- How to leave a Gift in your Will
- Wording for your Will
- For solicitors and executors
- Partners for the Future
A gift in your Will is a gift for future generations to come
Our vital research is only possible with the support of people like you. A gift in your Will to the Garvan Institute is a meaningful way to make a lasting impact on the health and lives of future generations.
By supporting Garvan in your Will, you will help our discovery research and drive the translation of breakthroughs from the lab to the clinic to directly impact patients and the community. You can help revolutionise human health for your loved ones, now and in the future. When you include a gift in your Will to Garvan you are joining our family of honoured supporters who we call our 'Partners for the Future'.
No matter the size – a gift in your Will to Garvan will strengthen the longevity and impact of our medical research.
Whatever your gift, each and every legacy contributes to the future of pioneering research discoveries across the diseases that have the deepest impact on our community. We are truly honoured and feel there is no greater privilege than to be included as a beneficiary in a person’s Will.
Will you become a Partner for the Future?
Getting started
When making a Will, it is important to talk to your loved ones about your intentions and let them know that leaving a gift to medical research is important to you.
This can help to ensure that your personal legacy and wishes will be met. You should seek professional advice from an estate planning legal adviser to ensure your wishes are recorded in a legally binding way.
Following that, it’s easy to arrange a gift in your Will to Garvan and become a Partner for the Future. You can either include a gift when updating your Will or add it as a codicil to an existing Will. Your solicitor can advise you on the best way to add a codicil to your Will. There are a number of ways you can leave a gift in your Will to Garvan:
- A Percentage of the overall value of your estate which allows for growth or depreciation in the value of your estate.
- A Residual gift which is a share of; or whole of, what’s left of your estate, after providing for your loved ones and also allows for growth or depreciation in the value of your estate.
- A specific sum of cash. However, this does not allow for changes of circumstance or inflation.
- A specific gift: of real estate, stocks, bonds, shares, artwork, jewellery or other assets.
Finding the right legal advisor
Making or updating a Will is straightforward, and we are here to assist you in any way we can.
We recommend consulting a solicitor who has knowledge and experience in Wills and estate planning. The cost of making a Will can vary according to your personal situation and the complexity of your assets and property. If you already have a Will, a simple and inexpensive way to include a bequest to Garvan is to add a Codicil.
Online Wills
Online Will services can be an inexpensive option for standard Wills. These services still require that your Will is signed and witnessed correctly. If you're ready to create your Will, you can do so easily through our online partners—Safewill, Gathered Here, and Willed. For an additional fee, these services also offer access to a solicitor for professional advice. Plus, enjoy exclusive discounts like 50% off or even a free Will with certain providers.
Making sure your legacy lives on
We feel there is no greater privilege than to be included as a beneficiary in a person’s Will. We take great pride in honouring the legacy entrusted to us. We see it as our duty to ensure our supporter’ legacies are managed ethically, and applied thoughtfully so that is has the greatest impact on our research.
In tribute to such a generous and thoughtful gift, we ensure our Partners for the Future names are included on our Honour Board and in our Annual Report. We encourage friends, family and loved ones to visit Garvan so they can hear about the research progress that has been made possible with the selfless and invaluable support of our Partners for the Future.
Contact usIf you have any questions, or would like more information about including a gift in your Will to Garvan please contact our Future Giving team using our form. Your enquiry will be treated confidentially and without any obligation.
According to your personal situation and preferences, the following wording should be used when making a gift in your Will:
Percentage or whole of estate gift
I give % (enter percentage) of my estate, free of all duties, to the Garvan Institute of Medical Research (ABN 62 330 391 937) to be applied for the purposes of medical research by the Institute. I declare that the receipt of a Director of the Institute or other authorised officer will be a sufficient discharge to my executors who will not be bound to see to the application of this gift.
