Giving with your IRA
The opportunity of a lifetime to give the gift of a lifetime.
If you are age 70 1/2 and older, you can use your individual retirement account (IRA) to support your charitable giving through the Community Foundation. This simple, tax-wise giving tool provides a way for you to take your required minimum distribution, save on taxes, and make meaningful gifts to support the causes you care about.
How it Works
IRS rules require adults who are 73 years or older to take minimum distributions (RMDs) each year from their tax deferred retirement accounts. Although withdrawals for personal spending are subject to income tax, qualified charitable distributions are not. Individuals can direct up to $100,000 per year from their IRA to a qualified charity, including the Community Foundation.*
This popular gift option is commonly called the IRA charitable rollover, but it’s also referred to as a qualified charitable distribution, or QCD for short. The SECURE Act preserved the ability to make a QCD at the age of 70 ½ even though the RMD requirement was increased to age 73. Of course, donors should seek the advice of their financial advisors.
*QCDs cannot be directed to a Donor Advised Fund.

Now in their 80s, Ken and Julia have accumulated wealth in their IRAs. At this age, they must receive distributions. Their estate planning attorney recognized an opportunity. By transferring $100,000
from each of their IRAs to the Community Foundation, they could establish a Designated Fund to support the museum without paying tax and do so during their lifetimes.
“We were so happy to find out that we could give a portion of our IRAs to the Community Foundation without losing anything to taxes,” says Julia. “Plus, because we can do so right now, the museum doesn’t have to wait until we’re gone to get a steady stream of income from our fund.”
Frequently Asked Questions