Introduction

We understand that including a charity in your will is a very personal decision and one that will need to be carefully considered. We appreciate that your family and loved ones should always come first, and believe it is important to talk with them about your intentions and why leaving a gift to the Melanie Jewson Foundation is important to you.

If you wish to leave a bequest to the Melanie Jewson Foundation, you can follow the steps below.

Why Include a Charity in Your Will?

A bequest is one of the most effective and long-lasting ways you can help the MJF. We rely on our supporters’ generosity to enable us to respond effectively to populations in need of medical and educational assistance. Without you, our work would simply not be possible. Whatever the amount you bequeath to the Melanie Jewson Foundation, your contribution is invaluable.

Making a will is the only way you can be sure your wishes will be followed after you die. It also means less confusion and heartache for your loved ones in their time of grief. If you don’t make a will, part or all of your estate may end up going to people you never intended to benefit because the law will dictate how your estate is distributed.

If you have no next of kin and no will, your estate will automatically pass to the crown. If you do have relatives, they may disagree about what should happen with your estate. Your will clearly explains your intentions and ensures they are carried out.

Preparing your Will

There are two choices: you can write your will yourself, or you can engage a professional to write your will for you.

Writing a will yourself may seem to be the easier and less costly option, but do-it-yourself kits and online options are often simplified and leave out some important details, such as what is to happen if a beneficiary is deceased at the time of your death.

By engaging a professional, such as a solicitor or public trustee with extensive experience in writing a will, you can be confident that your Will covers all important aspects and considerations. You can find a legal professional through the law society or institute in your state or territory.

Should you choose to have a legal professional write your will, you should make some decisions about your will and write them down prior to meeting with them.

Including a charity

We’re often not able to give as generously during our lives as we might like to. Leaving a gift in your will is a great way to support the vital work of charities we’ve always wanted to help but were previously unable to, or to increase the level of giving to a charity you’ve supported during your life.

By leaving a charitable gift in your will – either a percentage of your estate, a specific sum of money or other assets – you will have a positive impact on the lives of many of our closest neighbours. Your gift, whether large or small, will be most gratefully received by the Melanie Jewson Foundation. If you have any questions about leaving a charitable gift in your will, please contact us to discuss it with us in detail.

Step 1: Write or Update Your Will.

A gift in your Will, no matter what the amount, can make a real difference to the lives of many people in need of medical or educational assistance.

If you already have a Will but would like to leave a gift to the Melanie Jewson Foundation, you can do so by making a simple addition to your existing Will. This is called a codicil.

If you do not have a Will at the moment, you can simply include a bequest when you write a new Will.
Whatever your circumstances, we would advise you see a solicitor to ensure your wishes will be followed.

As a small charity, we respond dynamically to the need in Vanuatu from year to year. Financial flexibility is crucial to our ability to respond to priority needs, so we ask that you do not designate your gift to a particular project.

Step 2: Decide Your Gift

There are a number of ways you can leave a gift to the Melanie Jewson Foundation, depending on your circumstances.

Residuary Bequest

This is the most effective way to leave a bequest to the MJF. It is a gift of what remains after you have made provisions for your loved ones. A residuary gift will keep up with inflation. It will mean your bequest will achieve as much in our projects in the future as you would like it to now.

Percentage Gift

Leaving a percentage of your estate allows you to decide what proportion of your total estate you would like to give to the Melanie Jewson Foundation.

A percentage gift will also keep up with inflation.
Pecuniary Bequest or Specific Sum: A pecuniary bequest is a fixed sum of money to be left to the Melanie Jewson Foundation. This type of gift will not keep up with inflation.

It is important to note that charitable gifts in wills of property, stocks and shares are exempt from capital gains tax.

Step 3: Suggested Wording For Your Will

Here is our suggested wording to use when writing or updating your Will, as well as our organisational details.

“I give and bequeath to the Melanie Jewson Foundation Ltd, a company limited by guarantee, of 79 Lowndes Rd, Bannockburn, VIC 3331 Australia:

the residue, or

[……] percent of my whole estate, or

[……] percent of the residue, or

the specific sum of $[……]

to be used for its general purposes.”

ABN: 81 651 930 255 | Registered Charity Number: ****

Step 4: Notify loved ones and the MJF

We believe it is important to talk to family and loved ones about your will. Effective communication will ensure your final wishes are carried out. Let your family know that leaving a gift to the Melanie Jewson Foundation is important to you and advise any executors and guardians of your wishes.

We also suggest that you let us know once you have left us a gift in your will. Knowing when someone has chosen to support us in this particular way helps us to plan more confidently for the future, and we would be very pleased to have the opportunity to thank you personally for your generous support.

Get In Touch

If you would like to discuss your bequest in person or have any further questions, please get in touch using the form below.

You can also contact our Financial Manager by phone (03) ***** *** or email ******@mjf.org.au.