Dyson Bequest: 25 Years of trusted impact

A love of giving often begins at home. For the Dyson family, it became a legacy – one that has spanned three generations and 25 years of meaningful, trust-based philanthropy through the Dyson Bequest (a sub-account of the Equity Trustees Charitable Foundation, a public ancillary fund).

For John Dyson, nephew of the Bequest founder Bruce and Janie Dyson, this 25-year anniversary reflects not just longevity, but a way of giving that continues to evolve. “Our focus is on finding good people who are changing the world and building long-term relationships with them,” says John who works alongside his cousin, Rose Gilder, as the Bequest’s co-advisors.

Today, the Dyson Bequest supports around 12 to 15 charities each year, like the Beautiful Bunch, TeamsSports4All and Dreams2Live4. “What connects all our partners is that they have a clear, simple value proposition.” 

This clarity and the family’s personal approach has defined the Bequest’s success. Unlike corporate philanthropy bound by application cycles and board approvals, the Dyson Bequest operates with agility and trust. “If a trusted partner needs help, I can call Rose and my two daughters, who are increasingly becoming involved in the management of the Dyson Bequest, and we can agree a grant within hours. That flexibility is a real strength.”

It’s this family-based model that makes the Bequest stand apart. With fewer layers of governance and a deeply personal understanding of the causes they support, decisions are guided by instinct, empathy and a sense of shared purpose. “We’re helping good people do their work a little easier.”

A tradition that continues to evolve

That sense of trust and responsiveness runs deep – back to the Bequest’s beginnings. Bruce and Janie Dyson, lifelong volunteers, established the fund in 2000 to formalise their giving in a simple, practical and people-focused way. After their passing Rose and John carried the vision forward, honouring its spirit while modernising its methods.

That legacy of hands-on, family-led philanthropy enables the Bequest to act with agility today, stepping in where others can’t and funding immediate, practical needs. Whether responding to an urgent call for help or supporting an emerging opportunity, its flexibility allows it to meet people where they are, often at pivotal moments of need.

One example was helping The Nappy Collective buy essential supplies when donations ran low. Another was providing funds to a domestic violence refuge for outdoor play equipment for the children of mothers who were escaping domestic violence. “You see the impact right away. It’s not abstract. You know that women and kids have a safe place to sleep tonight because of that grant. We’re not removed from the people doing the work. We’re right there with them.”

The Bequest also invests in female scientists and medical researchers through the Dyson Bequest Fellowship at the Walter & Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research – a five-year commitment that helps advance their careers and contribute to community health outcomes. “We’ve met some extraordinary women doing life-changing work. I’d like to think we’ve played a small part in helping them get there.”

As the Dyson Bequest marks its 25th year, two generations of the family carry-on the legacy established over 25 years and celebrate an incredible milestone of the impact of the charities supported.

From emergency support for families in crisis to long-term investment in science and health, the Dyson Bequest’s legacy lives in its years of giving, its many grants, and the lives transformed by the charities it supports. 

“At the end of the day, our partners are the ones doing the hard work,” says John “We feel privileged to back them.”

“At the end of the day, our partners are the ones doing the hard work. We feel privileged to back them.”