Leaving a Gift in Your Will to Grounded Community Land Trust Advocacy
A gift in your Will is a powerful way to support a fairer housing future.
By leaving a bequest to Grounded Community Land Trust Advocacy, you can help grow a future where land and housing are held for community benefit, not speculation. Your legacy can support advocacy, education, policy reform, community-led housing initiatives, and the development of Community Land Trusts across Australia.
This policy explains how Grounded accepts, manages and honours gifts in Wills.
1. About Bequests
A bequest is a gift left in your Will to a person, organisation or cause you care about. A Will is a legal document that sets out what you want to happen to your assets after you die, and it can include gifts to charities. Australian Government MoneySmart guidance recommends keeping your Will up to date and seeking legal advice if you are unsure about your estate planning arrangements.
2. Why Leave a Gift to Grounded?
Housing is one of the defining challenges of our time. A gift in your Will can help Grounded continue working toward:
- permanently affordable housing through Community Land Trusts
- policy and planning reform that supports community-led housing
- practical tools, resources and education for local groups
- advocacy for land justice, intergenerational equity and housing held for people, not profit
- long-term movement-building for community ownership and stewardship
Every gift, large or small, helps build the foundations for future generations.
3. Types of Bequests You Can Leave
You may choose to leave Grounded:
A residual gift
A percentage or share of what remains of your estate after your loved ones have been provided for and expenses have been paid.
A pecuniary gift
A fixed dollar amount.
A specific gift
A particular asset, such as property, shares or another item of value.
A whole estate gift
Your entire estate, after debts and expenses are paid.
Many people choose a residual gift because it allows them to provide for family and loved ones first while still supporting a cause they care about.
4. Suggested Wording for Your Will
To include Grounded in your Will, you may wish to use the following wording as a starting point:
“I give [insert percentage, dollar amount, or description of gift] to Grounded Community Land Trust Advocacy ABN 54 131 330 120, for its general charitable purposes. I declare that the receipt of an authorised officer of Grounded Community Land Trust Advocacy shall be sufficient discharge to my executor or trustee.”
Please ask your solicitor or legal adviser to check that the wording is suitable for your circumstances.
5. Free Online Wills Option
If you would like a simple way to start or update your Will, you may wish to use the EveryWill free online wills platform. Gathered Here states that its online Wills are free and can be updated without charge.
Using this service is completely optional. You do not need to leave a gift to Grounded to use it, and Grounded does not provide legal advice. If your estate is complex, or you are unsure whether an online Will is suitable, MoneySmart recommends having an online Will kit checked by a solicitor or Public Trustee.
Start your free online Will:
Gathered Here EveryWill Online
6. How Bequests Are Used
Unless you specify otherwise, gifts in Wills are used for Grounded’s general charitable purposes. This gives Grounded the flexibility to direct funds where they are most needed at the time the gift is received.
Your bequest may support work such as:
- Community Land Trust education and advocacy
- policy reform and planning system change
- community-led housing incubator and accelerator work
- local readiness, outreach and organising
- practical resources for communities seeking permanently affordable housing
- long term organisational capacity for Grounded’s mission
If you would like your gift to support a specific area of Grounded’s work, we encourage you to contact us before finalising your Will. This helps ensure your wishes can be honoured and that the purpose remains practical over time.
7. Acceptance of Bequests
Grounded is deeply grateful for gifts in Wills. However, we may need to decline a gift if it:
- is inconsistent with Grounded’s purpose, values or legal obligations
- would create an unacceptable risk, liability or cost
- cannot reasonably be used or managed by the organisation
- has conditions that Grounded cannot fulfil
Any decision to accept or decline a bequest will be made carefully and respectfully.
8. Privacy, Confidentiality and Recognition
Leaving a gift in your Will is a personal decision. Grounded will treat all bequest conversations and records with care and confidentiality.
You are welcome to let us know if you have included Grounded in your Will, but you are not required to do so. If you choose to tell us, it allows us to thank you personally and keep you connected with the impact of Grounded’s work.
With your permission, Grounded may recognise legacy supporters through:
- a Legacy Circle
- annual reports
- supporter updates
- invitations to briefings or events
You may also choose to remain anonymous.
9. Letting Us Know
If you have included Grounded in your Will, or are considering doing so, we would be honoured to hear from you.
All conversations are confidential and obligation free.