Leave a legacy
Leaving a legacy to Hertford is a straight-forward way to make a meaningful contribution to the next generation of students to pass through our gates, without compromising your current finances.
There are types of legacy gifts that allow you to put your family first while still making a provision for Hertford and other causes close to your heart. You may decide to leave a fixed sum to the college, a percentage of your estate, or the residue that remains when you have provided for your loved ones.
Hertford is a registered charity, and all bequests to charity are exempt from inheritance tax. Also if you leave 10% or more of your estate to charity, the tax payable on the remainder of your estate reduces from 40% to 36%.
If you are planning on remembering Hertford in your will please let us know by getting in touch on development.office@hertford.ox.ac.uk or by completing the legacy pledge form.
Geoffrey Warnock Society
The Geoffrey Warnock Society was created in 1999 to recognise the generosity of our alumni and friends who have included Hertford in their will.
Geoffrey Warnock was the Principal of Hertford College for seventeen years; he was also elected Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford in 1981. Warnock left a legacy to the college – and his commitment and dedication to its future is the reason the society created to thank our legacy donors has been named in his memory.
All alumni and friends of the college who choose to leave a legacy to Hertford are invited become members of the Geoffrey Warnock Society, and receive a stag pin to mark their generosity.
Each year we organise an event for our Warnock Society members – often an afternoon together with friends, Fellows and students; members are also invited to events thanking donors. Details of this year’s Warnock lunch can be found on our events page.
Letter from the Principal
Dear Hertfordian,
The next ten years will be a transformative period for Hertford. Having (re) joined the College in Michaelmas 2020, in the middle of a global pandemic, I am acutely aware of the pace of changes and challenges we face. However, thanks to support from the alumni community, the college has a strong foundation based on academic excellence, pioneering research and a welcoming and inclusive community at the heart of Oxford.
We would not be in the position we are now without the generosity of our legators. Historically, legacies from people such as Thomas Baring and Bill Ferrar provided the foundations of our progress. Today, legacies continue to be the cornerstone in developing the next stage of Hertford’s ambitions and, on average, contribute around 20% of our funds each year. Hertford has been ahead of the curve in many areas including admission of women and access schemes. We want to make sure we remain at the forefront of widening access, equipping students with skills and knowledge fit for the demands of tomorrow, as well as being a trailblazer in sustainability and inclusivity.
The next decade will be about securing Hertford’s strong financial position for generations, planting the metaphorical trees under which future students will sit. Making a gift in your will is one of the most powerful ways you can support the College. We invite you to be part of our ambition and to shape Hertford’s ethos, facilities and academic excellence for years to come.
With warmest wishes
Tom Fletcher
Principal