A gift in your will would provide life-changing opportunities for future Corpuscles. Such gifts have enduring impact, benefitting individual students and the College as a whole. Gifts in wills help ensure that Corpus remains a place of truly exceptional learning, research and community.

Here, you can read about why a gift in your will matters, and how to put your gift in place. Of course, please feel welcome to contact us, in confidence, if you would like to discuss your intentions: development@corpus.cam.ac.uk or +44 (0)1223 335492.

Why gifts in wills matter

Every gift in a will is motivated by unique, personal experiences of Corpus. Together, every gift helps Corpus in its commitment to being exceptional, accessible and affordable for students and academics of outstanding potential. The College is steadfast in this commitment but, as a charitable organisation, your gift will matter to future generations of Corpuscles.

Like other charities known to you, Corpus relies on the generosity of benefactors to provide the many resources and opportunities available to its students. Every generation has benefitted from the kindness of those who went before them. This will continue to be true long into the future. Consider, for example, that:

• Financial support for students has never been more important, with more than 25% of Corpus undergraduates eligible for means-tested bursaries, and just over half of all students receiving some form of assistance.
• Corpus spends on education more than twice what it receives in tuition fee income.
• The shortfall between what students pay, and what Corpus provides, is about £7,000 per student per year.
• The College’s investments provide much-needed income, but they do not cover this shortfall.
• Donors’ gifts and bequests now provide more than 15% of annual income. Their generosity is vital to College teaching, pastoral care, academic research, extra-curricular opportunities, and the College’s buildings and spaces.

The importance of gifts in wills, and our gratitude for them, will continue long into the future. A gift in your will, of any size, really will have a meaningful and lasting impact on the lives of others.

Types of gift

There are several ways to make a gift in your will. You can choose the one that is right for you and your family. We strongly recommend speaking with a professional advisor before making or amending your will.

• A share of your estate (a ‘residuary legacy’): You may choose to leave part or all of your estate, after gifts to family and friends and other expenses have been met. This could be any proportion, from 1% to 100%.
• A stated amount (a ‘pecuniary legacy’): You state a specific amount of money.
• A gift of share or property (a ‘specific legacy’): A gift of property, shares or personal possessions such as works of art.
• A ‘reversionary legacy’: You may wish to place some or all of your assets on trust for the benefit of family and friends during their lifetime, with Corpus named as the beneficiary thereafter.
• A ‘conditional legacy’: You may choose to leave some or all of your estate to family and friends. In the eventuality that they do not survive you, your gift would come to Corpus.

Tax treatment of your gift

The College’s charitable status means that gifts in wills can receive favourable tax treatment. The details are determined by where you are domiciled. Please contact the Development & Alumni Relations Office if you would like more information.

• United Kingdom: Corpus Christi College is a charity registered in England and Wales (no. 1137453). Bequests are exempt from Inheritance Tax (IHT). The result can be a reduction in the size of your estate for the purpose of IHT calculations. Further, the IHT rate is reduced to 36% from 40% if you leave 10% or more of your net estate to charitable causes. For more on IHT, visit gov.uk/inheritance-tax.
• USA: You can make a bequest to Cambridge in America, a tax-exempt organisation registered under section 501(c)(3) of the IRS Code. It is possible to designate your gift for the benefit of Corpus. Visit cantab.myplannedgift.org for more information.
• Canada: The University of Cambridge is registered as a qualified charity with the Canada Revenue Agency (number 825341233 RP0001). A gift in your will to Corpus is 100% tax-deductible. Tax on your estate is calculated once all charitable gifts have been met, thereby reducing overall tax liability.
• Europe: Depending on your individual circumstances, you may be able to make a tax-effective bequest for the benefit of Corpus. Please contact us if this is of interest to you.
   

How to include Corpus in your will (UK)

Most benefactors choose to leave the use(s) of their gift to the discretion of the College. Our core aspirations will never change, but the exact needs of our students, Fellows, buildings and facilities do evolve over time. If you are interested in supporting a particular aspect of College life, we ask that you speak with us first, so that we can work with you to ensure your gift will be put to good use.

Your solicitor/advisor will need the College’s registered address and charitable number: Corpus Christi College, Trumpington Street, Cambridge CB2 1RH; registered charity number 1137453 (England and Wales).

Suggested wording for use in your will: ‘I/We give to the Master, Fellows and Scholars of the College of Corpus Christi and of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the University of Cambridge (“the College”), registered charity number 1137453, [the sum of £___ OR ___% of the residue of my/our estate] for the College’s general charitable purposes. The receipt of the Bursar or other proper officer for the time being of the College shall be a good discharge to my/our Trustees.’

You can amend an existing will with use of a codicil. An example codicil can be found here. Please speak with your professional advisor before adding a codicil to your will.

A ‘letter of wishes’ is a document that can be added to your will. It provides guidance to your executors but it is important to note that, unlike your will, it is not legally binding on them.

Need help finding a solicitor? Visit solicitors.lawsociety.org.uk.

Including Corpus in your will from outside the UK

As outlined under ‘Tax treatment of your gift’, it may be possible for you to benefit Corpus with a gift in your will if you are domiciled outside the United Kingdom. Please contact us for more information, and please remember to consult your professional advisor.

• USA: Your professional advisor will need Cambridge in America’s details: 1120 Avenue of the Americas, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10036; federal tax ID number 52-6071299. Cambridge in America’s website carries suggested wording and more information.
• Canada: You will need the College’s name and address to include a gift in your will: The College of Corpus Christi and of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the University of Cambridge, Trumpington Street, Cambridge CB2 1RH UNITED KINGDOM.
• Europe: Dependent on your country of residence and individual circumstances, you may be able to make a tax-effective bequest for the benefit of Corpus. Please contact us if this is of interest to you before making or updating your will.

If you live elsewhere, it may be possible for you to make a gift in your will, too. Please get in touch with us to discuss your wishes.

Other forms of support

There are other, related ways of donating to Corpus. Please consult a professional advisor if considering one of these options.

• Deeds of variation enable you, as the beneficiary of a gift in a will, to transfer part or all of your inheritance to Corpus. Such gifts are free of Inheritance Tax.
• A life assurance policy could name Corpus as its beneficiary.
• A pension policy with Corpus named as beneficiary in your expression of wish.
• In memoriam gifts enable you to recognise someone special to you. This could be a family member, friend or former College supervisor. We welcome in memoriam gifts and ask that you contact us if this is of interest, so that we can discuss appropriate recognition with you.

Our gratitude | The 1352 Foundation Society

Your will is personal and private, and you do not need to tell us about your plans. It is, however, an honour for us to thank and recognise those who choose to support Corpus in this special way. We would be privileged to acknowledge you for your own act of generosity.

The 1352 Foundation Society welcomes benefactors and their next of kin. They are invited each year to a special day in College, and they receive invitations to other events throughout the year. Members’ names are included in published lists of College benefactors. You do not have to join the 1352 Foundation Society, even if you choose to share your intentions with us.

US-based benefactors who make a gift in their will to Cambridge in America, for the benefit of Corpus, are invited to take up membership of the 1209 Society.

Share your intentions with us

Sharing your decision with us would allow us to express our gratitude to you. You may also wish to let us know so that we can more easily keep in touch with your family in the future. Doing so is optional and does not bind you in any way.

You can let us know of your intentions using our simple online form or by contacting the Development & Alumni Relations Office directly: development@corpus.cam.ac.uk or +44 (0)1223 335492.