Considering a charitable bequest
This week, the Include a Charity initiative was launched, urging Australians to leave a charitable bequest in their Will.
Include a Charity encourages people to think about leaving a gift to charities after considering family and friends. It aims to change people’s behaviour and educate the public about leaving a gift in their Will which many charities rely on to continue operating.
Care provider, Benetas, has joined the campaign along with another 100 charities.
“Benetas is supporting this important campaign because we hope to increase awareness among Australians about the impact leaving a bequest to charity in their Will can have. The reality is that gifts in Wills form the foundation of many Australian charities. Without them, many organisations like Benetas simply would not exist,” said Benetas chief executive officer, Sandra Hills.
The campaign aims to increase the percentage of Australians making a bequest by just 14 per cent to create an additional $440 million for charities in Australia every year to help them continue their work.
“The trouble is only 7.5% of Australians actually end up leaving a bequest in their Will to charity. We hope that the Include a Charity campaign will help change this to ensure not-for-profit organisations like Benetas can continue their work well into the future,” said Ms Hills.
“Bequests and donations at Benetas are used to support older people who may be financially or socially disadvantaged, and to fund activities to ensure all our clients enjoy a positive experience of ageing.”
Include a Charity founding director, Marcus Blease, says “Charities play an important role in filling the gaps in services where government or society can’t. Without this income, the vital support services and research projects that charities deliver simply would not happen.
“Leaving a percentage of your estate, a sum of money or other assets in your Will can make a huge difference to the lives of so many Australians, including our own children, families and friends,” he explains.
To get involved, visit http://www.includeacharity.com.au for practical tips about preparing a Will, how to leave a bequest in your Will, and finding a suitable charity to donate to.
