You can specify any amount or percentage of your estate you feel comfortable gifting to ACF, after having provided for your family and loved ones. A bequest doesn’t impact your wealth during your lifetime and only takes effect when administering your estate. A gift of any size helps our work, which is where the power of the 1% movement comes in.

Below are some ways you can leave a gift, however we recommend that you seek independent professional legal advice when finalising the wording in your will. We also suggest talking through your intentions with your family and loved ones.

Residual gift

A residual gift allows you to provide for your family and friends first before leaving the remainder of your estate to ACF. The value of a residual gift is determined after loved ones have been provided for and all expenses and claims have been paid. As your estate increases in value, so does your gift to ACF. Inflation will not diminish the value of a residual gift.

Percentage or nominated portion

You can divide your estate amongst a number of people and/or organisations. Your gift to ACF can be a percentage or proportion of the whole of your estate, or of what is left over (the residue) after individual gifts have been made. 

If you feel undecided about leaving a bequest in your will to ACF because you are unsure how much money will be available in the future, a residuary gift or nominated percentage can overcome this hurdle. There’s no need to nominate a specific value for your gift.

Specific gift or asset

You can leave a specific asset such as property or shares to ACF. Gifts of shares and other property do not attract GST for ACF or the estate. ACF can also be the beneficiary of a life insurance policy or superannuation fund.

Trust

Establishing a trust in your will allows a spouse or other nominated person to use your property and to receive income derived from your estate during their lifetime, after which time the property can pass to ACF.

Of course. You can leave any percentage of your will to ACF as a simple but powerful way to make a difference. Whether you leave a gift through Safewill or draft your own will separately, how much you leave is up to you.

Your donations are vital for our ability to campaign for change. Leaving 1% in your will can also be a simple way to create change for future generations and our planet well beyond your lifetime, while helping to ensure ACF has the support to continue our work.

Of course. The difference with leaving 1% is that your gift increases in value and would not be diminished with inflation. But we understand that a cash gift can be better suited to how you want to plan your bequest. Simply use the below wording when drafting your will with the support of a solicitor: 

A solicitor or Trustee Company can help you ensure your paperwork is in order, is worded correctly, and is presented in the right way – to ensure that the gift is directed as per your wishes.

If you choose to make a will through Safewill, your will is assessed by Safewill’s legal advisors to ensure its accuracy. 

If you want to update your existing will outside of the Safewill service, check out our suggestions for how to word your will in the below FAQ. You can amend your existing will to include a gift to ACF by adding an additional signed and witnessed page. This is called a codicil. Seek legal advice to make sure your codicil is legally binding.

Safewill offers a subscription service where you can update your will instantly, while they will notify you of any changes to the law that may affect the validity of your will.

You can leave a gift to Australian Conservation Foundation by including one of the below wordings in your will:

●  “I give the residue…”, or
●  “I give [insert percentage] %…”, or
●  “I give [insert specific amount or gift]…”

“…of my estate free from all debts (secured and unsecured) and all duties and taxes (whether federal or state) payable in respect of my estate to the Australian Conservation Foundation Incorporated (ABN 22 007 498 482) (“ACF”) for its general purposes, and I declare that the receipt of an authorised officer of the said ACF shall be a full and sufficient discharge of this bequest.”

Letting us know you’ve set aside a gift in your will to ACF is important in helping us plan for future campaigns and projects.

Please fill in the form below to let us know if you have left a gift in your will to ACF, or if you would like more information. The information you provide below will be treated in complete confidence and will not be used for marketing purposes.

Disputed estates and family testator claims have increased in recent years. We recommend you seek independent legal advice to address any potential issues that may arise.