Bequest
Make a lasting impact to the humanities by leaving a gift in your Will and support Australia’s brightest thinkers dedicated to creating a better future.
For over fifty years, bequests have played an important part of the Academy’s history.
From John Mulvaney to Max Crawford, the legacy of our Fellows endures through donations and bequests which support Academy operations, scholarships and awards, and ongoing advocacy for the humanities.
"For the last quarter-century the Academy has been named in my, and my partner’s, will. Because, when we are dead and gone, we want to feel a trustworthy, long-term body is still playing our tunes: of humanity, beyond mere self-interest; of culture that is proud but also diverse; and of respect for great art that defies the ages."
Stories made possible through bequests
Make a lasting impact
Leaving a bequest or gift in your Will to the Academy is a powerful way to support the future of the humanities without affecting your current finances.
You can leave it up to the Academy to decide how your bequest is used, or you can specify an area of work you would like to support.
Unspecified gifts will be used where the need is greatest across the Academy.
With more substantial gifts, we often establish a new named prize, medal, grant or lecture as a mark of the donor’s generosity. We would be delighted to work with you to establish a new prize, medal, grant or lecture named in your honour.
We are registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC). We also have Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status.
Letting us know
We invite you to let us know about your intention to leave a gift in your Will to the Academy so that we have the opportunity to celebrate your generosity and demonstrate the impact your gift will have.
Information for solicitors and executors
If you or your client intend to leave a bequest to the Academy, the correct legal name to use is: Australian Academy of the Humanities.
Our ABN is 22 568 475 852 and our registered office address is 490 Northbourne Avenue Dickson ACT 2602 .
When taking instructions from your client about their charitable intentions, please consider the tax implications for the estate and the tax benefits of transferring assets from an estate to a charity with DGR status.
Suggested wording
It is important to have an up-to-date Will to ensure your wishes are honoured and to ease uncertainty and additional stress for family members.
It’s easy to get one written for the first time or have your current Will revised and updated with all of your latest wishes. If you would like to consider leaving a gift to the Academy in your Will, simply ask your solicitor or Trustee Company to insert a few simple words into your Will.
“I give [please select from one of the following options for your type of gift and delete those that are not relevant:
my entire estate
XX percentage of my estate
the rest and residue of my estate
XX percentage of the residue of my estate
the sum of $XX
XX from my portfolio of shares
XX description of a specific item]
to the Australian Academy of the Humanities (ABN 22 568 475 852) of 490 Northbourne Ave Dickson ACT 2602 for the general purposes of such entity. I declare that a receipt from the treasurer or other proper officer of the Australian Academy of the Humanities to the executor(s) of this Will, will be evidence that the executor(s) has discharged his/her/their duties in accordance with this clause.”