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Friday, March 29, 2024

Charities unite in call for Will gifts

Australians are being urged to remember charities in their Wills during ‘Include a Charity Week’, which runs from 7-13 September.

The annual week aims to raise awareness of everyone’s opportunity to leave a lasting legacy for future generations.

More than 80 of Australia’s most-loved charities and not-for-profits are this year supporting Include a Charity Week.

“Australia is one of the most charitable nations in the world with three in four Australians supporting charities in their lifetime. And this generosity is starting to extend beyond with 11% of Australians now leaving gifts in their Will,” said Helen Merrick (pictured), Include a
Charity director.

“But while Australia battles the COVID-19 pandemic, charities, not surprisingly, have not undertaken as much gifts in Wills promotion activity. But we feel bequest giving is going to be one of the most vital channels for the charitable sector’s recovery and want to encourage more Australians to consider gifts in Wills,” she added.

She said gifts in Wills was also being driven by the willingness of Australian charities to work together for the benefit of all.

“Gifts in Wills giving is being driven not only by charities traditionally promoting their own bequest programs but their willingness to come together every year for the Include a Charity campaign to build public awareness and grow the market for all.

“Having a collaborative approach to gifts in Wills is critical if the sector is to succeed in normalising charitable giving and increasing it so every charity can benefit.”

A diverse range of charities supports the Include a Charity campaign, including Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, Cerebral Palsy Alliance, Dementia Australia, Greenpeace Australia Pacific, Guide Dogs, Multiple Sclerosis Ltd, Oxfam Australia, RSPCA, The Royal Flying Doctor Service, The Salvation Army, Australian Red Cross and many more.

Ms Merrick said there was still a lingering perception that gifts in Wills were for wealthy people only, but said Include a Charity was working to debunk this belief.

“Any gift, big or small, can help an organisation continue their work long into the future and make a lasting difference to their beneficiaries,” she said.

Visit  www.includeacharity.com.au  in September to learn more.  

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