Smee & Ford Legacy Giving Awards 2026
Event details
Date: 29th April 2026
Venue: 8 Northumberland Avenue, London, WC2N 5BY
Legacy Giving Awards 2026 celebrate the talent, dedication, and achievements of UK legacy giving professionals — and highlight the vital impact gifts in wills have on charities.
New for 2026:
A brand-new afternoon format designed to make the Awards the must-attend networking and celebration event of the legacy sector calendar.
Expect extended opportunities for networking with inspiring expert speakers, exclusive new insights and data from the 2026 Legacy Giving Report, and our celebrated Awards ceremony — where we’ll acknowledge the great legacy achievements within our sector.
This refreshed format replaces the formal sit-down meal with drinks and good food in a relaxed, welcoming setting — bringing the legacy community together to connect, exchange ideas, and celebrate excellence.
A milestone year for the Crispin Ellison Bursary
As we mark 10 years of the Crispin Ellison Bursary, we’re proud to continue supporting professional development in legacy administration – a core part of strengthening our sector. For 2025, we’re thrilled to share that four bursaries will be awarded – the most ever given in one year!
✨ Two recipients will be announced at the ILM Conference, 8 May 2025
✨ Two more will be announced at the Legacy Giving Awards, 29 April 2026
Each winner will receive an ILM training package worth up to £1,000.
📝 Applications are open until 26 January 2026 and all need to be submitted via the Legacy Giving Awards website platform [https://smeeandford.awardsplatform.com/]
If you know someone who’d benefit, please share this update and encourage them to apply.