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A gift in your Will

A bequest or gift in your Will can support crucial medical research.

Give the gift of better health to future generations

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. 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'.

Whatever your gift, each and every bequest 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.

Hear from our Partners for the Future, Sue and Peter on why they have left a gift in their Will and how your gift will help future generations.

Getting started

It’s easy to leave a gift in your Will to Garvan and become a Partner for the Future. You can either include the gift when you write your Will or simply add one as a codicil to your existing Will. It is important to talk to your loved ones about your intentions and let them know that leaving a bequest to Garvan is important to you. This can help to ensure that your intentions and wishes are carried out.

  • There are several ways you can leave a gift in your Will to Garvan:

    • Percentage of the whole estate: you may chose to leave a percentage of, or the whole of your estate to the Garvan Institute.
    • Residual gifts: after you have provided for your loved ones you may chose to leave the remainder or a percentage of the remainder of your estate.
    • Percentage of estate and residuary gifts: keep up with inflation and changes in circumstance allowing for growth or depreciation in the value of your estate. 
    • A specific amount of money. However, this does not allow for changes of circumstance or inflation.
    • A specific gift: of real estate, stocks, bonds, shares, artwork, jewellery etc.
  • 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.

    You can find out more about finding a solicitor in your area here.

  • Garvan has partnered with Safewill to offer our supporters the opportunity to write a standard Will online for $80. All Wills are revised by a practising solicitor. Safewill enables you to create, update and access your Will online. For more information on this service please visit Safewill.

  • 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 your legacy is managed ethically, and applied thoughtfully, for instance – to areas in most need, or where there is the best chance of making a real healthcare breakthrough.

    In tribute to such a special gift, we ensure our bequestors’ 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.

If you have any questions, or would like more information about including a gift in your Will to Garvan please contact our bequest team using this form.

Your enquiry will be treated confidentially and without any obligation.

Below is the suggested wording for your Will. You should seek professional advice from a legal adviser to ensure your wishes are recorded in a legally binding way. 

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.

If you are interested in leaving a gift in your Will to a specific area of research, please contact the team for more information.

For bequestors who wish to leave a named fellowship to Garvan in honour or memory of loved ones, please contact our friendly team to discuss these details and advice on the correct wording.

Bequests are extremely important to the future of medical research at Garvan.

They are typically directed to our endowment fund, which means the gift will provide income in perpetuity. This enables us to plan with some security as well as fund new research projects with greater flexibility where there is the best chance of making a real healthcare breakthrough.

We are also extremely careful to respect the wishes of the bequestor 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.

Garvan’s charitable status

The following legal points, which may significantly enhance your client’s bequest.

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

Bequest 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

Mailing address

Donna Mason, Estates Administration Lead, Garvan Institute, 384 Victoria Street, Darlinghurst NSW 2010

Taking 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 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” 


  • Joe and Betty Banhidi's lives were ripped apart in September 2013, when Joe was diagnosed with aggressive mantle celllymphoma. During six months of heavy chemo the couple’s eyes were opened to the impact of illness – and how medical research can help.

    The more the couple read about research the more their interest grew – this interest led them to the Garvan Institute. Following tours at both Garvan’s Darlinghurst and Moss Vale research facilities, Joe and Betty made the selfless decision of leaving a bequest to Garvan in their Will, and became Garvan Partners for the Future. Right now, Joe is in remission and continues to convey a sense of gratitude to medical research for saving his life.

    “What I’ve got is incurable, but because of medical research it’s manageable."

  • 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 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.

  • After surviving breast cancer, Helen was diagnosed with the beginnings of an autoimmune disease in 2013. She and her husband Terry visited Garvan to find out more about their research in this area, and decided to leave a bequest in their Wills.

    They were impressed by the quality of Garvan’s work, and are certain their gift will make a significant difference to people’s lives. Terry and Helen hope their legacy will support Garvan’s scientists to discover better ways to detect, treat and hopefully prevent autoimmune and immunological diseases.

    "We were really impressed by the quality of Garvan's research." 

  • 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 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”

  • The desire to help others led Sid Lewis to become a Garvan Partner for the Future, in memory of his beloved wife of 65 years, Kit. When Kit was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, Sid learned all that he could to ensure her condition was properly managed.

    During his research and Kit’s treatments they were introduced to the Garvan Institute, and were highly impressed by the breakthrough work led by our scientists. Sid knew that leaving a bequest to Garvan in his Will was an important way he could honour the memory of his beautiful wife, and provide a gift back to the land and people they loved so much.

    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.”

  • Bill Walker 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 bequest 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 bequest will go on in perpetuity to help improve the lives of future generations. 

     

  • Gabriel Farago was a young boy when he arrived in Australia from Eastern Europe, with all his belongings in a little brown suitcase. With new opportunities, hard work and good fortune, his belongings grew well beyond the suitcase over the years.

    Gabriel and his wife Joan were looking for a way to give back to life what it had given them, and decided to leave a bequest in their Will. After looking into Garvan’s work, it was the obvious choice for the Faragos and they know their bequest will be put to good use.  

    “What could possibly be more important than supporting cutting-edge medical research which will benefit generations to come?” 

  • “We think everybody wants to leave the world a better place, and by supporting Garvan I know we are helping all of humanity. The research into disease and treatments will go all around the world, including developing countries. That’s extremely important to us.

    We also had a conversation with our daughter about wanting to leave a percentage of our Wills to Garvan as a cause we believe in. Because she works in research herself she understands how difficult it is to fund work through grants alone, so she was very supportive of our decision to become Garvan Partners for the Future”.

    We really like the way Garvan cares about people and the information we receive when we come here”

  • Rick is a semi-retired educator and author. He began giving to Garvan with annual donations. However, the more he learnt about Garvan’s work and breakthroughs, the more he wanted to contribute.

    When it was time to review his Will, he included bequests to four different charities – one of them being Garvan. Rick is pleased to be playing a role in helping to unlock the secrets to a range of devastating diseases and enjoys being able to stay up-to-date with Garvan’s research and discoveries. 

    "It's encouraging to know that the future of medical research will be in good hands, and that I'm playing a small part."  

  • Michael and Joy Foulsham have been loyal Garvan donors since May 2000, attending our public seminars and supporting our researchers via regular donations. In 2010, they confirmed they had included future gifts in their Will to Garvan: “We think it’s really important to support the work of the Garvan. They are such hard working and dedicated people.

    At this time, we remember Joy with gratitude, as sadly she passed away in November 2022, including a very thoughtful gift to our research in her Will. Michael still enjoys receiving our Breakthrough magazine as a committed Partner for the Future.

  • Roberta is no stranger to medical research. After teaching Nature and Physics in the UK and Sydney, she began work at the UK’s Medical Research Council. There she had the chance to visit a range of research centres and witness truly important developments in the field.

    Roberta has now retired in Sydney, where she’s able to volunteer regularly at Garvan and keep up with the latest research developments. After seeing the important work being done by Garvan’s researchers, she’s confident her bequest will be a lasting legacy.

    “Including a bequest to Garvan in my Will was a sound decision.”

  • George first became aware of Garvan in the 1980s when he discovered the life-changing diabetes research achieved by our scientists and clinicians. As George learned more about Garvan, he was so impressed with the broad-ranging diseases we research; he became a regular supporter and loved attending our free Medical Research Seminars.

    When the time came to make his Will, George decided to become a Garvan Partner for the Future and included a farsighted and generous bequest to our endowment fund. George said:

    “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 bequest team using this form.

Your enquiry will be treated confidentially, and without any obligation.

Contact the bequest team