Welcome U.K. Supporters

Mother bear and her cubs

Polar Bears International has partnered with the Chapel & York U.K. Foundation to accept donations from U.K. residents, allowing you to make tax-effective gifts that may qualify for Gift Aid.

Our partnership with Chapel & York U.K. Foundation allows us to reduce the costs of operating our own dedicated entity while still giving you the opportunity to support Polar Bears International with tax-effective donations. This means your gift stretches further, allowing us to accomplish even more for polar bears and their Arctic home.

Other Ways to Give

  • Wire Transfer/EFT: Complete the online form to start a donation via bank transfer. Once the form is received, you will receive an email with the Chapel & York U.K. Foundation account details.

    You can select either 'Donate as an individual' or 'Donate as an organisation.'

    Once the donation is received, you will receive a tax receipt from Chapel & York. Your gift may be eligible for Gift Aid.

  • Cheque/Check: Donations by cheque are not available to U.K. donors. We recommend donating online or by wire transfer.

  • Stock/Share Gifts: If you are interested in donating stocks or shares, please contact Amy Lester, Polar Bears International Major Gifts Officer, at alester@pbears.org. She will send you information about Chapel & York U.K. Foundation’s brokerage account details. Once the donation is received and confirmed, you will receive a tax receipt from Chapel & York. Your gift may be eligible for Gift Aid. 

  • Personal Property Gifts: Since gifts of personal property are not subject to Gift Aid, donors may prefer to donate directly to Polar Bears International or the Chapel & York U.K. Foundation. To learn more, please email:

  • Bequests: Chapel & York U.K. Foundation can also be named as the recipient of legacies and bequests on behalf of Polar Bears International. To discuss specific arrangements, please email Polar Bears International Major Gifts Officer, Amy Lester, alester@pbears.org 

Attention U.K. and U.S. Dual Taxpayers

Are you liable to tax in the U.K. and U.S.? Are you a U.K.-non-dom taxpayer? Would U.K. Gift Aid/tax relief and a U.S. tax deduction for the same donation be useful to you? 

If so, please contact Heather Hill, Head of International Philanthropy at Chapel & York, heather.hill@chapel-york.com. We have a relationship with Chapel & York U.K. Foundation, which can facilitate such a benefit for U.S./U.K. dual taxpayers or U.K. non-dom taxpayers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is Gift Aid?

A: Gift Aid allows U.K. charities to claim back the basic rate tax already paid by donors on their gifts. By donating through the Chapel & York U.K. Foundation, you can claim back from the government 25p for every £1 donated, boosting the value of your donation to your chosen fund by 25%.

If a donation is eligible for Gift Aid, Chapel & York U.K. Foundation will submit and process a claim to HMRC and grant the reclaimed tax to your charity of choice, along with your donation.

To reclaim the tax on your donation, we require a fully completed Gift Aid declaration. If you make an online donation, the system will allow you to complete a digital Gift Aid declaration. Donations made through other methods will require a declaration to be sent by email or post.

Q: What are the different ways that I can give to Polar Bears International through The Chapel & York U.K. Foundation?

A: Yes, there are different ways to give, including giving through the online donation page, making a wire transfer, donating stock, shares or personal property, or leaving a legacy gift.

Please direct any questions about stock/share, personal property, or legacy gifts to Polar Bears International Major Gifts Officer, Amy Lester, at alester@pbears.org.

Q: I have a recurring donation set up with Polar Bears International. What do I need to do to transfer to the Foundation?

A: Thank you for being a Polar Bear Patron. The great news is that you can remain a member by setting up a recurring donation through the Chapel & York U.K. Foundation. The bonus is that your gift may be eligible for Gift Aid.

Once you set up your recurring donation through the U.K. Foundation, we will cancel your current donation with Polar Bears International and send a confirmation email to let you know the steps have been completed. If you have any questions, please contact Polar Bears International at fundraising@pbears.org.

Q: I am a dual citizen of the U.S. and the U.K. Is there any benefit to donating through The Chapel & York U.K. Foundation?

A. Yes. U.S. citizens (and other individuals subject to U.S. income tax) who pay tax in the U.K. (or U.K. taxpayers resident in the U.S.) can receive tax benefits in both the U.K. and the U.S. for the same donation. This is achieved when the donation is made to a U.K. charity (and thus eligible for U.K. Gift Aid and tax relief) whose shares are owned by a U.S. nonprofit and that has elected to be a ‘disregarded entity’ under U.S. law.

For U.K. purposes, the charity is just a U.K. charity. If the donation is eligible for Gift Aid and tax relief, it can be applied for. For U.S. tax purposes, the U.K. charity doesn’t exist, and donations to it are treated as made to the U.S. nonprofit parent. The donor can take a U.S. tax deduction for the donation to the extent allowed by U.S. law. Chapel & York’s U.S. and U.K. Foundations are so linked and can offer you these benefits.

Please direct any questions to:

Q: I am a U.K. resident and would like to include Polar Bears International in my will. What is the best way to leave a legacy with the greatest benefit going to the organization?

A: We recommend that U.K. residents leave a bequest for Polar Bears International through The Chapel & York U.K. Foundation. Please direct any questions about legacy gifts to: