Leaving a charitable bequest in your Will can have a lasting impact on a charitable organisation and proves to be a significant source of income for that charity. It truly is the gift that keeps on giving.
In South Africa we enjoy the privilege of freedom of testation. This allows us to choose how and to whom we wish to distribute our estate upon death. A clearly drafted Will can ensure that family disputes are avoided, that the testator’s wishes are strictly adhered to and that the descendants of the testator are provided for. In the event of a person dying without a Will, their estate will be distributed according to the law of intestate succession. Potentially, those that you might wish to inherit may not, in terms of the law, be recognised as having any legal entitlement to your estate.
A valid Will not only allows you to provide for those you care about long after you’re gone; it also provides an opportunity to support a charity that you care about through leaving a bequest in your Will.
In terms of Muslim Sharia Law, a Muslim may leave a bequest to a charity. Once the payment of any taxes, debts, funeral, and administration expenses has been settled, the testator may leave up to a maximum of one third of their estate to whomever they wish – this may include family and friends not entitled to inherit under Sharia law, as well as charities.
During Will’s Week, we ask that you please consider leaving The Children’s Hospital Trust a charitable bequest when drafting your Will.
Leaving a bequest to The Children’s Hospital Trust is a simple, yet remarkable, gesture. Whether this comes in the form of a monetary donation, a percentage of your estate, a property, an item from your estate or shares, the impact of a donation is significant.
100% of your donation goes towards funding projects that change children’s lives (and the lives of the people who love them). Not a single cent is spent on administration costs. Working in partnership with the Western Cape Department of Health, UCT Department of Paediatrics and Child Health and the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital management, the Trust works towards improving public health infrastructure, training specialist paediatric healthcare workers, and supporting the establishment of child public health projects.
The Trust relies on the benevolence of donors to realise its aims and objectives. It holds a record of sound financial administration and good governance, which allows the Trust the benefit of utilising 100% of funding raised to address many pressing needs. However, more still needs to be done.
The Trust has successfully completed over 50 projects, including the upgrade and expansion of the Emergency Centre, the ICU and the Oncology ward at the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital, as well as the Groote Schuur Neonatal Unit, to name a few.
Charitable bequests are one of our most critical sources of long-term funding, enabling us to plan and ensure that every child has access to high quality healthcare. Your bequest will allow us to help a vulnerable child thrive!
Furthermore, because the Trust is a registered 127-685 NPO/ PBO No. 930004493 bequests are exempt from tax in terms of the Income Tax Act and may lead to savings in the estate duty payable.
For any further information on the Children’s Hospital Trust, please contact Taryn Rubenstein at Taryn.Rubenstein@chtrust.org.za or Pauline Solomons at Pauline.Solomons@chtrust.org.za
