A gift under your Will or Trust to Karamu House enables you to make a gift that you may not be able to make during your lifetime. A bequest can be made through a percentage bequest, specific bequest, general bequest, or residual bequest.

A 401(k), 403(b), Keogh, SEP, or other qualified plan is one of the best ways to fund a charitable gift, whether during your life or at death. At death, retirement-plan assets are subject to estate and income tax. If you give all or a portion of your assets to Karamu House, the value of the interest passing to Karamu House is fully deductible for estate-tax purposes.

If you are carrying more insurance coverage than your family obligations require, you may find a hidden gift asset in a surplus, paid-up policy. Alternately, you could create a gift for the future by taking out a new policy on your life insurance and naming Karamu House as the owner and beneficiary. 

A charitable lead trust generates income for Karamu House now, while reducing the tax cost in transferring assets to future generations. A lead trust holds gift assets for a lifetime or for a term of years, and pays annual income to benefit Karamu House while your family enjoys several tax benefits.