What you choose to bequest depends on you!

There are many options for bequests, depending on your circumstances, the common ones include:

• A specific gift, such as money, property, shares, insurance policies, jewellery or anything of value.
• Your entire estate, a nominated portion of your estate, or a fixed percentage of your estate.
• The balance of your estate after specific bequests and gifts have been left to family and friends.

Friends of the Koala is one of Australia’s longest standing koala charities, and one of the most efficient and effective. We are a grassroots organisation with a depth of local knowledge and 35 years of experience working directly to conserve habitat and protect koalas individually and as a species. We have a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by koalas in our region.

Friends of the Koala take a holistic and hands-on approach to koala conservation. We focus on:

• the care and protection of koalas in our koala hospital and rehabilitation centre,
• the conservation of koala habitat,
• advocacy for policy changes,
• community education and engagement,
• partnership with local landowners,
• research and more!

According to Change Path Friends of the Koala is the highest rating koala charity (4.8/5 stars) for transparency and finance. We are committed to efficient financial management and to using donations effectively for koala conservation. With over 200 dedicated volunteers we operate with considerable efficiency.

Friends of the Koala will always remain independent to ensure we can always give a voice to koalas and their survival needs. We are committed to do everything possible to ensure the survival of the koala. Funds we receive from gifts in wills make up a considerable part of our modest operating budget.

We take great pleasure in acknowledging your gift and would like to express our gratitude for your willingness to be recognized. The specific nature of the acknowledgement depends on the type of gift you bequeath.

For example, if the bequest is an unconditional cash donation, we will include your name in a list of individuals who have endorsed our cause.

If a gift is provided to build a building or some other form of infrastructure – like a koala run or a bench, there is the possibility of naming rights for the particular piece of infrastructure with a set of wording agreed upon between you and Friends of the Koala.

If you don’t wish to be acknowledged, you can give a gift anonymously.

Please contact us with your wishes and we can work it out together.

Email: manager@friendsofthekoala.org
Phone: (02) 6621 4664

Bequests to Friends of the Koala will help fund the many areas of koala conservation that we focus on.

Our habitat restoration work is crucial to the survival of the species. This work includes tree planting, advocacy, community engagement, and research.

Our koala rescue and rehabilitation service cares for injured and displaced koalas until they are ready to be released back into the wild.

Our vaccination program has led the way in protecting koalas from one of the most deadly diseases they face right now, chlamydia.

And more! Our website is a great starting place to see the areas  we focus on and if you have more questions, please get in touch.

Absolutely! However, unrestricted funds are ideal as they allow for flexibility in addressing urgent needs. If you wish to allocate your funds towards a specific cause, kindly reach out to us for an up-to-date list of programs and projects that require funding.

Another option is to dedicate your funds towards our endowment - a reserve that ensures the long-term sustainability of Friends of the Koala.

This depends entirely on your preference. Friends of the Koala are grateful and happy about any monetary or property contribution. It’s important that all parties involved are content with and informed about the agreement.

No, bequests and charitable gifts can be for any amount, large or small. A gift can be a percentage of your estate or whatever is left after you have cared for your other commitments.

Every contribution will help ensure that we can continue our work to save koalas!

Please know that without the support of people like you, who will leave a bequest in our favour, this work would not be possible.

If you have a solicitor who manages your will, please discuss with them what you need to ensure they fulfil your intentions.

If you don’t have a will, Friends of the Koala have partnered with Gathered Here who provide our Australian supporters with the option of writing a free will online. This way, you can ensure they will manage everything in alignment with your values and wishes.

There is no legal obligation to tell anybody of your intention for bequests. Whether you do depends entirely on your personal circumstances. Some people provide for their loved ones and give to charity.

Some people leave their entire estate to charity because the cause is important to them or because they don’t have family or loved ones.