Bequests and legacies are gifts of personal property under a Will to a specified person or organisation. A devise is a gift of real estate under a Will.  These are all referred to as “gifts” in a Will. Gifts can be a specific sum of money, item of real or personal property, a percentage of the estate assets or a residuary gift after all specific gifts have been made and debts paid.   A charitable gift is a gift in a Will for a charitable organisation.  Charitable gifts can be directed by a Will maker to be applied to a particular purpose of the charity or towards the general purpose of the charity.

A gift to the “general purposes” of World Vision Australia will be used where it is needed most – helping empower communities and make long-term improvements where the most vulnerable children are located. Currently, this may include all or any of the following focus areas in line with a community’s strategic priorities at the relevant future time: water and sanitation, health, livelihoods, education, and child protection. We will use your gift wisely, so it has the greatest impact for the people we serve.

Yes! Many of our long-term child sponsors decide to include a bequest to be applied to our child sponsorship program or equivalent program. Please see suggested legal wording here.

World Vision Australia does not encourage direct gifts to be left in your will to your sponsored child. Our child sponsorship model funds community-based development activities which are designed to bring about the long-term sustainable improvements in the well-being of children, families and their communities. In fact, many of the reasons why we ask supporters not to send large gifts or money to their sponsored children are also relevant in the context of a gift under a Will. These reasons can include:

• Sending money to an individual child does not contribute to the long-term development goals for their community;
• World Vision field offices are not equipped to handle funds sent to them directly from a supporter; 
• Sending money may cause tension amongst family and community members; and
• In some countries it’s against the law to receive and send foreign currency.

Please notify us via email on wills@worldvision.com.au, or call (03) 9287 2646 so that we can assist you in a timely manner.

We would love to know if you have included us in your Will. While an unexpected gift is always a nice surprise, you’ll be helping World Vision Australia even more if you let us know your intentions. Not only does this give your gift the best chance of succeeding and help us plan for the future, it allows us to thank you and share with you our long-term plans.

While this decision is ultimately up to you, a percentage of your entire estate, residual gift, or gift of real property or shares is more helpful to us because the gift won’t lose value over time. This can help us plan better and have a greater impact with our work in the future.

You can update your Will at any time. When updating your Will, it is important to speak to your legal advisor.

Gifts in Wills are generally not tax deductible. However, gifts of capital gains tax (CGT) assets, such as shares and real property, can potentially be distributed tax effectively to World Vision due to our deductible gift recipient status. Please see your tax, legal or financial advisor if this is something you are interested in.

Correct legal name: World Vision Australia

World Vision Australia’s ABN: ABN 28 004 778 081

Registered address for our national office: 

World Vision Australia

1 Vision Drive

Burwood East

Victoria, 3151