By Ross Greenwood 

The act of giving is not only generous but provides a better outcome for someone less fortunate. 

That is the hallmark of the Humpty Dumpty Foundation which, many of you will know, is the largest charitable supplier of children’s medical equipment in Australia behind state and territory governments. The question is: 

how to give so that others may have better lives?

A newborn at Bowral Hospital being safely monitored during resuscitation, thanks to equipment donated by a kind-hearted Humpty supporter

One way is through charitable donations throughout your working life, which naturally attract a tax deduction for you (because Humpty is a DGR1 registered charity with the Australian Tax Office). Another way is through a charitable bequest in your will. Increasingly, this is how more people choose to donate, to improve others’ lives when you are no longer here. 

There is also the opportunity to help save little lives through a bequest, ensuring your gift continues to help well into the future. While this sounds like a simple thing to do, there are complexities. Estate law is sometimes not as clear-cut as we would like it to be. In short, if you want money to go to the Humpty Dumpty Foundation from your estate, you need to specifically name the Humpty Dumpty Foundation. 

Nurses from Weipa Integrated Health Service in QLD with phototherapy system donated to the health service through a bequest left by a generous Humpty supporter

There was a famous case in New South Wales where a woman left a portion of her estate to 'charities supporting children’s welfare.' Unfortunately, her family could not agree on which charities she meant, and a lengthy legal process followed. The result was a win for the lawyers, heartache for the family, and disappointment for the charities that ultimately missed out. 

The lesson of her estate is something for us all to learn from: be specific. Clear intentions make sure your generosity reaches the people who need it most. And this should not put you off making a charitable bequest. Humpty has proudly been the beneficiary of donations from people’s wills. Making a will and considering the future is a practical part of life. In fact, making a donation via a will is an active form of charity. You can meet with the Humpty team and make plans throughout your life, secure in the knowledge about how those funds will be used and the type of people whose lives will benefit in the future. 

Some people worry whether the charity they choose will still exist when the time comes. That can be a concern with smaller organisations. But Humpty is a long-standing charity that prides itself on having systems and practices that are enduring. And that is where the confidence and compassion to donate coincide.