Leave a gift in your will

A will gives us all greater freedom of choice to leave what we want to family and friends and to charities we are passionate about. If you don't leave a will, your estate will be settled in accordance with the law of your country. If you live in Switzerland, the entire estate will be shared among your legal heirs. If you have no heirs, your estate will be awarded to the canton or the municipality where you lived.

It is also important to remember that you can revoke or change your will at any time.

Yes. The act of giving is meaningful, whatever the amount involved. When you write the ICRC into your will, you will have an impact on the lives of victims of armed conflict and you are giving them a future beyond war. Every gift in a will is important to the people we help, however large or small. 

Because the term 'Red Cross' is open to a variety of interpretations, please make sure to indicate the full name and address of the ICRC:

International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), IDE: CHE-105.924.024
19 Avenue de la Paix
1202 Geneva
Switzerland

Please specify the kind of legacy gift you wish to leave. Make sure you sign your will and indicate the place and date of signature. 

It is entirely your choice what you leave in your will and depends on your personal circumstances but can include:

• A sum of money
• A percentage of your estate (e.g. 1%, 10% or up to 100%, depending on your personal circumstances and domestic inheritance laws)
• Shares and other investments
• A specific item (e.g. a painting or piece of jewellery that you own) 

If you would like the ICRC to receive all or part of your estate after the death of the original beneficiary (in other words, the ICRC would receive your gift only after the death of your husband/wife/son/daughter), you can specify this in your will. For more information, please contact Marie-Jo Girod. She will be happy to help.

In most countries, the ICRC is exempt from inheritance tax on legacies. However, it is a good idea to contact us first to make sure or to seek professional advice.

If you would like your legacy to be used in a particular country, such as Syria, or for a particular group of people, such as children, please get in touch so we can discuss your wishes. However, it is worth bearing in mind that our operations in a particular country might come to an end in the future. It is also easier for us to manage a more general request, such as helping to reconnect families, than one confined to a specific group, such as children. Greater flexibility means we can decide how best to use funding at a given time.

That is entirely your choice. We are very touched by the solidarity and generosity of people who leave something to the ICRC in their will. We are keen to hear from each and every one of you and to be able to thank you for your gift, but we value your privacy and do not want to put any pressure on you.

If you would like to talk about designating your gift to a specific region or programme, you might want to talk to us about this so we can ensure your gift is used for the purpose you are most passionate about.

We understand that taking care of your family and loved ones will always come first. We are very grateful for any gift you may choose to leave the ICRC after you have looked after them. Please be assured that even the smallest gesture can make the biggest difference in someone's life.