FirstClass helps shape national legacy benchmarking programme

The background


With almost 30 years’ experience of working with over 200 charities, Legacy Foresight is the UK’s most prominent legacy market analyst.


As part of the Legacy Futures Group, Legacy Foresight specialises in benchmarking, research and analysis to generate insights and data for the UK’s legacy market.


Legacy Foresight’s flagship product is Legacy Monitor, an annual benchmarking consortium programme designed to monitor, analyse and forecast trends in legacy giving.


In order to collate and deliver this level of market intelligence, Legacy Foresight relies on FirstClass.

“The majority of the data supplied to Legacy Monitor comes direct from charities’ FirstClass legacy software. This data can be extracted and transferred easily and efficiently, and is almost always complete and robust. For charities that don’t use FirstClass, the process can be more time consuming and more data quality checks are required.”


Kathryn Horsley, Director of Insight at Legacy Foresight

The approach


Legacy Monitor’s consortium includes 83 charities, which accounts for almost half of the UK legacy market by legacy income. These charities provide quarterly income and bequest data that is combined with big picture economic and social trends to create an in-depth analysis of the British legacy sector.


Legacy Foresight produces interactive dashboards and quarterly and annual reports that enable charities to better understand the legacy market overall, and how their performance compares with the market and their peers.


In order for Legacy Monitor to include the granular level of data and analyses it has become nationally renowned for, it is reliant on member charities to supply high-quality data.


Of the 83 charities that form the consortium, 60 use FirstClass, which makes data retrieval a robust and efficient process for 75 per cent of its members.


These days, Legacy Foresight:


  • Uses FirstClass to gather 80 per cent of all legacy income data for Legacy Monitor.
  • Relies on FirstClass to ensure that data provided is complete and accurate.
  • Works collaboratively with FirstClass in order to continually integrate new metrics that offer new insights and provide Legacy Foresight’s members with a deeper understanding of the area in which they work.

“If you really want to understand the dynamics and performance of your legacy income, then you need access to as much robust data as you can possibly acquire. FirstClass is not only a tool that allows its users to do just that, but combined with the Legacy Monitor programme, it also has the capacity to empower charities to make more informed, strategic decisions for their legacy programme.”


Kathryn Horsley, Director of Insight at Legacy Foresight

Download the case study

The Hidden Power of Legacy Income

By Fiona Paton • November 18, 2025
Imagine a supporter who believes in your mission so deeply that they decide to make it part of their legacy. Long after they’re gone, their gift continues to fuel your work, carrying forward their values and trust in your cause. That’s the hidden power of legacy income - it’s not just funding, it’s a lasting bond between donor and organisation, built on loyalty and commitment. Beyond Paperwork Legacy gifts are one of the most impactful and emotionally significant forms of giving. They represent trust, loyalty, and a donor’s lasting commitment to your cause. But with that trust comes responsibility, and complexity. Managing legacy income isn’t simply about tracking paperwork. It’s about honouring a donor’s final wishes while ensuring their gift makes the greatest possible impact. Yet, many charities still rely on outdated tools or manual processes to manage gifts in wills. The consequences? Delays in processing Missed opportunities to maximise value Unnecessary risks that can erode donor confidence Why a Dedicated Legacy Income System Matters A modern, dedicated system transforms the way organisations handle bequests: Structure → Clear processes using best practices that reduce confusion and errors Visibility → Transparency across teams, ensuring everyone knows the status of each gift Confidence → Reliable data that builds trust with donors, families, and stakeholders This isn’t just about efficiency; it’s about safeguarding relationships and ensuring every legacy gift fulfils its intended purpose. Who Benefits? Whether you’re a charity, non‑profit, or higher education institution , getting smarter about how you manage legacy income is vital. With the right system in place, you can: Reduce administrative burden Protect against risk Unlock the full potential of legacy giving The Results of Smarter Legacy Income Management When charities and non‑profits adopt a dedicated legacy income system from FirstClass, the impact is clear: Faster processing & rapid access to records → Gifts are managed efficiently, reducing delays and ensuring funds reach the cause sooner. Income dashboards & financial reports → Real‑time visibility into pipeline, trends, and performance supports confident decision‑making. Customisable templates → Flexible tools that adapt to your processes, reducing admin and saving time. Contact records → Centralised donor and executor information strengthens relationships and ensures transparency. Reduced risk → Accurate records and structured processes protect against errors and safeguard donor trust. Seamless CRM integration → Works smoothly with key CRM partners, ensuring data flows without duplication. Smee and Ford integration → Direct connection to industry‑leading probate data for complete oversight. Stronger relationships → Families and executors feel reassured that gifts are handled with care and transparency. Legacy gifts are too important to be left to outdated processes. By adopting smarter tools, you can honor donor trust, reduce risk, and unlock the full potential of legacy income. Ready to transform how you manage legacy income? Get in touch with us today to see how our solutions can help you build confidence, efficiency, and growth for the future.

FirstClass goes Global

By Fiona Paton • November 4, 2025
The background International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) was founded in 1969, with the aim of stopping the commercial hunt for whitecoat seals on the east coast of Canada. IFAW has grown into a charity that works across seas, oceans, and in more than 40 countries around the world. IFAW is dedicated to building a world where animals and people can thrive together on a healthy planet. Through its work in the fields of biodiversity conservation and wildlife rescue, IFAW has had a major impact on ecosystems and communities around the world. With a third of the charity’s income stemming from legacies, IFAW has been using FirstClass to streamline, manage, and monitor this crucial revenue stream from its UK office for over 10 years. However, its international counterparts were using disparate systems that were incurring significantly more administration time than would have been required when using one standardised legacy management platform. In 2025, the decision to implement FirstClass across six new international territories was taken. 

Stay Informed: Microsoft SQL Server 2016 Retirement approaching

By Fiona Paton • October 30, 2025
With the upcoming retirement of Microsoft SQL Server 2016 on 14th July 2026 , we want to ensure you're aware of how this may impact your use of FirstClass. If you're using FirstClass 4 Web, Essentials, or Cloud , there's no action needed - your database is fully managed by us. If you're using FirstClass 4 In-house , then this update is important. Please review your setup or speak with us and/or your IT team to ensure you're prepared. To check your database type, open FirstClass , go to the System page from the main window, and look for whether you're using Microsoft SQL Server or Azure SQL Database . How to check your SQL Setup in FirstClass Open FirstClass and go to the System page (see below) from the main window, and look for whether you're using Microsoft SQL Server or Azure SQL Database . Locate the SQL Server Edition field: If it shows SQL Azure, you're using the cloud-based Azure SQL Database version. No action is needed - Microsoft handles updates automatically. If it shows something else like Standard or Enterprise Edition , you're using the traditional on-premise version. This requires manual updates and will eventually go out of support. Next, check the SQL Server Version field: This will show a numeric value (e.g., 13, 14, 15, 16). If your version is 13 or lower , you should begin planning with your IT department and our support team to upgrade your database server before support ends. Why it matters Security : Unsupported versions no longer receive security updates, leaving your systems vulnerable. Compliance : Many regulatory frameworks require supported software. Performance : Newer versions offer better performance, scalability, and features. If you're unsure about any of the above? Log a support ticket and we’ll be happy to assist. A sample of the System page is shown below, showing the SQL Server Edition and SQL Server Version information. For reference, the various SQL Server versions and their support dates are also listed in the table. The key date is the End of Extended Support column on the right, as this is the date Microsoft stops issuing security updates for that version of SQL Server.