Leave a gift in your Will and help us secure a future for koalas
Operating for over 35 years, Friends of the Koala rescues and treats hundreds of orphaned and injured koalas in our koala hospital every year. We play a vital role in habitat restoration and initiate and support ground breaking research. As an independent, not-for-profit organisation, Friends of the Koala relies almost entirely on the generosity of people like you.
A gift to Friends of the Koala in your Will, large or small, is a way to ensure that your wish to protect this endangered species lives on. Your gift will give hope to koalas, and support the aid, assistance protection and welfare of these iconic Australian animals.
How to include a bequest in your Will
Subject to advice from your solicitor, Friends of the Koala suggests the following inclusion clause in your Will if you would like to leave us a bequest.
“I BEQUEATH to Friends of the Koala Incorporated (ABN 69 322 819 171) of Rifle Range Road, East Lismore NSW 2480, Australia for the general purpose of Friends of the Koala [insert here the sum of the bequest or a statement defining the bequest] free of all duties and taxes payable at my death AND I DECLARE that the receipt of the Treasurer for the time being of Friends of the Koala Incorporated shall be a sufficient discharge to my Trustee(s).”
There are a number of things a bequest could include:
– Leave a specific gift to Friends of the Koala such as money, property, shares, insurance policies, jewellery or anything of value
– Leave your entire estate, a nominated portion of your estate or a fixed percentage of your estate to Friends of the Koala
– Leave the residue of your estate to Friends of the Koala after specific bequests and gifts have been left to family and friends
Did you know that 70% of Australian adults don't have a legally binding Will?
Friends of the Koala has partnered with Gathered Here to provide our Australian supporters with the option of writing a free Will online. Regardless of how much you own, having an up-to-date Will is one of the most important things you can do for yourself and your family. Not only can a Will legally protect your spouse, children, and assets, it can spell out exactly how you would like things handled, in a way that will be aligned with the values you have held throughout your lifetime.
The reasons people don’t have a Will when they should are varied but often it’s because they think it’s expensive and time consuming. To encourage our supporters to take this important job off their to-do list, we have partnered with top-rated Will writing platform, Gathered Here, who are offering free and
legally binding Wills in less than 10 minutes, with unlimited updates for life.
After you’ve provided for your loved ones, we would love for you to consider leaving even a small percentage of your estate to Friends of the Koala. Whilst this is not a requirement, a bequest or a gift in your Will is a lasting and meaningful way to secure a future for koalas for generations to come.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why leave a gift to Friends of the Koala in my Will?
As an independent, not-for-profit organisation, Friends of Koala relies upon community support for its continued existence. As well as care of sick and injured koalas, Friends of Koala plays a vital role in promoting habitat restoration in the Northern Rivers region and initiates and supports ground breaking research. A bequest is for those who value the work Friends of Koala does for koalas now and in the future.
What will the money be used for?
A gift in your will to Friends of Koala would help fund koala conservation for future generations. It will support the aid, assistance, protection and welfare of koalas and their habitat.
Why leave a gift in my Will?
Research shows at least a third of Australians are considering leaving a gift in their Will but have not yet included it. We would like to bridge that gap and encourage people who want to leave a gift in their Will to do so. As well as being good for the charitable organisations, leaving a charitable bequest can be better financially for those inclined to give. Many people do not have the means to leave a significant gift to charity during their lifetime. A gift in a Will can be made after financial commitments, funeral arrangements and loved ones have been looked after and can enable donors to leave a lasting legacy.
Do I need to leave a large amount to charity in my Will?
No, a charitable gift can be for any amount, large or small, or can be a percentage of your estate or whatever is left after all other commitments have been taken care of.
More information
If you would like more information about Friends of Koala before making a decision, or have any further questions about leaving a bequest, please do not hesitate to contact us via [email protected] or (02) 6621 4664.