Three things we're looking forward to at the ILM Annual Conference

We're days away from the ILM Annual Conference! This year, we're hosting the FirstClass lounge, an exclusive breakout space at the event, which is taking place on 9th May at 133 Houndsditch, London. In the lead-up to the event, we want to share three things we're looking forward to on the day. 

1. Meeting our clients face to face


We don't always get to meet our clients face to face, which is why events like the ILM Conference are exciting for the FirstClass team. They enable us to meet our customers, reconnect with those we've met before and chat about their experiences and challenges. 


2. Sharing updates on how FirstClass is evolving


We've got exciting product updates on the horizon, and we can't wait to share how FirstClass is evolving at the event. Our team will share a preview of the next version of our legacy management software to give you a glimpse of our product roadmap. We look forward to chatting about the possibilities of FirstClass for charities with existing and future customers. 


3. Celebrating excellence in the legacy sector


We’re looking forward to celebrating those ILM members who have been nominated for Legacy Professional of the Year and ILM Mentor of the Year! The former is awarded to a professional in the legacy management sector who takes the extra step to support their team, champions equality and diversity, listens to others and works collaboratively to get things done. The latter recognises a mentor who has done an outstanding job supporting a colleague in their role or their studies towards the Certificate of Legacy Administration (CiCLA). This year's winners will be announced at the conference - good luck to all nominees!


Let's explore what's next in legacy management


If you're attending this year's event, visit us at the FirstClass lounge! The lounge will be open all day to all delegates, giving you a chance to catch your breath between talks. We'll also be chatting about the future of legacy management and our solution – come by anytime! 


For the complete list of speakers and topics, visit the ILM Annual Conference website. 

Pilot Project Launched to Support Free Wills Month

By Fiona Paton • July 31, 2025
To shine a light on October’s Free Wills Month , an initiative designed to offer those aged 55 and over the chance to have straightforward wills written or updated free of charge, FirstClass and sister company Cymba have joined forces and are partnering with the Institute of Legacy Management (ILM) to launch a project that illustrates the impact mobile messaging has on legacy giving. Whilst mobile messaging is typically associated with text-to-donate campaigns, the partnership between two companies that sit within ClearCourse’s stable of brands will showcase how this technology can be used to inspire people to leave legacies in their wills. The webinar, entitled “ How to Boost traffic to your Free Wills and Legacy pages ”, will be jointly hosted by the FirstClass and Cymba teams, and explore how emerging Rich Communications Services (RCS) technology, the evolution of SMS, can be used to drive engagement when it comes to legacy giving. The event will also provide charities with insights into how they can build trust when it comes to increasing donations and gifts by revealing tried and tested messaging formats that drive action. Charities will also learn how to highlight their free wills and legacy pages by harnessing RCS’s ability to implement branded quick-action buttons, and understand the difference in outcomes between SMS and RCS messaging via a dedicated split testing session. In the lead up to the webinar, which takes place on 11 September at 10:30 am, Cymba and FirstClass will be running test campaigns with several of the UK’s prominent charities, the results of which will be revealed during the session. On the event, Rich Mullens, Director at Cymba and FirstClass, comments: “ Regular givers are often among the most open to leaving a legacy. In this webinar, we’ll show charities how mobile messaging can help them engage these supporters more effectively and drive meaningful traffic, not only for donations but also to inspire gifts in wills. We’re delighted to unite these two brands, both of which are founded on helping charities boost donations via mobile messaging and increase their legacy giving, and we’re confident that attendees will leave feeling inspired to use new approaches. ” The new Data (Use and Access) Bill, which gives charities greater freedom to use the soft opt-in by enabling them to contact past supporters with relevant legacy messages without needing fresh consent, removes barriers to utilising RCS. This means that the benefits of RCS, such as the ability to use logos, images, video, and tap-to-act buttons, can be quickly and efficiently embraced by charities looking to incorporate this emerging technology. For more information on Cymba, FirstClass, and Free Wills Month, visit https://www.cymba.co.uk , https://www.firstclass-software.com , and https://freewillsmonth.org.uk ,  respectively.

ILM Annual Conference 2025: Highlights from the FirstClass lounge

June 2, 2025
FirstClass hosted an exclusive breakout space at the ILM Annual Conference 2025, and it was a great experience! Discover the event highlights and our team’s thoughts on the experience.
A young woman in a wheelchair holds the hand of her friend who is standing behind her

Major cancer charity puts efficiency first with FirstClass

By Tayla Brand • December 3, 2024
Since it was formed in 1911, Macmillan Cancer Support has grown into one of the largest British charities. Raising money to provide vital cancer services, campaign for better cancer care and support the cancer workforce, Macmillan Cancer Support is now nationally recognised and hugely respected.