that in a matter of minutes.

 

Thinking about maximising your organisation’s bequest gifting programme? Interested in speaking with the market leader in bequest management software? Contact the FirstClass team of specialists.

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Legacy Budgets: Clarity for Future Spend

By Fiona Paton • April 21, 2026
When you’re managing legacies, it’s not just the income that matters - it’s the commitments, too. Future solicitor fees, surveyor costs, maintenance charges, promised funds to branches… they all add up, and they all need to be tracked somewhere sensible. That’s exactly where Legacy Budgets steps in. What Legacy Budgets Actually Do Legacy Budgets lets you record a budgeted amount for any planned or upcoming expenditure linked to a legacy. It could be professional fees, ongoing maintenance, or even funds earmarked for a specific centre or project. Many charities track this in their finance system, but having it visible within the legacy record itself gives you context you don’t get anywhere else. Why It’s Worth Using Think of it as a financial snapshot that sits right alongside the case details. It’s simple, but it’s powerful, and helps you: See what’s been committed before invoices arrive Keep teams aligned on expected spend Avoid surprises later in the process Maintain a clearer picture of each legacy’s net value The Legacy Budget Browser: Your Overview at a Glance If you want to see all budgets in one place, the Legacy Budget Browser is your new best friend. It shows: Current budgeted amounts Amounts already spent Remaining balance Related legator, legacy, and payee details It’s ideal when you’re not sure which legacy a budget belongs to, when you want to see everything linked to a particular payee, or when you need quick reporting using selections. To access it: From the Home window, click Browse or press Ctrl + B Double‑click Legacy Budget Browser Apply your filters using Selections and hit Apply Selections How to Switch It On Legacy Budgets isn’t enabled by default. To activate it, set the ShowLegacyBudgets system parameter to Yes in the Maintain System Parameters window, then restart the system. If you’d like budget information to appear in additional grids, we are only too happy to help configure that. Where You’ll Find It Once enabled, you’ll see a Budgets tab on both the Legator and Legacy windows - making it easy to view, add, and manage budgets right where you need them.

ILM 2026: What we’re most excited about this year

By Fiona Paton • March 25, 2026
We’re officially counting down to the ILM Annual Conference on 8 May at 133 Houndsditch, London. It’s always one of the best days in the legacy calendar - a chance to reconnect in person with friends and colleagues across the sector, soak up engaging speaker sessions, spark new ideas, and celebrate the incredible work happening in legacies at the ILM Awards. What's New The FirstClass team will be on hand to share the latest on how FirstClass is evolving, with the launch of the first iteration of FirstClass 5 Essentials coming very soon. We’ll also be unveiling a couple of new services we’re delighted to introduce, including Data Cleansing and RCS Business Messaging - the natural successor to SMS. Data Cleansing For charities and non‑profits, supporter data is the backbone of effective legacy giving. Yet while nearly half of organisations want to use insights to improve services, more than half are held back by CRM challenges. Poor‑quality data can have serious consequences - from losing touch with potential legacy supporters to missing opportunities for deeper engagement, and even risking compliance issues. That’s where our Data Cleansing service comes in. We help charities restore confidence in their supporter information by improving the quality of addresses, emails, and phone numbers. The result is cleaner, compliant, and more reliable data that strengthens legacy communications and ensures every supporter feels valued and connected. RCS Business Messaging Charities are experiencing a major shift. Supporters now expect digital‑first, mobile‑first communication - they want interactions that feel personal, transparent, and effortless. Social media is great for sharing impact stories, but when it comes to deeper, more meaningful conversations, like inspiring someone to leave a gift in their Will, charities need something more powerful and more trusted. RCS delivers on‑brand, secure, and interactive messages straight to the place that matters most - your supporters’ phones. Unlike SMS, RCS allows content‑rich, multimedia, and interactive messaging, helping charities build stronger, more personal connections with legacy supporters. And the results speak for themselves: up to three times higher engagement than SMS, read rates of 60–80%, and adoption by hundreds of leading brands. RCS is redefining how charities nurture relationships and inspire legacy giving. ILM Awards As always, a big highlight of the conference is celebrating excellence across the legacy sector, and we’re looking forward to cheering on all the ILM members who’ve been nominated. Good luck to all the nominees - we’re excited to celebrate your achievements and hear about the great work happening across the sector. Make sure to drop by on the day to hear how FirstClass is now delivering even more for its clients, and in the meantime, you can view the complete list of speakers and topics for the day at the ILM Annual Conference website .
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Open Conversations. Shared Solutions.

By Fiona Paton • March 25, 2026
At FirstClass, we’ve always believed our product should grow with the charities and non-profits who use it. Your input has shaped the way we build, and now we want to take that collaboration one step further. Monthly Check-in Calls We’re introducing monthly check‑in calls - an open forum where you can drop in, chat with the team and other customers, and explore anything to do with the product. No agenda, no pressure. Just space for conversation, questions, and shared ideas. These sessions give you the chance to: Share your priorities and help shape how we address different aspects of the system Stay informed on technical updates, including external systems like SQL or Outlook What’s new across our Team, billing, and the wider company See functionality demonstrated live - if you’re unsure how something works, we’ll show you Updates on features and fixes in the latest releases Ask questions on any part of the system Whether you join for five minutes or stay for the full hour, this is your space to connect with us. It’s a chance to explore challenges together, share experiences, and help shape a product that truly works for charities. We’ll host these sessions monthly on Microsoft Teams, giving you regular opportunities to drop in and join the conversation. Join our team for open, honest discussions that help us learn, improve, and grow alongside you. The next session is on Thursday, 21 st May at 10:45, you can sign up using the Save the Date button below.