Frequently asked questions
What are Gifts in Wills/Bequests? Gifts in Wills (more formally known as bequests) are donations to charity left in your Will, which are distributed after you have passed. Donations may include a percentage of the value of your estate, a specific amount, shares or property. Why should I leave a gift in my Will? By choosing to leave a gift to VNPA in your Will, you are choosing to give back to the natural world that sustains and nurtures us all. It also allows you to make a long term, impactful contribution to the protection of Victoria’s precious flora and fauna that you love, and ensure that this can be enjoyed for many generations to come. Leaving a gift in your Will also allows you to make a future contribution to a cause you care about, without costing you anything today. Because of this, some may find it easier to leave a larger gift in their Will than may have been possible during their lifetime. I’ve already made a Will. Do I have to make a new one? While it is recommended that you update your Will from time to time (especially if your circumstances change) to ensure it reflects your current wishes, you don’t need to rewrite your Will to leave a gift to VNPA. If your existing Will is otherwise up to date, you can speak to a solicitor to create a codicil, which can add, modify or revoke parts of your Will. What happens if I don’t have a Will? If you pass away without having a Will your estate will be distributed according to the Administration and Probate Act that applies in your State or Territory. By having a Will suitably prepared, your wishes for the distribution of your estate can be carried out. Are gifts in Wills to charities tax deductible? Gifts in Wills made to registered charities like VNPA are not taxed. Can I leave a specific gift or item in my Will? The most powerful way to support the causes you care about is to leave the remainder, or a percentage of the remainder of your assets to charity after other gifts have been distributed. VNPA is also able to accept a gift of property (like real estate) or shares. If you are considering gifting property to VNPA in your Will, please get in touch with our team via [email protected] ABNs are exclusive to each charity, and including this therefore removes any ambiguity as to which charity you intend to support through a gift in your Will. Please use VNPA’s full name: Victorian National Parks Association along with the ABN 34 217 717 593, to ensure your gift can only be received by VNPA. You can read more about the recommended wording to leave a gift in your Will to VNPA in our gifts in Wills checklist here. I don’t have much money to leave, is it worth it? Yes! Even a small contribution can make a huge difference towards protecting nature in Victoria. For example, a contribution of just 1% of the residue of your estate will help ensure that VNPA will be able to continue advocating for nature for many years to come. Can I say where I want my gift to be used? We recommend allowing VNPA to decide how to use your gift for the greatest possible impact by stating that it is for ‘general purposes’. As your gift may not be realised for many years, we don’t know what issues will be facing nature at that point. If your gift is too specific, there is a chance we may not be able to accept it as we may not be able to use the funds in the way you have described in your Will. Please contact our team if you would like to discuss further. Do I need to tell you I’ve included VNPA in my Will? While of course there is no obligation to do so, we would be very grateful if you let us know. By sharing your intentions, this gives us the opportunity to thank you, to keep you up to date with our work, and it helps VNPA to plan for the future. Any information shared with VNPA will be held in the strictest confidence. Can my gift be confidential? Of course. We always work to protect our supporters privacy, and if you have any particular requests around confidentiality please let us know. What does my Will need to say? We have included some suggested wording for leaving a gift in your Will to VNPA in our checklist.
Get in touch
If you’re considering leaving a gift in your Will, or have already included VNPA in your Will, please get in touch so we can assist you and discuss your wishes.
Contact our Philanthropy Executive Kristian Lang on (+61) 0480 487 898 or [email protected].
Thank you for your consideration – a gift in your Will gives nature a future voice.
