With over 100 years of heritage, The Tank Museum is the proud custodian of a collection that is Designated by Arts Council England as being of outstanding national importance. As an independent museum and registered charity, all our work is funded by people like you.
Leaving a gift in your will is a powerful way to help us preserve our unique military history for future generations. Regardless of size, we will ensure your gift makes a difference. Your legacy will directly support our mission to tell the story of the tank, and the people who served in them. It will also support our wider purposes of educating the public, broadening our world-class collection, and inspiring the next generation of enthusiasts.
We will apply your gift thoughtfully: in the conservation or restoration of historically important vehicles, in education programmes, in the conservation of fragile archive material, or in the creation of exhibitions that inspire visitors of all ages. Of course, if there is a particular area or theme that is close to your heart we will always endeavour to honour your wishes.
How gifts have made a difference
A £72,000 legacy was specifically designated by its donor to preserve Tiger 131 in running condition.
This gift has been earmarked for:
- Funding the reconditioning or remanufacturing of components.
- Material costs of regular maintenance and consumables.
- Supporting training for apprentice engineers working on the vehicle.
- Ongoing research into the impact of running historic vehicles.
A significant proportion of the £1.5m needed to undertake the redevelopment of the Archive, Library and Reading Room came from a single gift.
The donor had specifically bequeathed a portion of his estate to enable:
- Improved facilities and public access to the resources in the archive.
- Increased space and storage conditions to enhance collections care.
An unrestricted legacy has been earmarked for the purposes of educating young visitors to The Tank Museum. Our new exhibition “Age of Experimentation” examines the period between the First and the Second World War, 1919-1939.
The exhibition is estimated to cost around £450,000 and this gift will be able to:
- Teach children the importance of science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM) in tank design through a range of interactives.
- Tell the personal stories of four pioneering and influential figures and the impact they had on STEM in the First World War.
We understand that composing a will is a private matter, but we would welcome the opportunity to answer any questions you might have in the strictest confidence.
If you feel comfortable letting us know that you’ve named The Tank Museum as a beneficiary, we would be honoured to thank you personally.
Please fill in the form below to share your intentions with us. Completion of the form is not legally binding, and you can change your mind at any time.
If you have already included The Tank Museum in your will, we would like to extend our heartfelt thanks. In all cases, we would be delighted to keep you informed about the exciting projects happening at the Museum, so you can see how your gift may help shape our future.
Leaving a gift in your will
Legacy gifts to charities are generally exempt from Inheritance Tax, Capital Gains Tax, and Income Tax, meaning the full value of your gift will support our work. If your estate is liable for inheritance tax, any gift you have allocated to us will be deducted before any tax is calculated.
If you leave 10% or more of the net value of your estate to charity, the remainder of your estate may qualify for a reduced rate of Inheritance Tax (currently 36% rather than 40%).
Speak to your solicitor for independent legal advice when constructing your will, and to learn more about the ways charitable giving may help to reduce inheritance tax on your estate.
A residuary gift is where the beneficiary is gifted a percentage of what’s left in the Estate after all debts and expenses have been settled.
Suggested wording:
I give to The Tank Museum, Bovington, Dorset, BH20 6JG Registered Charity No 1102661 (___) % of the residue of my estate to be used by the Museum at its discretion and the receipt of the Chief Executive Officer or proper officer for the time being of The Tank Museum shall be a complete discharge of my Executors.
This is a gift of a fixed sum of money. It is worth remembering that a monetary sum will lose value over time because of inflation.
Suggested wording:
I give to The Tank Museum, Bovington, Dorset, BH20 6JG Registered Charity No 1102661 the sum of £(____) to be used by the Museum at its discretion and the receipt of the Chief Executive Officer or proper officer for the time being of The Tank Museum shall be a complete discharge of my Executors.
A specific gift is a named item or possession. Certain artefacts, objects or vehicles could enhance The Tank Museum’s collection – and can be considered as bequests in a will. Such items must align with The Tank Museum’s Collection Policy, and as such acceptance is conditional.
The Museum reserves the right to decline items that cannot be accepted for curatorial, legal, or practical reasons. It therefore requested that all bequests are discussed with The Tank Museum before inclusion.
Suggested wording:
I give (description of the item) to The Tank Museum, Bovington, Dorset, BH20 6JG Registered Charity No 1102661 absolutely for its charitable purposes and the receipt of the Chief Executive Officer or proper officer for the time being of The Tank Museum shall be a complete discharge of my Executors.
We deeply appreciate the support of our international donors. As charitable giving rules vary by country, we recommend seeking legal advice to ensure your donation complies with local laws and maximises tax benefits.
For donors in countries like the United States, we work with the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) to facilitate tax-efficient giving. Please contact us for more details on donating via CAF, or visit cafonline.org.
