Supporting the Club

The RAF Club is one of the finest Military Clubs in the world.  The Club's genesis is founded on philanthropy when, in 1918, Lord Cowdray wrote a cheque for £100,000 to "ensure a permanent Club Home worthy of the airmen and their brilliant and superlatively heroic work."

Today, this ethos continues, through the Club being a Registered Charity with a mission to provide high-quality, affordable facilities and services for Club Members in order preserve, promote and foster the traditions of the Royal Air Force. Any surplus from the Club's operation is reinvested to improve the facilities and services for Members, with capital projects such as the Centenary Stained Glass window designed to commemorate women in the Royal Air Force augmented by individual donations and legacies.

For so many visitors, the Club is rich in memories of good times spent with friends, colleagues and fellow members capturing the esprit de corps of the Royal Air Force and its shared history. The Club is a uniquely special place which celebrates the past and present endeavours of great men and women, whilst also looking to the future.

To help preserve this future for generations of serving and former serving officers to come, please consider supporting your "home from home" by becoming a Friend of the RAF Club or leaving the Club a gift in your Will.

If you have any specific questions regarding the Friends of the RAF Club, or making a donation/leaving a legacy, please contact of Director of Fundraising and Member Relations, Charlotte Gray at charlotte@rafclub.org.uk or call 020 7399 1082.

 

Registered Charity 1108295
 

Fundraising regulator

 

Become a Friend of the RAF Club

To support our fundraising strategy and fulfil our charitable aims, we have recently launched the Friends of the RAF Club initiative to acknowledge Members who make annual donations of £120+.

Gold Friend

An annual donation of £2500+

Gold Friends will be invited to an annual lunch as well as additional selected events such as the Silver Friends Reception, with the supporters name listed in appropriate Club publications. A gold supporters pin will be presented by the Club President.

Silver Friend

An annual donation of £500-£2499

Silver Friends will be invited to an annual reception. The supporter's name will be listed in appropriate Club publications. A silver supporters pin will be presented by the Club Chair.

Bronze Friend

An annual donation of £120 - £499

Bronze Friends will be sent a Bronze pin from the Chief Executive of the Club.

Friends can move to a different level at anytime.

Help Preserve The Club's Future by Leaving a Legacy

"There can be no better way to give something back to the Club that we have loved, than to help others enjoy it in the future."

Please consider the Club when you are making or re-drafting your Will. The gift can be as small or as large as you prefer, as every donation makes a difference. Leaving a Legacy can make a lasting difference and perpetuate your memory to future generations of Club Members as well as being a tax efficient way of donating from your estate. For example, the iconic stained glass window on the staircase, which today has become a mark of excellence and a focal point within the Club, was made possible by a Legacy gift.


Registered Charity 1108295

Why Support Us?

The Club operates as a charity "to preserve, promote and foster the traditions of the Royal Air Force". Any surplus from the Club's day to day operation is reinvested to improve the facilities and services for Members and to keep subscriptions and food and beverage costs affordable. During the pandemic, donations from Club Members and friends of the Club threw the Club a valued lifeline during the many hospitality restrictions. Post pandemic, all donations and legacies will invested back into the Club to help fund those capital projects and rolling refurbishments that have been put on hold for the past three years, as well as to rebuild Club reserves.
 

Examples of past projects that have had a long lasting impact are the building of the Club's Centenary extension, augmented by donations and legacies, and installing the iconic RAF Stained Glass Window, an eye-catching focal point of the Club, only possible through a one-off donation. The Library has also benefited from generous donations in recent years, enabling us to add to the collection of post WWII books for members benefit.

If you have a particular Club project in mind that you would like to actively support, please do let us know.

The Club adheres and abides to the Fundraising Regulator’s guidance and Code of Fundraising Practice and is registered for Gift Aid.
 

How do I leave a legacy for the future?

There are 3 main types of gift you can lift in your Will:

1. A Residuary Gift is the whole or residue of your estate after all gifts, debts and expenses have been deducted.

2. A Pecuniary Gift is a fixed amount of money. The value of a pecuniary gift may devalue with inflation unless you ask your solicitor to index-link your gift.

3. A Specific Gift is a gift of a specified item, such as a personal possession, land, buildings, art or shares etc.

We recommend contacting a legal professional when drawing up or amending your Will. 

If you decide to leave a gift to the RAF Club, the suggested wording is:

"I give to the RAF Club, 128 Piccadilly, London, W1J 7PY, Registered Charity 1108295, a _________% of my estate/OR the sum of £_________ /OR specific items ___________ to be used for its general charitable purposes and I declare that the receipt of the Secretary of the RAF Club, or other duly authorised officer, shall be a sufficient discharge to my executors."

Amending a Will
A codicil is a document used to change a Will that has already been made. For further information please visit www.rememberacharity.org.uk/making-a-will/leave-a-gift-to-charity/

 

Please let us know, in confidence, if you have included a gift in your Will so we can acknowledge our thanks.

Further Information & Useful Links

If you have any specific questions regarding the Friends of the RAF Club, or making a donation/leaving a legacy, please contact Charlotte Gray at charlotte@rafclub.org.uk or call 020 7399 1082.

Registered Charity 1108295


Fundraising regulator



 



General Information on Charitable Giving

Find a Solicitor - The Law Society

Making a Will – The Law Society

How to leave a gift to charity in your will

Will Writing Jargon Buster

Gift Aid

Downloadable Gift Aid, Standing Order & Donation Forms

Donations & Legacies Leaflet

Donation Form 2024