Residual gift
I give % (enter percentage) residue of my estate, free of all duties, to the Garvan Institute of Medical Research (ABN 62 330 391 937) to be applied for the purposes of medical research by the Institute. I declare that the receipt of a Director of the Institute or other authorised officer will be a sufficient discharge to my executors who will not be bound to see to the application of this gift.
Pecuniary gift
I give (enter dollar amount) of my estate, free of all duties, to the Garvan Institute of Medical Research (ABN 62 330 391 937) to be applied for the purposes of medical research by the Institute. I declare that the receipt of a Director of the Institute or other authorised officer will be a sufficient discharge to my executors who will not be bound to see to the application of this gift.
Specific gift
I give (enter specific gift), to the Garvan Institute of Medical Research (ABN 62 330 391 937) to be applied for the purposes of medical research by the Institute. I declare that the receipt of a Director of the Institute or other authorised officer will be a sufficient discharge to my executors who will not be bound to see to the application of this gift.
- Contact Us
If you are interested in leaving a gift in your Will to a specific area of research, please contact the Future Giving team using our form.
Gifts in Wills are extremely important to the future of medical research at Garvan. Gifts in Wills allow Garvan a considerable degree of flexibility and security in planning for the future. Funds from gifts in Wills are applied thoughtfully to our research areas that will have the most impact.
We are also extremely careful to respect the wishes of our Partners for the Future and the terms of the Will – if the Will specifies an area of research to support, this will be upheld. If you have any questions about the scope of our work, and whether it matches the terms of the Will, please contact us.
Deductible Gift Recipient Status
The Garvan Institute of Medical Research (ABN 62 330 391 937) holds Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) Status Item 1 and is fully Tax Exempt. As the Fundraising and Marketing division of the Garvan Institute, the Garvan Research Foundation (ABN 91 042 722 738) also holds Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) Status Item 2 and is fully Tax Exempt.
Capital Gains Tax on estate assets and transfer of shares ‘in specie’
As Garvan Institute of Medical Research is fully Tax Exempt, the transfer of all Capital Gains Tax assets such as real estate or shares to Garvan will result in significantly reduced tax liability, rather than pre-selling those assets by executors and transferring the sale proceeds.
Superannuation
Superannuation is not automatically directed through a person’s Will. If you wish to assign your superannuation to the Garvan, the super balance will need to be left to your estate, in which case it will be dealt with as determined in the Will.
Administration of the estate and distributions
Gifts in Will funds distributed by cheque should be made out to the Garvan Research Foundation or can be transferred by direct deposit. Please call us to request our bank account details.
Contact estates administration
Phone
(02) 9295 8559Mailing address
Donna Mason, Estates Administration Lead, Garvan Institute, 384 Victoria Street, Darlinghurst NSW 2010Taking care of the next generation is in our DNA
Our Partners for the Future are special members of the Garvan family who have left a gift to Garvan in their Will. Their generosity and vision for the future will play a major role in Garvan’s future and help our researchers discover scientific breakthroughs that will prevent, diagnose and cure disease.
Greg
Greg was just 11 when he found out about his 13-year-old sister Tracey Lea’s teratoma tumour. “I knew something was wrong. She was in so much pain,” he recalls. "If Tracey Lea had been diagnosed today, I know that her cancer could have been identified through the technology and expertise at Garvan."
“Perhaps one day, by the time my bequest reaches Garvan, they will be able to sequence everyone’s DNA, or be able to identify the tumour and plan treatment for someone like Tracey Lea within an hour or two. I know that idea would have made Tracey Lea very happy.”
I am proud to have Garvan in my Will.
Claire
After a career in banking, Claire now volunteers with the Garvan Research Foundation each week. “The work environment is great, and the work keeps your mind active. If I don’t come in, I really miss it”.
By the time Claire was preparing her Will she was very passionate about Garvan’s work. So, when she was deciding who to leave a bequest to, she says, “I didn’t even think about other organisations. If someone is considering leaving a gift in their Will, I would say, do it! It doesn’t have to be all of your assets. Every little bit counts. By supporting medical research, you are leaving a gift to future generations of your family, and to humanity as well.”
