Imperial War Museums

With a collection of over 33.5 million objects, a family of five museums and heritage sites, world-class educational programmes, and exhibitions that offer challenging perspectives on the history of conflict, there are countless reasons to support IWM.

Your story is part of ours. When you leave a gift to IWM, you become part of something deeply meaningful. Help to preserve the truth of conflict, honour those who lived through it, and pass on powerful lessons to those yet to come.
Our family of five museums uncovers the causes, course and consequences of war from the First World War to present day conflict.

IWM was founded in 1917 during the First World War to ensure that the effort and sacrifice of people - military and civilian - was not forgotten. Since that ‘Great War’, IWM has expanded to include all subsequent conflicts in which British and Commonwealth forces have been involved.

Through our collections, exhibitions, research, community and outreach programmes, we help current and future generations gain a deeper understanding of the connections between past conflict and the contemporary world. Gifts in Wills are vital in helping us tell personal stories of conflict and in preserving our national collection. 

A gift in your will would support:
1. World Class Learning and Engagement programs

2. Vital Temporary Exhibitions on modern conflict and humanitarian crisis

3. The upkeep of our permanent first world war, second world war, contemporary conflict and holocaust galleries

4. Conservation and preservation of our collection of over 33 million items.

5. Thought-provoking events such as inspirational talks from leading historians, journalists and authors.

Gifts in Wills have allowed us to carry out essential aircraft conservation and restoration work, such as that on the Okha ‘Cherry Blossom’ kamikaze aircraft, now suspended in the Atrium at IWM London.