Giving

Giving in the form of grants, donations and legacies has enabled EFDSS to make some significant developments over the past two years. They made possible the employment of specialist staff, the development of library and education projects of national significance, the expansion of artistic activities such as an increase in music programming and the introduction of a visual arts programme, and improved the facilities at Cecil Sharp House. Without doubt all these developments supported our successful application for Arts Council Regularly Funded Organisation status earlier this year.

Trusts and Foundations

Grants from Trusts and Foundations are an important stream of income for EFDSS. Over the past two years they have allowed us to develop and deliver specific projects and create new posts. These are the projects which have recently or are currently being funded: -

Education projects – Mercers Foundation
Education projects – John Ellerman Foundation
Education Director’s salary – Paul Hamlyn Foundation
Take 6 Education and Archive project – Heritage Lottery Fund
Library staff salaries – RVW Trust
Library equipment – National Folk Music Fund

Donations

Donations (individual and company) can be made from as little as a few pounds. They can be given towards the general running of EFDSS or can be requested to support specific activities. The specific activities we welcome support for are: –

Education projects for schools and community groups
Professional development of artists
Library and archive projects and development
Improving the facilities at Cecil Sharp House

Donors can also give to The Douglas Kennedy Trust which supports the travel costs for folk artists and groups of all ages to travel abroad to eg international festivals.

Legacy Giving

EFDSS has been very fortunate to receive some significant legacies over the past few years. Such legacies have been left for the furtherance of EFDSS’s work as a whole as well as for specific activities. An example of the latter was a legacy received in 2008 for the development of the archive which has enabled us to employ our Archivist for an additional day a week, resulting in a number of collections being made available to the public both in person and on line.

You can include the English Folk Dance and Song Society in your will by directing your gift to EFDSS, registered charity number 305999.

Making a will to include EFDSS need not be complicated or expensive. If you would like more detailed information on how you can do this, you should seek your own professional advice. This information does not constitute legal advice so you should consult your independent professional adviser.

Leaving a gift for EFDSS general purposes

If you choose to leave a gift for the English Folk Dance and Song Society's general purposes the EFDSS will use your gift where it is needed most. If you want to make straightforward gift of a fixed amount, set out below is suggested wording your professional adviser can use:

“I give to the English Folk Dance and Song Society of Cecil Sharp House, 2 Regent’s Park Road, London, NW1 7AY, Registered Charity Number 305999, to be applied for the general purposes of the English Folk Dance and Song Society the sum of (amount in figures, amount in words) and I direct that the receipt of a proper officer for the time being of the English Folk Dance and Song Society shall be a complete discharge to my Executors.”

Many people choose not to leave a stated sum of money to charity, but rather to leave a share of the residue of their estate. In this case, your professional adviser may find the following wording helpful:

“I give all/a share of (please state fraction/percentage) the residue of my estate absolutely to the English Folk Dance and Song Society of Cecil Sharp House, 2 Regent’s Park Road, London, NW1 7AY, Registered Charity Number 305999, to be applied for the general purposes of the English Folk Dance and Song Society and I direct that the receipt of a proper officer for the time being of the English Folk Dance and Song Society shall be a complete discharge to my Executors."

Leaving a gift for a specific aspect of the EFDSS's work

One of the easiest ways to let us know how you would like EFDSS to apply a gift in your will is to include a letter with your will expressing your wishes. However, even if you are considering a donation for a specific area, it would be helpful if the clause in your will allows the EFDSS to use your donation "for the general purposes of the English Folk Dance and Song Society."

As long as your wishes are clear, EFDSS will support them provided they are possible. We would, therefore, suggest you speak to us before finalising your will with the assistance of your professional adviser.

The tax implications of making a donation in your will

As EFDSS is a registered charity, no inheritance tax is payable on the amount of your fit, since charities are exempt from paying this tax. Thus, it is worth bearing in mind that you can choose either to pay the tax to the Inland Revenue or to a charity whose work you support. You should consult a professional adviser for clear advice on this issue.

There are also tax implications in leaving the residue of your estate between charitable and non-charitable beneficiaries. Again, your professional adviser will be able to assist you with this.

Please let us know

If you have decided to include EFDSS in your will, it would help us greatly if you could let us know.

Your reply will be treated in the strictest confidence and it is entirely up to you whether you wish to provide any details about your gift.

Please click here to download a Word document form to complete and return to us at the Freepost address.