Most of us would love to give more to the causes close to our hearts.

Perhaps a particular charity supported someone you love through cancer, dementia, disability or another serious illness. Maybe a community organisation helped your family during a difficult time. Or perhaps you have always cared deeply about children, medical research, animal welfare, education, the environment or alleviating poverty.

During our lifetime, however, generosity must sit alongside everyday realities. There are mortgages to pay, retirement to fund, healthcare costs to prepare for, the rising cost of living and family members who may need our support. Sometimes, we simply do not have the capacity to give as much as we would like.

A gift in your Will can offer another possibility.

A different way to make a difference

Include a Charity Week, held from 7–13 September 2026, encourages Australians to consider leaving a gift to charity in their Will.

It is a lovely reminder that philanthropy is not reserved for the very wealthy. A charitable gift does not need to be enormous to be meaningful, and it does not require you to part with money you may need during your lifetime.

Your first priority will usually be providing appropriately for your partner, children, other dependants and loved ones. After they have been considered, even a small portion of what remains could make a lasting difference to an organisation whose work matters deeply to you.

This might be:

• A percentage of your remaining estate
• One nominated sum of money
• Property, shares or another particular asset
• The remainder of your estate after your executor has paid expenses and distributed other gifts

Many people choose to leave a percentage rather than a fixed dollar amount. This allows the gift to adjust over time as the value of the estate changes, while maintaining the balance they intended between family and charity.

Turning a personal experience into something positive

For people and families touched by illness, a charitable legacy can feel especially meaningful.

You may not have been able to make a substantial donation while managing treatment costs, reduced income or the financial demands of caring for someone. Yet your Will can provide an opportunity to say:

This organisation mattered to our family. I would like its work to continue for someone else.

A gift might help fund research into a condition that affected someone you love. It might support another family facing a frightening diagnosis, provide equipment or respite care, or help ensure that people receive greater dignity and comfort at a vulnerable time.

It is not simply a financial transaction. It can be an expression of gratitude, hope and connection.

Your family and your values can both be part of your legacy

Leaving a gift to charity does not have to mean choosing between your family and the causes you care about.

For example, someone might leave most of their estate to family and allocate one, two or five per cent of the residual estate to a nominated charity. The right balance will be different for every person and should reflect your relationships, responsibilities, financial position and wishes.

It can also be worthwhile discussing your intentions with your family. Explaining why a cause matters to you can help loved ones understand that the gift is not something being taken away from them. It is part of the story, experiences and values you want to leave behind.

These conversations can even become an opportunity to share memories that family members may not otherwise know.

A few important practical steps

If you would like to include a charity in your Will:

1. Choose the cause carefully. Consider the organisations whose work genuinely reflects your values or personal experiences.
2. Check the charity’s details. Confirm its correct legal name and Australian Business Number. You can search registered charities through the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission Charity Register.
3. Speak with the charity. Many charities have suggested wording that helps ensure the gift reaches the intended organisation and can still be used if its name or structure changes in the future.
4. Obtain legal advice. A solicitor can help draft the gift clearly, consider your obligations to family and reduce the risk of confusion or disputes.
5. Review the rest of your estate plan. Your Will is only one part of the picture. Superannuation, binding death benefit nominations, jointly owned assets, trusts, companies and insurance proceeds may not automatically be distributed under your Will.
6. Revisit your wishes over time. Your estate plan should be reviewed when relationships, health, finances or the charities you support change.

A legacy is about more than wealth

The word legacy can sound grand, but it is simply what continues because you were here.

It may be the values you taught your family, the people you helped, the stories told about you or the contribution you made to your community. A charitable gift in your Will is one way to extend that influence beyond your lifetime.

You do not need to be wealthy. You do not need to give away money you might need today. You only need to consider whether there is a cause you would be proud to have included in your final act of generosity.

This Include a Charity Week, reviewing your Will could be about more than deciding who receives what. It could also be an opportunity to reflect on what has mattered to you, whose work has touched your life, and what small piece of good you would like to continue into the future.

Philanthropy does not require enormous wealth, nor must you give away money you may need today. A charitable gift in your Will, whether large or small, can help something you care about continue well into the future. Reach out and contact the team at Wealth Planning Partners if you’d like to consider charitable giving as part of your overall plan.

This information is general in nature and does not take into account your individual circumstances. Estate planning can involve legal, financial and tax considerations. Please obtain appropriate legal and financial advice before changing your Will or broader estate plan.