Types of gifts you can leave and suggested wording
There are different ways you can remember The Old Vic in your Will. The most common are listed below.
We recommend using a qualified solicitor to make a new Will or to amend an existing Will.
A specified amount of money.
Suggested wording:
‘I/We give the sum of £[insert amount] to The Old Vic Theatre Trust 2000, 103 The Cut, London SE1 8NB (Registered Charity Number: 1072590), for its general charitable purposes, and I/we direct that the receipt of a proper officer for the time being of The Old Vic Theatre Trust 2000 shall be a full and sufficient discharge to my/our Executors.’
A percentage or share of what remains of your estate after other gifts and expenses have been paid. This type of gift keeps pace with inflation and often has the greatest impact.
Suggested wording:
‘I/We give [insert percentage]% of the residue of my estate to The Old Vic Theatre Trust 2000, 103 The Cut, London SE1 8NB (Registered Charity Number: 1072590), for its general charitable purposes, and I/we direct that the receipt of a proper officer for the time being of The Old Vic Theatre Trust 2000 shall be a full and sufficient discharge to my/our Executors.’
If you would like your gift to support a particular area of The Old Vic’s work — such as education, community work, artist development or the preservation of our historic theatre or new building — your Will can include a restriction, and we’d be happy to discuss this with you. We do recommend keeping the language flexible, in case priorities and programme areas shift in the future.
Suggested wording:
‘I/we give [insert amount / percentage] to The Old Vic Theatre Trust 2000, 103 The Cut, London SE1 8NB (Registered Charity Number: 1072590), to be used for the purpose of supporting [e.g. education and community work], and I/we declare that the receipt of a proper officer for the time being of The Old Vic Theatre Trust 2000 shall be a full and sufficient discharge to my/our Executors. If, at the time of my/our death, this purpose is no longer possible or practical in the opinion of the Trustees, I/we request that my/our gift be used for such charitable purposes at The Old Vic as the Trustees consider most closely fulfils my/our original intention.’
This ensures your legacy reflects your wishes, while giving The Old Vic flexibility to adapt if circumstances change.
If you are a US citizen or resident, you can leave a gift through the American Associates of The Old Vic (AAOV), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organisation, which is deductible for US estate tax purposes.
Suggested wording:
‘To the American Associates of The Old Vic (AAOV), National Theatre in America, a not-for-profit, tax-exempt organization incorporated in the U.S., having as it’s principle address at Eisner Amper, 733 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017, and Tax ID: 51-0389805, I [name] of [city, state, zip code] hereby give, devise, and bequeath the sum of $___ or ___% of my estate for the general purposes of American Associates of The Old Vic.’
Tax benefits of leaving a gift
Gifts left to registered charities like The Old Vic in your Will are exempt from Inheritance Tax. Additionally, if you leave a minimum 10% of your taxable estate to charity, the Inheritance Tax rate may be reduced from the usual 40% to 36% — it’s a meaningful way to benefit both your loved ones and the causes you care about.
For more details, we recommend speaking with a legal or financial adviser, or visiting gov.uk/inheritance-tax
How we will honour your gift
Every legacy is important to us. We would be privileged to celebrate your support in a way that feels right for you. Whether you would like a public acknowledgement or would prefer to keep it private and remain anonymous, we will always respect your wishes.