Click here to read our Fall 2023 Adopt-a-Grandma Program Update

Planned Giving

Planned giving is a wonderful benefit for both the donor and ARK sustainability.

 Give – Stocks, Bonds, and Mutual Funds

Stocks, bonds, and mutual funds, especially those with long-term capital gain, are popular gift assets because they may generate multiple tax benefits. These benefits include a charitable income tax deduction of the stock, bond, or mutual fund’s market value on the date the asset is received by ARK and no capital gains tax on the appreciation. Talk to your accountant or financial adviser about the benefits such a gift may provide for you. Most stocks are transferred electronically. Please work with your stock broker or financial adviser to ensure your gift is transferred to ARK, or have your broker contact us if there is a question.

 Depreciated Stocks

Have your stocks, bonds, or mutual funds declined in value? If so, you may find there is an advantage to selling the stock, bond or mutual fund, recognizing a loss, and then contributing the cash proceeds of the sale to support ARK causes. Talk to your accountant or financial adviser about the best option.

Gifts of Income Interest Charitable Lead Trust (CLT)

Described as “the gift you get back,” a Charitable Lead Trust (CLT) allows the donor to give income from assets placed in trust to ARK for a term of years while retaining the principal for the donor, their heirs or a third party at the termination of the trust. The donor is allowed a federal income tax deduction when the assets held by the trust are to be passed on to the heirs. The deduction is equal to the present value of the income stream given to ARK. The CLT is often used to make a substantial charitable gift over time, to maximize charitable deductions in a high-income year or as a “tax smart” method of passing assets to heirs.

 Estate Giving – Gifts through Wills and Trusts – A Final Love Letter

Please consider ARK Foundation as a beneficiary of your will or trust. A gift through your estate ensures your commitment to bridging the education gap in Africa’s most vulnerable children and ARK other programs to continue beyond your lifetime, having a lasting impact on our work. The donor’s estate is allowed a tax deduction for the amount contributed. Gifts are revocable if circumstances change.

 We suggest using the following language:

“I give, devise and bequeath to ARK Foundation of Africa, a charitable organization located at 1002 Maryland Ave NE, Washington, DC 20002, [state percentage of estate or residue, sum of money or otherwise describe property] to be used for its general [or the following specific] purposes.”

ARK Foundation prefers that bequests be made for its unrestricted general purposes in its work to provide education to vulnerable children and provide financial support to grandmothers who care for orphans in Africa. To learn more, please contact us, 202-832-5420 or email, donations@arkafrica.org

Dedicated Gift

You can make a donation in honor or in memory of a family member, friend, an individual, or in recognition of a special occasion. Memorial gifts express what words alone cannot and provide important support for ARK causes. Contact ARK at donations@arkafrica.org to dedicate your gift.

If you would like ARK to send you a hard copy for your tribute, please let us know and we will send you the form. You can email to request a tribute form at: donations@arkafrica.org or call, 202-832-5420.

Gifts of Remainder Interest: Remainder Trust(s)

“Gifts that give back,” Charitable Remainder Trusts (annuity trust and unit-trust) make it possible for the donor to make an irrevocable gift of cash or property while retaining an annual income stream — either a fixed percentage of the trust’s value or a fixed dollar amount — from the trust. Income is paid to the donor at least annually. Donors who use this form of gift often increase annual income from the asset given while reducing income taxes and eliminating capital gains if the gift increases in value.