Gifts in Wills: A Promise for a More Inclusive Future with Bayley House

From 1–7 September, we will again take part in Include a Charity Week, a national campaign led by the Fundraising Institute Australia (FIA) to raise awareness about the lasting impact a gift in your Will can make. The campaign encourages Australians to reflect on what matters most to them and how those values can be carried forward for generations.

For Bayley House, it is a chance to share why Gifts in Wills are vital to our future. Our services provide lifelong support for adults with intellectual disability, from day programs and community participation to supported living. As demand for our exceptional support grows, Gifts in Wills help ensure these opportunities remain available for the people we support today and for generations to come.

A Will is one of the most important legal documents you will ever make, and keeping it up to date ensures it reflects your current circumstances and priorities. Estate planning experts recommend reviewing it every few years, or after major life changes, to make sure it continues to clearly reflect your wishes. Almost 60% of Australian adults have a valid Will (Australian Law Reform Commission), yet only a small proportion include a charity [1]. If more people were to include a charitable gift from their estate, their generosity could provide additional support for vital causes each year [2].

When Bayley House Foundation receives a gift in a Will, it is invested for the long term, with the capital preserved and a portion distributed each year to support Bayley House’s priority areas of focus. This approach means your decision to leave a gift to Bayley House Foundation today can provide ongoing opportunities far into the future.

There are several ways to make this kind of lasting gift. You could choose to leave;

• A residual gift, which is a percentage of your estate after other gifts and expenses have been distributed;
• A specific gift, which is a set amount of money; or
• An asset of value, such as property, shares, jewellery, art, a vehicle etc, which can be sold with the proceeds directed to the Bayley House Foundation.

Each type of gift helps strengthen the Foundation and ensures that inclusion, creativity, and opportunity will be there for future generations.

Include a Charity Week is a national movement, and for Bayley House it is a chance to safeguard the programs and services our clients depend on now and will continue to need in the years ahead.

For further information, please download our Gifts in Wills brochure.

If you are considering leaving a gift in your Will, please contact legacygiving@bayleyhouse.org.au for a confidential discussion.

[1] Australian Law Reform Commission. (2017). Elder abuse-A national legal response (ALRC Report 131). ALRC.

[2] Fundraising Institute Australia. (n.d.). https://www.includeacharity.com.au/join-us/for-charities/include-a-charity-week/