Leaving a gift in your will

Whether it be 1% or 50%, every gift will make a difference! A bequest (sometimes called a gift-in-will) is a wonderful way to support the work of Special Olympics New Zealand beyond your lifetime. It’s a gesture of kindness which means a great deal to the people and their families that we work with throughout New Zealand.

Creating a Will is a generous and meaningful way to safeguard the future of both the causes close to your heart and your loved ones. It helps to ensure your wishes are adhered to, and your assets are distributed as you intended after you die. It also means less confusion and heartache for your loved ones.  

As you take this important step, we encourage you to seek independent legal advice to ensure your Will reflects your true intentions. It’s also essential to discuss your wishes with your loved ones, so they understand and support your decisions.

Your support has always been at the heart of what we do.

Why is leaving a gift in my Will so important to Special Olympics ?

For many charities, gifts left in people’s Wills are a vital part of their income. Gifts from people like you not only help fund the delivery of our services, but they also help ensure the future financial security of the organization for many years to come through the Special Olympics New Zealand Foundation

When you leave a gift in your Will, you provide a critical source of funding for us to continue our important work today, and long into the future. You can feel confident that your gift will be used to help a cause close to your heart and all the funds we receive are used for the benefit of others living in our community. 

How will my gift be used?

When you choose to leave a gift to support the work of Special Olympics here in NZ, your gift will be used to create a long lasting, sustainable future for our athletes through the Special Olympic New Zealand Foundation.

About the Special Olympics New Zealand Foundation (Registered Charity CC54133)
The Foundation was set up to ensure the financial stability of Special Olympics New Zealand and that our impact is protected for generations to come. All gifts to will become part of a permanent endowment, which will continue to grow over time. Our role is two fold:

Ensure the long term sustainability of Special Olympics in New Zealand by building up a portfolio of funds invested to generate the best possible return.
Use those returns to provide funding for special programmes and initiatives for the intellectually disabled community run by Special Olympics New Zealand.

What types of gift can I leave?

There are three main gift types you can choose from: 

Residual bequest.  A residual bequest is what is left over (residue), or a percentage of what is left over of your estate, after your other bequests for whānau and friends have been distributed.  This is one of the most common forms of gifts people leave.
Pecuniary bequest (a specified amount of money) This is a set amount of money you wish to leave to one or more beneficiaries. 
Specific bequest. This is a gift of a particular item or asset, for example, jewelry, stocks and shares, property, works of art.

How do I include the Special Olympics New Zealand Foundation in my Will?

You can speak to your lawyer or trusted advisor who will help you with wording, or you could send this statement to them.

I give to Special Olympics New Zealand Foundation, (registered charity CC54133) % of my estate, OR the residue of my Estate, OR the sum of $…….. OR named property OR assets) for which the receipt of the duly authorised officer at Special Olympics NZ Foundation, shall be full and sufficient discharge for my Trustees”. 

We can also advise you as well on providing any information to assist you in this wording.

If I leave a gift in my will, should I tell you?

You have no obligation to tell us that you have left a gift in your will, but we would love to hear from you if you would like to let us know. It means we can acknowledge your gift and keep you up to date with our work and the impact is has on the community.

Who can help me write a will?

Many people complete their will through their lawyer, but other options include:

Public Trust who provide both online and in person services
There are online will providers like Gathered Here, and we are proud to partner with them to create your Will free of charge for life as a friend of Special Olympics New Zealand.

How to Get Started:

Visit  www.gatheredhere.com/nz/c/sonzf to start your free Will.
Follow the easy steps to complete your Will.
Consider including a gift to the Special Olympics New Zealand Foundation to support our mission into the future.

If you have any questions or would like more information about leaving a gift in your Will, please don’t hesitate to contact us at donate@sonzf.org.nz.