A bequest, or legacy, can be the most important gift you ever give. By remembering The Sanctuary – The Hills Women’s Shelter in your Will you are ensuring the future safety of vulnerable women, and their children, by helping provide additional and much needed crisis accommodation.
The Sanctuary is a purpose built property in the Hills District of Sydney, which provides short-term crisis accommodation to women and children who are homeless or leaving domestic violence.Women and their children are provided with around the clock safe and non-threatening, care and support and assistance to start a new life.
We safely pursue innovation in our services for the benefit of our clients and the broader community and influencing policy for transitional housing.We provide a safe and secure space for women and their children who; due to physical, emotional or sexual abuse, family breakdown, financial strife, domestic violence, mental health issues or lack of affordable housing—are homeless.As The Sanctuary currently receives only a small amount of government funding, we rely on fundraising and bequest donations to ensure disadvantaged women and their children can access safe and secure accommodation in order to start rebuilding their lives.
Your bequest and other gifts will help us establish and run new shelters, meaning that we can improve the response to homelessness and domestic violence across Australia.
Do I need to tell you?
We understand that making your Will is a very personal matter and we respect your privacy. Communicate your wishes to your loved ones and please notify us of your planned bequest if you so desire. Notifying us does not alter your right to change or update your wishes if circumstances change but it does help us plan for the future.
Can you help me write my will?
Unfortunately, we are unable to help write your Will as we do not have the legal expertise and we recommend that you consult with a lawyer.
What type of gift can I leave?
There are many ways to include The Sanctuary in your Will. The four options to leave a bequest are:
1. Residual bequest
After you have provided for your family and friends you can leave what is left – the residue, or a percentage of the residue – to The Sanctuary. As your estate increases in value, so does your bequest. A residual bequest helps offset the effect of inflation.
2. Cash sum
A specific cash sum is a common form of bequest. As it doesn’t allow for inflation or a change in your circumstances, however you may want to review it regularly.
3. A percentage
This is often regarded as the most flexible way to give as it adapts more readily to your circumstances.
What wording do I use?
Leaving a legacy for vulnerable women is an amazing thing to do and we thank you for thinking of us with a bequest to The Sanctuary – The Hills Women’s Shelter. However we do advise that you seek qualified expert assistance from a lawyer when putting your Will together.
Your lawyer will be best placed to draft the wording for your Will but the following wording can be used as a guide:
1. For cash bequests of a fixed sum:
“I give, devise and bequeath to The Sanctuary – The Hills Women’s Shelter INC 1501318, for its general purposes, the following sum of $________ and I direct that the receipt of the Treasurer or other Proper Officer shall be sufficient discharge to my Executor for the bequest.”
2. For bequests of the whole residue of an estate:
“I give, devise and bequeath to The Sanctuary – The Hills Women’s Shelter INC 1501318, for its general purposes, the total of my Residuary Estate, and I direct that the receipt of the Treasurer or other Proper Officer shall be sufficient discharge to my Executor for the bequest.”
3. For bequests of a percentage of the residue of an estate:
“I give, devise and bequeath to The Sanctuary – The Hills Women’s Shelter INC 1501318, for its general purposes, _____% of my Residuary Estate and I direct that the receipt of the Treasurer or other Proper Officer shall be sufficient discharge to my Executor for the bequest.”
Important information
If you already have a Will, your bequest can of course be added as a Codicil (modification). We recommend that you seek professional advice on how to do this.
To be certain your bequest reaches The Sanctuary, it is important to use our full legal name and include our Australian Charity Number as shown below:
The Sanctuary – The Hills Women’s Shelter
- ABN 45 392 521 740
- INC 1501318