Create a Lasting Legacy
Leave a gift in your will and create a future free from eating disorders.
After you have taken care of your loved ones, consider leaving as little as 1% to Butterfly.
Your gift will allow us to continue our mission and change the lives of those affected by eating disorders and body image concerns. Leaving a gift in your will is one of the most impactful things you can do, and it costs you nothing today.
Getting started is simple! Just let your solicitor know your wishes, and give them our name and ABN:
Butterfly Foundation
ABN 42 102 193 582
A friend of ours lost her daughter through anorexia. The illness finally took its toll on her mental health and she couldn’t carry on living with it. She was one of twins – a boy and a girl. It devastated the community, and it was heart-wrenching to see her parents’ anguish and suffering. We decided to leave a gift in our will to Butterfly to help tackle this much-misunderstood issue, and support the families and friends of those living with these devastating physical and mental health conditions.
– Helen and Jonathan Beeby, Mornington, VIC
Eating Disorders affect 1.1 million people in Australia each year; a prevalence similar to substance use disorders. Eating Disorders have the highest mortality rate of any major mental illness. Tragically, individuals with an eating disorder are up to 31 times more likely to die by suicide. Furthermore, the economic burden is immense, costing our economy $66.9 billion annually.
That’s why Butterfly is on a mission to prevent eating disorders and body image concerns from occurring, to ensure that the best possible treatments are available and that appropriate care and support are there for those affected.
We do this through:
- Treatment and support services
- Education and prevention program
- Advocacy, awareness and collaboration campaigns
Thanks to the support of donors like you…
- Our Helpline saw a 275% increase in contacts, with 22,043 engagements.
- 458 individuals participated in treatment and support programs.
- Wandi Nerida treated 95 participants and won the ACHS Clinical Excellence and Safety Award.
- 209,919 young people were reached through our educational services.
- 1,099 schools got involved with the Body Kind Schools Initiative.
- We launched a petition for a National Body Image Inquiry and formed the Parliamentary Friends of Eating Disorder Awareness Group.
- The Body Pride campaign reached over 25 million people, focusing on LGBTQIA+ awareness.
Now we need your help. Include Butterfly in your will, and ensure this vital work can continue for future generations.
(All stats above are from the 2022/23 financial year. Learn more about our impact here)
For many years we lived with an eating disorder in our family and we struggled trying to find the right treatment. At the time, there was no organisation like Butterfly; no one to call. I have left a gift to Butterfly in my will to ensure that others don’t struggle as we did.
– Tony Gill, Butterfly supporter and former board member
Other Things to Know
The most common way to create a will is to use a solicitor. They will be able to advise you on the best will for your needs. See “Where to find a solicitor”, below, for help finding one.
Online will platforms are an increasingly popular way to write your will. Safewill, Gathered Here and Willed are three popular platforms. Note: Butterfly does not have an affiliation with any online platform at this stage.
To update your will and include Butterfly, simply contact your solicitor and tell them about your wishes. If you’re using an online will platform, please visit their help page, or reach out to our team for advice.
There are a few ways to express your gift in your will.
- Percentage: You choose a percentage of your estate to give to charity.
- Residual Gift: After caring for family and friends with specific amounts, you can leave all or part of your estate to charity.
- Whole Estate: Some people choose to give their whole estate.
- Fixed Amount: You can specify a fixed amount to leave as a gift.
Tip: Leaving a percentage or a residual gift (options 1 or 2) is the most common way to structure your gift. These two options are great because people from all financial positions can make a big impact! It also means that your potential gift grows along with your wealth, so you don’t have to update your will again.
There is no minimum or maximum amount, and we are so grateful for all gifts, large and small.
The amount people choose to give to charity in their wills is an intensely personal question, and can vary quite a bit depending on personal preferences, financial means and other factors. But here are some common trends:
- A smaller portion: Many folks opt to leave a modest portion, usually between 1% to 5% of their estate. This way, they can support their favourite causes while still taking care of their family and loved ones.
- A larger portion: Some people decide to be even more generous, leaving around 10% to 25% to charity. This is often the case when they have a strong passion for a particular cause.
- Major contributions: Others choose to leave a significant part of their estate, 50% or more, to charity. This is more common among individuals who are deeply committed to their chosen causes and have the financial means to do so.
- Everything: In rare cases, individuals without close family, friends or dependents might decide to leave their entire estate to charity.
It’s always a good idea to talk with a financial advisor or estate planner to figure out what works best for you.
If you’re not sure where to start, consider leaving 1% to Butterfly. You’d be surprised what a big impact you can have with such a small number!
When you make a will or update your existing one, you should obtain independent legal advice. Then, if you decide that leaving a gift to Butterfly is something you’d like to do, we suggest you use the following wording:
I give, devise and bequeath to Butterfly Foundation (ABN 42 102 193 582)
a) The residue (or ______ % of the residue) of my estate OR
b) _______ % of my estate OR
c) A sum of $ _______
to be used for the fulfillment of Butterfly’s charitable purposes through its awareness, research, education and advocacy programs, and treatment and support services, free of all death and estate duties. I declare that the receipt of such gift by an authorised officer of the Butterfly Foundation shall constitute a full and sufficient discharge of my Executor’s duties.
No, you do not have to tell us if you have included Butterfly in your will, however we would love the opportunity to thank you in person to acknowledge your generous contribution during your lifetime. Please get in touch, we’d love to chat!
If you need help finding a solicitor, please contact the relevant organisation listed below. Each organisation runs their own legal referral program and will be able to put you in touch with a solicitor that meets your needs.
Executors and solicitors, please contact us to request any further information you may need, including bank details.
Get In Touch
Complete the form below or contact our team.
All interactions are confidential and obligation-free.
Joel Cahill, Gifts in Wills Manager
(02) 9412 4499
bequests@butterfly.org.au
