Give a QCD Through Your IRA

"Ordinary people can do what they can - and should - to support those organizations they love." 
Kim
WVXU and WGUC listener and volunteer
What is a Qualified Charitable Distribution?

A qualified charitable distribution (QCD), also called an IRA charitable distribution or an IRA charitable rollover, is a distribution of funds from your IRA directly to a qualified charitable organization, such as Cincinnati Public Radio. QCDs can be counted toward satisfying your required minimum distributions (RMDs) for the year if certain rules are met.

In addition to the benefits of giving to charity, a QCD excludes the amount donated from taxable income up to IRS limits, which is unlike regular withdrawals from an IRA. Keeping your taxable income lower may reduce the impact to certain tax credits and deductions, including Social Security and Medicare.

Also, QCDs do not require that you itemize, which due to the recent tax law changes, means you may decide to take advantage of the higher standard deduction, but still use a QCD for charitable giving.

QCDs might be the right gift for you if:
  • You want to make charitable gifts, and your IRA constitutes a share of available assets.
  • You are required to take a minimum distribution from an IRA, but do not need the funds and would face increased tax liabilities if you take the distribution as income.
  • You would like to reduce the balance in an IRA to lower future required minimum distributions.
  • You do not itemize your deductions. A QCD will not be included in your taxable income even if you do not itemize other deductions.
  • You would like to make a larger charitable gift than you could if you simply donated cash or other assets. The value of charitable gifts that can be deducted from a tax return usually ranges from 20 to 60 percent of your adjusted gross income. This AGI-based limit does not apply to QCDs, allowing you to make larger gifts.
  • You live in a state where retirement-plan distributions are taxable on your state income tax return, but your state does not allow itemized charitable deductions.
  • You have an outstanding pledge. The QCD can satisfy a pledge without violating rules against self-dealing.
Important details to remember about making a QCD:
  • You must be 70½ or older to be eligible to make a QCD.
  • Funds must be directly transferred from the IRA to a qualified charitable organization, like Cincinnati Public Radio. Gifts cannot be directed to a donor-advised fund, supporting organization or private foundation.
  • Eligible accounts include traditional IRA, rollover IRA, inherited IRA, inactive Simplified Employee Pension (SEP) IRA, and inactive Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees (SIMPLE) IRA.
  • Under certain circumstances, a QCD may be made from a Roth IRA. Roth IRAs are not subject to RMDs during your lifetime, and distributions are generally tax-free. Consult a tax advisor to determine if making a QCD from a Roth is appropriate for your situation.
  • The maximum annual QCD amount is $108,000 per person for 2025 and $115,000 per person in 2026  (index adjusted annually). This applies to the sum of QCDs made to one or more charities in a calendar year. (If, however, you file taxes jointly, your spouse can also make a QCD from their own IRA within the same tax year for up to $108,000 in 2025 and $115,000 in 2026).
  • For a QCD to count towards your current year’s RMD, the funds must come out of your IRA by your RMD deadline, generally December 31.
  • Any amount donated above your RMD does not count toward satisfying a future year’s RMD.
  • The gifts are outright contributions, and no material benefits are received in return for the gifts.
  • Beginning in 2023, a QCD may be taken to fund a Charitable Remainder UniTrust, Charitable Remainder Annuity Trust, or Charitable Gift Annuity up to a maximum one-time amount of $50,000.
When you are ready to make a QCD:

If you want to make a qualifying transfer, contact your IRA administrator and instruct that person to transfer funds directly to Cincinnati Public Radio.

Here’s the information you will need:

  • Legal Name: Cincinnati Public Radio, Inc. (dba WGUC; WVXU; WMUB)
  • Tax I.D. Number: 31-1410636
  • Incorporated In: Cincinnati, Ohio
  • Mailing Address: 2117 Dana Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45207
 
If you have questions about making a QCD to Cincinnati Public Radio, please contact our Director of Major & Planned Gifts, Conrad Thiede. You can reach him at 513-419-7116 or cthiede@cinradio.org.
 
This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide, and should not be relied on for, tax, investment, or accounting advice. Please consult your own tax, investment, and accounting advisors before engaging in any transaction