How to leave money to charity in your will

You don't need millions of dollars to make an impact. Here's how leaving money to charity in your will can support the causes you care about while creating a lasting legacy.

When most people think about estate planning, they naturally focus on family.

Who will inherit the family home? How should assets be divided between children? Who will manage affairs if capacity is lost? These are all important questions, and rightly so.

But there is another question that is often overlooked: What legacy do you want to leave behind?

Recent events have provided a powerful reminder of the impact philanthropy can have.

Australians have been inspired by reports of Queensland philanthropists Quentin and Kylie Birt making a remarkable $40 million donation to FightMND during the AFL's Big Freeze campaign, supporting the fight against motor neurone disease and honouring the extraordinary legacy of Neale Daniher.

The donation is one of the largest charitable gifts in recent Australian history and serves as a timely reminder of the profound difference that generosity can make.

At a time when much of the news cycle is dominated by cost-of-living pressures, economic uncertainty and global instability, stories such as these remind us of something uniquely Australian: a willingness to support causes greater than ourselves.

While most Australians are not in a position to make gifts on that scale, philanthropy is not reserved for the ultra-wealthy. In fact, many charitable legacies begin with ordinary Australians making a conscious decision to leave a portion of their estate to a cause that has meaning for them.

Philanthropy as part of an estate plan

Estate planning is not simply about transferring wealth. At its best, it is about ensuring that your values, intentions and life story continue beyond your lifetime.

For some people, that may mean establishing financial security for children and grandchildren.

For others, it may also involve supporting causes that have shaped their lives, such as:

• Medical research;
• Education;
• Community organisations;
• Environmental conservation;
• Religious institutions;
• Animal welfare; or
• Charities supporting vulnerable Australians.

A charitable gift within a will can allow a person to continue supporting those causes long after they are gone.

More than a financial gift

One of the most interesting aspects of charitable giving in an estate planning context is that the value of the gift often extends beyond the dollars involved.

Many people wish to leave something that reflects who they were, what they cared about, and the values they hoped to pass on to future generations.

A carefully considered philanthropic gift can achieve exactly that.

It can also provide an opportunity to engage family members in discussions about purpose, community responsibility and the broader impact wealth can have when used intentionally.

Philanthropic options are flexible

There is a common misconception that charitable giving requires a substantial estate.

In reality, philanthropic planning can be highly flexible.

Depending on a person's circumstances, a will may provide for:

• A specific monetary gift to a charity;
• A percentage of the estate;
• The gift of a particular asset;
• A residuary gift after family members have been provided for; or
• More sophisticated structures, including charitable trusts or foundations for larger estates.

Importantly, philanthropy does not need to come at the expense of family beneficiaries.

For many, charitable giving forms only one component of a broader and carefully balanced estate plan.

A legacy worth considering

During the estate planning process, it is important to consider not only who you wish to benefit, but what you wish to be remembered for.

The recent generosity shown through the FightMND campaign demonstrates the extraordinary impact that charitable giving can have on individuals, families and communities.

It also serves as a reminder that estate planning is not solely about distributing assets; it is about defining a legacy.

Whether a gift is measured in millions of dollars or a much smaller amount, the principle remains the same.

A well-structured estate plan provides an opportunity to support the people you love while also contributing to the causes that matter most to you.

And for many Australians, that may be one of the most enduring legacies they leave behind.

When most people think about estate planning, they naturally focus on family.

Who will inherit the family home? How should assets be divided between children? Who will manage affairs if capacity is lost? These are all important questions, and rightly so.

But there is another question that is often overlooked: What legacy do you want to leave behind?

Recent events have provided a powerful reminder of the impact philanthropy can have.

Australians have been inspired by reports of Queensland philanthropists Quentin and Kylie Birt making a remarkable $40 million donation to FightMND during the AFL's Big Freeze campaign, supporting the fight against motor neurone disease and honouring the extraordinary legacy of Neale Daniher.

The donation is one of the largest charitable gifts in recent Australian history and serves as a timely reminder of the profound difference that generosity can make.

At a time when much of the news cycle is dominated by cost-of-living pressures, economic uncertainty and global instability, stories such as these remind us of something uniquely Australian: a willingness to support causes greater than ourselves.

While most Australians are not in a position to make gifts on that scale, philanthropy is not reserved for the ultra-wealthy. In fact, many charitable legacies begin with ordinary Australians making a conscious decision to leave a portion of their estate to a cause that has meaning for them.

How charitable giving can be part of your estate plan

Estate planning is not simply about transferring wealth. At its best, it is about ensuring that your values, intentions and life story continue beyond your lifetime.

For some people, that may mean establishing financial security for children and grandchildren.

For others, it may also involve supporting causes that have shaped their lives, such as:

• Medical research;
• Education;
• Community organisations;
• Environmental conservation;
• Religious institutions;
• Animal welfare; or
• Charities supporting vulnerable Australians.

A charitable gift within a will can allow a person to continue supporting those causes long after they are gone.

More than a financial gift

One of the most interesting aspects of charitable giving in an estate planning context is that the value of the gift often extends beyond the dollars involved.

Many people wish to leave something that reflects who they were, what they cared about, and the values they hoped to pass on to future generations.

A carefully considered philanthropic gift can achieve exactly that.

It can also provide an opportunity to engage family members in discussions about purpose, community responsibility and the broader impact wealth can have when used intentionally.

Ways to include a charity in your will

There is a common misconception that charitable giving requires a substantial estate.

In reality, philanthropic planning can be highly flexible.

Depending on a person's circumstances, a will may provide for:

• A specific monetary gift to a charity;
• A percentage of the estate;
• The gift of a particular asset;
• A residuary gift after family members have been provided for; or
• More sophisticated structures, including charitable trusts or foundations for larger estates.

Importantly, philanthropy does not need to come at the expense of family beneficiaries.

For many, charitable giving forms only one component of a broader and carefully balanced estate plan.

A legacy worth considering

During the estate planning process, it is important to consider not only who you wish to benefit, but what you wish to be remembered for.

The recent generosity shown through the FightMND campaign demonstrates the extraordinary impact that charitable giving can have on individuals, families and communities.

It also serves as a reminder that estate planning is not solely about distributing assets; it is about defining a legacy.

Whether a gift is measured in millions of dollars or a much smaller amount, the principle remains the same.

A well-structured estate plan provides an opportunity to support the people you love while also contributing to the causes that matter most to you.

And for many Australians, that may be one of the most enduring legacies they leave behind.

Get stories like this in our newsletters.