Give In Your Will
Leave a legacy
Gifts in wills to Documentary Australia
Deciding to leave a gift in your will is one of the most important decisions you will ever make and it’s essential for you to have the relevant information.
For nearly two decades, Documentary Australia has helped bring important stories to life, connecting filmmakers with the philanthropic support they need to make films that matter. A gift in your will is one of the most powerful ways to make sure that this important work continues long after your lifetime. It costs nothing today, but it can fund the documentaries of tomorrow, informing, challenging and inspiring generations to come.
Why leave a gift to Documentary Australia?
When you include a gift to Documentary Australia in your will, you are leaving a legacy to ensure to support of storytelling for positive social change into the future.
For more than 18 years, Documentary Australia has supported independent documentary filmmakers and held a significant position of leadership, capacity building and advocacy within the documentary sector. We rely on the generosity of our supporters to continue to do the work that we do well into the future.
A bequest shows your trust and willingness to invest in the future of documentary and its importance as a tool to create lasting social impact.
How to leave a gift in your will to Documentary Australia
If you already have a will but would like to leave a gift to Documentary Australia, you can do so by making a simple addition to your existing will. This is called a codicil.
If you do not have a will at the moment, you can simply include a bequest when you write a new will.
Whatever your circumstances, we would advise you see a solicitor to ensure your wishes will be followed.
Leaving a gift to Documentary Australia is simple, and you can do so in a way that suits your circumstances:
- Residuary Bequest: This is a gift of what remains after you have made provisions for your loved ones. A residuary gift will keep up with inflation. It will mean your bequest will achieve as much in our projects in the future as you would like it to now.
- Percentage Gift: Leaving a percentage of your estate allows you to decide what proportion of your total estate you would like to give to Documentary Australia. A percentage gift will also keep up with inflation.
- Pecuniary Bequest or Specific Sum: A pecuniary bequest is a fixed sum of money to be left to Documentary Australia. This type of gift will not keep up with inflation.
We recommend speaking with your solicitor or will-maker about which option best suits your wishes. If it’s helpful, we’re happy to provide suggested wording to share with them:
“I give and bequeath to Documentary Australia, of 52 Victoria Street, Paddington, NSW 2021, Australia:
- the residue, or
- [……] percent of my whole estate, or
- [……] percent of the residue, or
- the specific sum of $[……]
to be used for its general charitable purposes. and I direct that the receipt of the Chief Executive Officer or other authorised officer shall be a sufficient discharge to my executor(s).”
ABN 11 227 328 793
We believe it is important to talk to family and loved ones about your will. Communication will help ensure your final wishes are carried out. Let your family know that you are leaving a gift to Documentary Australia, that it is important to you, and advise any executors and guardians of your wishes.
We also suggest that you let us know once you have left a gift in your will to Documentary Australia. Knowing when someone has chosen to support us in this particular way helps us to plan more confidently for the future, and we would be very pleased to have the opportunity to thank you personally for your generous support.
"If you're going to live, leave a legacy. Make a mark on the world that can't be erased."
CONTACT US TO LEARN MORE
If you would like to receive more information about the visionary act of leaving a gift in your will, please feel free to reach out.
Ruth Molloy | Head of Philantrophy, Partnerships & Communications
[email protected]
Every conversation is confidential, and obligation free.
Thank you.
Help make a difference with documentary
Documentary Australia is a unique not-for-profit that ensures important stories are told, seen and achieve social impact outcomes. Find out how to join our community for powerful change below:
We support documentaries that inspire change across a broad range of issues
Our Programs
Environmental Accelerator
ENVIRONMENT
Documentary Australia is committed to increasing engagement with environmental issues and empowering action to protect the planet, using documentary storytelling as a tool to create change. Launched in November 2022, the Environmental Accelerator amplifies the impact of up to 10 documentary projects over three years to increase awareness and motivating action for the environment.
SheDoc
WOMEN & GIRLS
SheDoc 2023 will elevate the career of up to six female-identifying filmmakers per year, particularly in key creative roles under-represented by women. Our vision is to provide talented women with resources and support for their professional development in order to help elevate issues relating to women and girls with an emphasis on gender-equity in documentary storytelling.
Impact Producer Program
Documentary Australia launched the Impact Producer Program in 2023 – a new ten-month professional development program that aims to train the next generation of Impact Producers. This program is the first of its kind in Australia, developed in response to the increasingly unmet demand for experienced professionals to undertake this role.
Centralised Indigenous Fellowship
Launched in 2019, the Centralised Indigenous Fellowship aims to create a bespoke career development program for First Nations documentary filmmakers to increase their skills and knowldge and share their stories. This enables a the career advancement of a new generation of Aboriginal screen storytellers and encourages generations that come after them.
We use stories to incite action and create impact on
vital social issues
Annual Impact Report 2024-2025
In FY24-25, Documentary Australia continued its unwavering commitment to leveraging the power of storytelling for social change.
At a time when trust has been eroded and the truth can't always be relied on in mainstream or social media, documentary storytelling is becoming more important than ever. Through a combination of impactful documentaries, strategic partnerships and dedicated donor support, we have made significant strides in advancing our mission.
Our dedicated community of donors play a pivotal role in our success. Your generous support enables us to bring powerful stories to life and to create real impact on the issues that matter most.