It's a common misconception that only wealthy people leave money to charity when they die. The reality is that most bequests are made by ordinary, hardworking people who want to make a positive difference to their community after they're gone.
The simple fact is that without the generosity of these normal, everyday Australians, many of the charities we know and support wouldn't even exist.
Bequests form the financial basis of most major Australian charities and are absolutely essential for ensuring the good work they do continues into the future.
Fortunately Australians as a whole are a very generous bunch, with 70% of us supporting charities. And when asked, 29% of people say they'd be willing to leave a gift in their will once family and friends had been provided for.
The trouble is only 7.5% of Australians actually end up doing that.
The good news is that including a charity in your will is just as easy as providing for your loved ones. And it can be as much or as little as you want. In fact if the percentage of Australians making a bequest were to increase to just 12%, an additional $440 million would be created for charities in Australia every year to help them continue their amazing work.
You don't have to be rich or famous to make a difference. You just have to make a simple decision. Whoever you are, whatever your situation, you can help create a better world by including a charity in your will.
