IRA Qualified Charitable Distributions
Did you know, you don’t need to itemize your tax return to take advantage of the tax benefits from an IRA qualified charitable distribution?
If you are 70.5 or older, you can make a gift from your IRA directly to the National Geographic Society as a qualified charitable distribution (QCD).
This gift offers a tax-beneficial option to support the Society without claiming a charitable deduction. Making a gift directly to the Society reduces your taxable income and satisfies any portion of your required minimum distribution, while allowing you to make an immediate impact on our mission to protect the wonder of our world.
Why Choose an IRA Qualified Charitable Distribution
Plan, prepare and protect your legacy.
- Your gift helps satisfy any portion of the required minimum distribution.
- You avoid paying federal income tax on the distribution, which can provide you with a benefit even if you do not itemize your tax return. A qualified charitable distribution does not provide a charitable deduction.
- You help reduce highly taxed assets.
- The National Geographic Society is not taxed on the distribution, so 100% of your gift supports our mission programs.
How to Make an IRA Donation
- Contact your IRA administrator to request a qualified charitable distribution.
- Request a distribution made payable to “National Geographic Society.” You may need this information:
Address: 1600 M St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20036
Tax ID: 53-0193519
Contact: legacy@ngs.org | 800-226-4438
- Request that your administrator include your name and address with the donation.
- Notify us of your gift so we can say thank you and properly record your gift.
Name Your Beneficiaries
Ensure that you have a plan for all funds remaining in your IRA after your lifetime. Consider naming the National Geographic Society as a beneficiary of a percentage of your account. Learn more about beneficiary designation.
Please talk to your financial or legal advisor about how an IRA qualified charitable distribution may benefit you. If you are still working and contributing to an IRA, there may be additional considerations for any charitable distribution. Our gift-planning experts are available to share additional information and help guide you with questions to ask your advisors. Contact us today.
More Ways to Give
See All Legacy Giving Options
Explore all the ways you can plan, prepare and protect your legacy with the National Geographic Society.