By supporting medical research, you are leaving a gift to future generations of your family, and to humanity as well.
Terry
Terry and his brother Peter were both diagnosed with prostate cancer at the same time. Terry was diagnosed early and was eligible for radioactive brachytherapy seed implants, which have kept his cancer in check. Peter wasn’t as lucky; his cancer was advanced by the time it was detected.
Surgery could only remove part of the tumour. Secondary cancers were found throughout his body and he was prescribed a chemo regime that took its toll on his body. Peter passed away within a year of his diagnosis.
“I went on a tour of Garvan and learned about the research into personalised medicine, getting chemotherapy right so it doesn’t knock the hell out of you. I thought that was very worthwhile.” It all goes back to my brother. I want to share his story, and have decided to leave a gift in my Will to the Garvan Institute to honour him and his memory."
I don’t want anyone else to lose someone close to them in the same way. Becoming a Garvan Partner for the Future is my tribute to Peter.
Peter
When Peter was in his late twenties, his mother developed a form of chronic haemophilia that has no known cause or cure. When she lost her battle to the disease 10 years later, Peter’s father was determined to leave money to medical research.
In a sad turn of events, he lost motor and communication skills after a stroke and was never able to revise his Will. Peter has now left a bequest to Garvan in honour of his father’s wishes, and in memory of both his parents.
...it's reassuring to think that something I've accumulated throughout my lifetime can bring benefit to humanity as a whole.
Diane
Diane has always considered herself a fortunate person, with a happy upbringing, rewarding career, opportunities to travel and the company of good friends and family. But there is also sadness. Both Diane’s parents passed away after significant medical ordeals. Her father from dementia and her mother from leukaemia. She also had a friend who succumbed to ovarian cancer.
Diane’s experiences combined with her gratitude for her blessings, have underpinned her decision to become a Garvan Partner for the Future and nominate Garvan as a beneficiary of her Will. “You can’t do medical research without financial support and that’s where I can help. I want to know that when my life ends, Garvan can progress and continue to make medical breakthroughs.”
I’ve been very fortunate and I would like to give back. I really want to help researchers and Garvan to be able to move forward.
Bill (18 May 1916 – 21 April 2022)
Bill was a dear friend and one of Garvan’s most passionate and generous supporters. Bill lived a full and interesting life, passing away just 26 days shy of his 106th Birthday. It was Bill’s wish to give back to medical research and help others suffering with disease, and he generously included a gift in his Will to Garvan.
I have a dream if I support Garvan they may develop treatments that could eliminate cancer. So I made a Will and I have left most of my estate to Garvan. I feel if the research can continue as it is, the answer will come. And I urge everyone who can help, to do so for the cause.
Thank you Bill for your friendship to Garvan and farsighted generosity to the community. It has been a pleasure knowing you and you will be greatly missed. As per your wishes, your gift in Will will go on in perpetuity to help improve the lives of future generations.
Become a Partner for the Future
What I’ve got is incurable, but because of medical research it’s manageable.
We were really impressed by the quality of Garvan's research.
It’s a revelation what’s occurring in the world of medical research. If other people are able to leave a bequest to Garvan as well, their legacies will also continue on in a very meaningful way for so many people.
What could possibly be more important than supporting cutting-edge medical research which will benefit generations to come?
We really like the way Garvan cares about people and the information we receive when we come here.
It's encouraging to know that the future of medical research will be in good hands, and that I'm playing a small part.
We think it’s really important to support the work of the Garvan. They are such hard working and dedicated people.
Including a bequest to Garvan in my Will was a sound decision.
The medical research outcomes achieved at Garvan are universally needed for the benefit of all humanity.
More information
If you have any questions, or would like more information about including a gift in your Will to Garvan please contact our Future Giving team using this form.
Your enquiry will be treated confidentially, and without any obligation.