Bequest
Make a lasting impact on the work of the Academy by leaving a gift in your Will..
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.
Make a lasting impact
A bequest to the Academy is a lasting investment in the future of the Academy and the humanities in Australia. By including the Academy in your Will, you can make a meaningful contribution without affecting your current financial circumstances.
You may choose to leave your bequest unrestricted, allowing the Academy’s Council to direct your gift to areas of greatest need and opportunity, or you may nominate a particular area of the Academy’s work that reflects your interests and values.
Unrestricted bequests provide the Academy’s Council of the day with the flexibility to respond to emerging priorities and support the Academy’s long-term sustainability and impact.
For more substantial gifts, the Academy may establish a named prize, medal, grant, lecture or other enduring initiative in recognition of the donor’s generosity. We would be pleased to work with you to create a lasting legacy that honours your commitment to the humanities and reflects your philanthropic aspirations.
Talk to us
We encourage you to let us know if you have chosen to leave a gift to the Academy in your Will. Sharing your intentions allows us to thank you for your generosity during your lifetime and to discuss how your future gift will help advance the Academy’s mission and support the humanities in Australia.
If you would like to explore how the Academy might recognise your legacy through our bequest program, please contact our Programs and Committees Coordinator, Sophie Chessell, who would be pleased to assist you.
Information for solicitors and executors
If you or your client wish to include a bequest to the Academy in a Will, please use the following details:
Legal name: Australian Academy of the Humanities
ABN: 22 568 475 852
Registered office: 490 Northbourne Avenue, Dickson ACT 2602
When advising clients on their charitable giving intentions, solicitors and executors may wish to consider the potential taxation implications for the estate, including the benefits associated with gifts to organisations that hold Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status.
The Academy welcomes discussions with professional advisers and can provide further information to assist with the preparation and administration of charitable bequests.
Suggested Will wording
Having an up-to-date Will is one of the most important ways to ensure your wishes are carried out and to provide clarity for your loved ones.
If you are considering leaving a gift to the Australian Academy of the Humanities in your Will, we recommend that you discuss your intentions with your family, solicitor, trustee company or other professional adviser. The following wording may assist in drafting your bequest:
“I give [choose one of the following::
- my entire estate;
- __% percentage of my estate;
- the rest and residue of my estate;
- __% percentage of the residue of my estate;
- the sum of $_______
- _______ from my portfolio of shares
- _______ 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 its general purposes. 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.”
The impact of Academy bequests
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. Bequests to the Academy have funded:
Bequest stories
