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One gift. A lifetime’s legacy

Most of us want to leave something meaningful behind: whether it’s providing security for the people we love, or helping protect the world they will inherit. A gift in your Will allows you to do both.

With the Global Returns Project, you can choose to leave a lasting gift that supports some of the world’s most effective climate and nature charities. It’s a simple way to ensure your values continue making a difference for generations to come.

Because our operating costs are funded separately, every pound donated to our portfolio is put to work where it can achieve the greatest measurable impact.

Why climate and nature need legacy giving

Climate change and biodiversity loss are no longer distant challenges; they are affecting communities, wildlife and ecosystems today.

Yet, despite the scale and urgency of the challenge, climate mitigation receives less than 2% of global philanthropic funding.

That means many of the organisations working hard to protect and restore our beautiful natural world remain significantly underfunded.

This is where gifts in Wills are a true gamechanger. Unlike many forms of fundraising, they allow charities to plan and invest in ambitious long-term projects that better respond to unfolding environmental crises.

Your legacy can become a part of that long-term solution.

causes and effects of deforestation

Why choose the Global Returns Project?

Thousands of organisations are working to protect our planet and many are doing exceptional work. But if you’re not a climate scientist or conservation expert, how do you know which organisations will achieve the greatest impact?

That’s where the Global Returns Project comes in: we make evidence-led climate philanthropy simple for anyone, regardless of gift size.

Our Technical Advisory Board includes leading academics and environmental experts from institutions including Oxford, Cambridge and Imperial College London.

Thanks to our screening process, we identify and support a carefully selected portfolio of organisations capable of delivering exceptional environmental impact.

To date, we have screened over 20,000 charities thanks to our methodology.

Your gift supports high impact solutions across rainforest protection, marine conservation, environmental law, regenerative agriculture, climate action, and more.

why ban bottom trawling

A portfolio of high-impact charities

Since our operating costs are funded separately, 100% of your donation is distributed directly to our portfolio of high-impact charities.

Together, these organisations are already helping to:

  • Running 150+ legal actions on bottom trawling or greenwashing across Europe (ClientEarth)
  • Protect 4.5 million square km of ocean (Blue Marine Foundation)
  • 62 million+ acres of tropical habitat protected since 1988 (Rainforest Trust)
  • 712,044 trees planted and routinely monitored through the ReForest Fund (Trillion Trees)
  • 8 million farmers and farm workers supported in adopting regenerative practices (Rainforest Alliance)

These are measurable outcomes delivered by organisations already changing the world. Your legacy can help them go further still.

Torres Strait climate claimants win their historic human rights fight against the Australian Government - ©ClientEarth

Tax benefits of leaving a charitable legacy

Most people choose to leave a gift in their Will because they want to make a difference. The tax benefits are simply an added advantage.

Under current UK legislation, gifts to registered charities are generally exempt from Inheritance Tax.* This means the value of your charitable gift is deducted from your estate before inheritance tax is calculated.

If you leave 10% or more of your net estate to charity, the rate of Inheritance Tax applied to the remainder of your taxable estate may reduce from 40% to 36%, depending on your circumstances.

For many people, this means they can make a more significant charitable gift than they first imagined, while potentially reducing the tax payable by their estate.

*Every family’s circumstances are different, so we always recommend speaking with a solicitor or qualified financial adviser before making or updating your Will.
Donate to protect ecosystems worldwide

How to include us in your Will

Step 1. Decide what feels right

Every legacy is personal.

Think about what portion of your estate you’d like to designate. This might be:

  • A fixed sum (e.g., £50,000)
  • A percentage (e.g., 5% of your residual estate)
  • The entirety of your residue after other named beneficiaries receive their share

There is no “best” option, only the one that best reflects your wishes.

Step 2. Speak with your solicitor

Your solicitor can help you choose the most appropriate type of gift and ensure your wishes are recorded correctly.

If you don’t already have a solicitor, there are many independent Will-writing services throughout the UK that can guide you through the process, such as:

Step 3. Include our charity details

To ensure your gift reaches the correct organisation, your solicitor can use wording similar to:

“I give [amount / percentage / residue] to The Global Returns Project (Registered Charity Number 1186683, Company Number 11882899) restricted to its portfolio of environmental charities.”

If you would prefer your gift to support a particular charity within our portfolio, or to support our operations with an unrestricted gift, we’re happy to discuss the options with you.

There is no obligation to tell us you’ve included us in your plans, though it’s always helpful for us to know – especially so we can thank you properly, send you impact updates and invite you to events.

And you remain completely free to change your mind at any point during your lifetime.

Frequently asked questions

There are many outstanding organisations working to protect our planet.

The Global Returns Project helps you support a carefully researched portfolio of high-impact charities, rather than relying on a single organisation or cause.

Our portfolio is independently reviewed every six months, and having screened over 20,000 charities, it gives you confidence that your legacy continues supporting some of the strongest climate and nature interventions available.

Yes.

Every legacy contributes to protecting our planet.

Some gifts help preserve forests.

Others support environmental law, restore ecosystems, protect marine habitats or strengthen regenerative agriculture.

Whatever the size of your gift, it becomes part of a collective effort to create lasting environmental change.

Absolutely.

Your Will remains entirely under your control throughout your lifetime.

You can amend, update or remove a charitable gift whenever your circumstances or wishes change.

Yes.

Unless you tell us otherwise, your legacy is shared across our carefully selected portfolio of charities.

If you’d prefer your gift to benefit a particular organisation within the portfolio, we’re happy to discuss your wishes.

Many supporters find these conversations easier than they expected.

Leaving a charitable gift doesn’t mean choosing between your loved ones and the causes you care about.

For most people, it’s about providing for family first, then using part of what’s remains to express the values that have shaped their lives.

We’re here to make the process as straightforward as possible.

We can provide executors with guidance, confirm our charity details and answer any questions they may have when the time comes.

Our aim is to make everything as simple and respectful as possible.

Why climate and nature need legacy giving
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