Spotlight on Giving

Giving From an IRA: A Gift Worth Planning For

Labor Day is behind us and pumpkin spice season is already underway, but December 31 still feels distant. When you’re planning a gift from your IRA, though, the end of the year can arrive quickly. If you are age 70½ or older, a qualified charitable distribution can offer valuable tax advantages. Starting the process now allows ample time to complete your gift.

Planning Ahead for Year-End

A qualified charitable distribution (QCD) must be completed by December 31 to count for 2026. Your IRA custodian may need time to process forms, issue a check, and verify our information. Acting before year-end requests pile up and holiday schedules get busy can help prevent delays.

A QCD is a direct transfer from an IRA to an eligible charity. In 2026, you can transfer up to $111,000 without increasing your taxable income. If you must take a required minimum distribution (RMD), it can also count toward all or part of that amount. If you have not yet taken your RMD for the year and still have charitable goals you would like to fulfill, now is a good time to consider whether a QCD may be right for you.

Steps to Take Now

If you’re considering a QCD from your IRA:

• Decide how much you would like to give and how the gift fits with any RMD due this year.
• Ask your IRA custodian about its forms, instructions, and processing time. To qualify as a QCD, the distribution must be made directly from your IRA to us.
• Let us know the gift is coming. Checks from custodians do not always include full identifying information, so a quick note can help us identify and acknowledge your gift.

Your IRA assets can help strengthen our work while providing potential tax benefits. Learn more about making a QCD before the year-end deadline.