Two ways to make tax-savvy charitable donations:
Making a one-time Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) might be a wise decision if you’re 70½ or older and have a traditional Individual Retirement Account (IRA).
To potentially manage your tax bill, you could choose to donate your Required Minimum Distributions (RMD) to charity via a QCD. We can help you arrange a direct payment of some or all of your RMD to charity ($100,000 cap annually). This way, all of the donated amount may be excluded from your gross income for the year of the donation.
You can make a QCD starting in the year you turn 70½, though you do not have to take your first RMD until age 72.
Donor Advised Funds (DAF) are a simple, tax-effective, and creative way to streamline your on-going charitable giving.
A DAF is essentially a charitable investment account. Investors contribute (make “gifts” or “donations”) to the DAF as frequently as they like, then recommend (aka advise) when grants are awarded to the qualified charities of their choosing. When you make an irrevocable donation to the DAF you will receive an immediate tax deduction! Funds in the DAF are invested, and your earnings grow tax-free. Investors choose “successor advisers” (e.g., family members) who will be able to carry forward the tradition of donating to charities.
“Donor Advised Funds” definition on IRS.gov:
Generally, a donor advised fund is a separately identified account that is maintained and operated by a section 501(c)(3) organization, which is called a sponsoring organization. Each account is composed of contributions made by individual donors. Once the donor makes the contribution, the organization has legal control over it. However, the donor, or the donor’s representative, retains advisory privileges with respect to the distribution of funds and the investment of assets in the account.