For many people, giving to their community is something that grows over a lifetime. It might begin with supporting a local organisation, contributing to a cause that matters personally, volunteering, or simply wanting to help make the place we call home a little stronger.
For some, that generosity becomes part of the legacy they choose to leave behind.
A Gift in your Will can provide a meaningful way to continue supporting the Geelong community beyond your lifetime, ensuring the places and causes you care about can continue to benefit from your generosity well into the future.
September marks Gifts in Wills – Include a Charity Month, a national initiative encouraging Australians to consider charitable giving as part of their Will. Research from Include a Charity suggests at least one in three Australians are considering leaving a charitable gift in their Will, even though many have not yet taken that step.
At Geelong Community Foundation, this form of generosity is not new. Gifts in Wills have been an important part of our story for more than 25 years.
More than 25 years of generosity
Some of the most significant gifts Geelong Community Foundation has received began with a decision by someone who wanted their generosity to continue supporting their community beyond their lifetime.
Today, the Foundation holds:
19 Gifts in Wills funds
More than $12.5 million held for our community
Behind those numbers are local people such as Ken Stott, Lesley Yvonne Taylor, Margaret Ann Cody, Fred and Pauline Flanagan, John Brownbill and many others who chose to leave something lasting for the community they cared about.
Their gifts continue to be invested for the long term, helping generate funding for local organisations and initiatives year after year.
Over the Foundation’s history, more than $18 million in grants and scholarships has been distributed across the wider Geelong region. Gifts in Wills have played an important role in building the permanent funds that make this long-term community support possible.
This is our permanent endowment model in action: local generosity creating an enduring source of support that can respond as the needs of our community change.
Every legacy has a story
Behind every Gift in Will is a personal decision.
Some people choose to honour someone they love. Others want to give something back to the community that shaped their lives, or continue supporting a cause that has mattered deeply to them.
For people who have supported their community throughout their lifetime, a Gift in their Will can also be a natural extension of that generosity.
A Gift in your Will can take different forms. For some, it may be a contribution to the Foundation’s broader community fund. For others, a significant gift may provide an opportunity to establish a permanent Named Fund, honour someone important to them, or create an enduring source of support for an area of community need they care deeply about.
Whatever form it takes, every gift has value and can contribute to lasting local impact.
Considering a Gift in your Will
Looking after the people closest to you naturally comes first. Beyond that, a Gift in your Will can provide another way to reflect the people, places and causes that have mattered to you throughout your life.
If leaving a Gift in your Will is something you’re considering, we encourage you to discuss your wishes with your solicitor or professional adviser. They can help ensure your Will reflects your personal and family circumstances and the legacy you would like to create.
You are also welcome to speak with Geelong Community Foundation before making your decision. If you’re considering establishing a Named Fund, supporting a particular area of community need, or simply want to understand the options available, our team can help you explore how your gift could reflect what’s important to you.
Don’t have a Will?
For those who don’t currently have a Will and whose circumstances are straightforward, Geelong Community Foundation has partnered with EveryWill, providing Foundation supporters with the opportunity to create a simple Will online at no cost.
As circumstances change throughout life, it’s important to ensure your Will continues to reflect your wishes. If you already have a Will and would like to update it, including adding a charitable gift, your solicitor or legal adviser can assist you.
Let us know
If you have already included Geelong Community Foundation in your Will, or intend to do so, thank you.
We invite you to let us know. Doing so gives us the opportunity to thank you for your generosity, better understand your wishes and ensure we can honour your intentions into the future.
For a confidential conversation about leaving a Gift in your Will, please contact Sheridan Emond-Salmon, Philanthropy Manager, on 0434 264 102 or philanthropy@geelongfoundation.org.
Learn more about Gifts in Wills
