Qualified Charitable Distributions

Qualified Charitable Distributions from Your IRA or Retirement Plan

One way to support Jefferson Land Trust’s mission is through a Qualified Charitable Distribution from your Individual Retirement Account (IRA).

Once you reach age 73, you generally must withdraw a minimum amount each year from your traditional IRAs and employer-sponsored retirement plans. This is called a Required Minimum Distribution (RMD). The money you’re required to withdraw gets added to your taxable income, which may push you into a higher tax bracket. Failure to take your RMD by year-end could result in a stiff IRS penalty — 50% of the amount you should have withdrawn. 

But there’s good news! A Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) direct transfer of up to $100,000 made payable directly from your IRA to Jefferson Land Trust — a 501(c)(3) nonprofit — can be counted toward satisfying your RMD for the year and can be excluded from your taxable income. 

Next Steps for Making a Qualified Charitable Distribution

• Consult with your financial and/or tax advisor 
• Contact your IRA administrator and discuss how you can make an IRA qualified charitable distribution payable to Jefferson Land Trust  
• Complete and mail a letter to your IRA administrator using the following template

Letter Template:

[insert IRA Administrator Name]
[insert Address]
[insert City, State, and Zip Code] 

Re: Request for charitable distribution from [insert Donor’s First and Last Name’s] individual retirement account 

To Whom It May Concern: 

Please make a qualified charitable distribution of $ [insert Dollar Amount] from my IRA account number [insert Account Number] made payable to “Jefferson Land Trust” (Tax ID: 91-1465078) to satisfy part or all of my required minimum distribution. 

The check should be mailed to:

Jefferson Land Trust
Attn: Development
1033 Lawrence Street
Port Townsend, WA 98368

It is my intention to have this transfer qualify for the [insert Tax Year for Distribution] tax year. Please list my name and address as the donor for the transfer, and please send me a copy of the correspondence you send to Jefferson Land Trust.

Please contact Sarah Zablocki-Axling at 360.379.9501 x108 if you need any additional information from Jefferson Land Trust. If you have any questions for me, please contact me at [insert Phone Number]. 

Sincerely, 

[Donor Signature] 

[insert Name of Donor]
[insert donor Phone Number and Email]
[insert donor Address]
[insert donor City, State, and Zip Code]