Making Donations and Bequests to Health & Medical Research

This short practical guide explains how individuals can support health and medical research through donations, made during their lifetime, and bequests, made through a will. It notes that most Australian health and medical research is conducted in public universities, medical research institutes and some public hospitals, which are generally eligible to receive tax-deductible donations. The guide outlines options for directing support: research into a specific disease or condition, a particular organisation, research students (whose training can involve 7 to 10 or more years of study), defined projects, career development for early- to mid-career researchers, innovative higher-risk research, and equipment, infrastructure and capital works. Case studies of a Ramaciotti Foundations-supported researcher and the Australian Bionic Ear illustrate the role of philanthropy. Readers are directed to Research Australia’s member database.