INAUGURAL AWARDS CEREMONY TOPS OFF LEGACY FORUM

APRIL SAW THE FIRST of two major awards ceremonies in the legacy sector. A total of 13 winners of the inaugural Smee & Ford Legacy Giving Awards 2023 were announced at a ceremony at Hilton, London Bankside, hosted by comedian Hal Cruttenden.

The award-winning entries were reviewed and assessed by an expert judging panel that included some of the biggest names from the charitable legacies community. Winners were scored based on judging criteria of Excellence, Innovation and Impact.

Polly Avgherinos, managing director of Smee & Ford, commented: “The purpose of the Smee & Ford Legacy Giving Awards is to recognise and celebrate the outstanding achievements of the people and teams working hard to attract, steward and manage legacy gifts for UK charities. The unique work of legacy teams has not always been widely understood and appreciated, so we’re delighted that the winners have been recognised in an exceptional field of nominees, each showcasing successes and achievements this last year.”

While the lunchtime awards ceremony was a key focus of the day, these awards are more than just a celebration. The Legacy Giving Excellence Forum took place on the morning of the 27 April ahead of the awards lunch and discussed highlevel thought leadership to inspire legacy teams. The forum was an opportunity for those attending to join 200 shortlisted finalists and judges to examine the factors and techniques that are driving excellence, innovation and impact across the legacy sector.

For those who couldn’t join the in-person Legacy Giving Excellence Forum, recordings from all three panels have been made available to all those who attended the awards. q