Your legacy. Planned.
Some of life’s greatest gifts happen after you're gone. The Giving Plan is an investment bond (sometimes called a bequest bond) that lets you support what you care about, with certainty and simplicity. It’s about making sure your generosity lives on exactly as you intended.
Your investment is paid directly to your chosen charity and can’t be contested, helping your legacy reach the people and causes you value most.
I wanted my legacy to do more than outlive me - I wanted it to make a real difference to fighting cancer, without the fear of it getting lost or challenged.
Julie
Our Giving Plan, explained
The Giving Plan is an investment bond designed to make giving simple and structured. It allows you to leave a charitable gift that isn’t subject to probate, so your funds are paid directly to your nominated charity without delay or legal challenge
You control contributions while alive; when the time comes, your gift goes directly to your nominated recipients or causes.
Because earnings grow inside the bond, and withdrawals after 10 years are generally tax-free, your gift can grow in value over time. You generally retain access to funds if your plans change because we believe that flexibility matters.
There are a number of investment options you can choose from, depending on your goals.
Investment options – returns versus risk
The chart above is illustrative and is not intended to show actual return and risk outcomes to scale. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future returns.
Investing made simple and secure
Non-contestable giving
Once your beneficiary is validly nominated, your gift can’t be contested through will or estate challenges.
No set-up fuss
Get started easily. You can change beneficiaries at any time, and funds are paid directly to your chosen recipients when due.
Tax-smart growth
Foresters pays tax on your bond’s earnings at a flat rate of 30%. After 10 years, withdrawals are generally tax-free.
Flexible access
If your circumstances change, you can access funds before your death without penalty.
Multiple investment options
Choose from, sustainable, balanced, growth or high growth.
Transparent options
With published performance, you can monitor the progress of your investment.
For Australian families like yours
We’ve helped over 97,000 Australians bring their plans to life. We’d love to help you, too.
97,000+
active members
176+
years of planning with Australians
$450m
in funds managed with care
Start a Giving Plan today
As your life-planning partner, Foresters is here to bring you clarity, confidence, and support at every step. Whether you’re just starting to plan or ready to put a bond in place, we’re here to guide you.
Your questions, answered
A Giving Plan is a tax-effective investment bond (also commonly referred to as a bequest bond). It is designed to help you leave a meaningful gift to the people or causes you care about. You contribute during your lifetime, and when the time comes, the funds are paid directly to your chosen beneficiaries or charities safely, securely, and without going through probate. It’s a simple, flexible way to make your legacy clear and lasting.
You open a Giving Plan in your name and nominate one or more beneficiaries. These may be individuals, charities, or other incorporated organisations. Your contributions are invested and grow within the bond. When you pass away, the funds are paid directly to your nominated beneficiaries, according to your instructions. Because the Plan is held outside your estate, it avoids delays and disputes that can arise with traditional wills.
Yes. The Giving Plan is designed with flexibility in mind. You can access your funds at any time during your lifetime if your circumstances or priorities change. You can also update your beneficiaries or adjust your contributions when ever needed, your Plan stays in your control.
Earnings inside the bond are taxed within the fund at a flat rate of 30%, not your personal marginal rate. You don’t need to declare these earnings on your tax return, and if you hold the Plan for 10 years (and follow contribution rules), any withdrawals or gifts are generally tax-free. This makes the Giving Plan a tax-effective way to grow your legacy over time.
Unlike a traditional bequest through your Will, the Giving Plan pays directly to your nominated beneficiaries, bypassing probate. That means your gift can’t be delayed or contested and reaches your beneficiaries more quickly and securely. It also provides privacy, since the details of your plan aren’t part of the public record.
You can nominate individuals, registered charities, or other incorporated organisations, or a combination of all three. You can also change or remove beneficiaries at any time if your wishes evolve. Foresters ensures your instructions are clearly recorded so your gift is honoured as you intend.
Yes. The Giving Plan is often used alongside a Will as part of a broader estate planning strategy. Because it bypasses probate and pays directly to your beneficiaries, it provides an additional layer of certainty and efficiency. Many people use it to complement their Will and ensure specific gifts are delivered without complication.
Yes. Your funds are held and managed by Foresters, a member-owned friendly society regulated under the Life Insurance Act and supervised by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA). We’re required to maintain strong reserves and meet ongoing capital adequacy standards to protect your investment at every stage.
You can choose from four investment options: sustainable, balanced, growth and high growth, depending on your comfort with risk and return. You can switch between options at any time, giving you control over how your legacy grows.
You can apply online or through one of our Australian-based consultants. You can also download the Product Disclosure Statement and Target Market Determination for more information before applying.
We’re here to help. You can speak to one of our Australian-based consultants now on 1800 645 326.
Issued by Foresters Financial Limited (AFSL: 241421).
This information is general in nature and does not take into account your personal objectives, financial situation, or needs. Before acting on any information, you should consider its appropriateness to your circumstances and seek advice from a licensed financial adviser.
We take care to ensure the information provided is accurate and complete, but we make no guarantees as to its reliability. Always refer to the relevant Product Disclosure Statement (PDS), Target Market Determination (TMD), and other official documents before acquiring any financial product.