Why are bequests so important to charities?

For most charities bequests or gifts in Wills are a vital part of their income. Bequests from people just like you help fund so many worthy programs and activities - from a package of food for disaster relief to research into cancer prevention.
When you leave a bequest to a charity in your Will, you will be providing a crucial source of funding and helping to secure the means for their important and vital work to continue into the future. Your bequest will help many, many Australians.

Why shouldn’t I leave all the money to my kids?

This campaign is about including a charity, not about excluding your family.  These days we think there is room for both.  Indeed including a charity may be the best way to help your own children or grandchildren and the entire generation if they were ever to face cancer, heart disease, homelessness or disaster.

What sort of bequest is most useful to a charity?

All bequests, regardless of the size will be gratefully received by a charity. If you have any questions about the type or amount of your bequest, please contact the charity to discuss it with them in further detail.

How do I include a bequest in my Will?

You will find information on this website that will help you to leave a bequest in your Will.  The most important thing is to seek professional advice from your solicitor or financial advisor.  Before you do this, think carefully about the charity you would like to leave a bequest to and contact them for further information.

I would like assurance that my bequest is being spent on those who need help and not just administrative costs.

Every year bequests may provide such things as research, information and support for the 3.5 million Australians affected by cardiovascular disease, the 88,000 people diagnosed with cancer, 100,000 homeless Australians and the 40,000 people affected by disasters such as bushfires and floods.
For further information on how your bequest will be spent please contact the individual charity.  Alternatively, you can order an Include a Charity information pack by calling our hotline on 1800 400 300.

If I make a bequest do I need to tell the charity I have
done so?

If you have already included a charity or are considering doing so, that charity will appreciate you letting them know.  This way, they can thank you personally and hopefully discuss with you how they might invest your future gift.  It will also give the charity an idea of how many people intend to leave bequests, which will help them plan for the future.
 
If I make a bequest but do not want to tell the charities involved, is this OK?

All donors, of course, can remain anonymous if they wish to and you do not have to notify the charity about your intentions.  However, Include a Charity recommends that you do let them know as this will help to ensure that your bequest is correctly worded in your Will and also provides the charities with an opportunity to thank you for your gift. 

So do you have the Will?

Go to preparing to write or update your Will

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