FOR DONORS 70½ AND OLDER
Give from your IRA
If you're 70½ or older, you can send a gift straight from your IRA to Education Unbound, and it won't count as income on your taxes.
IRA Giving, Explained
Who is eligible to make a Qualified Charitable Distribution?
You must be at least 70½ years old and own a traditional IRA, rollover IRA, inherited IRA, or an inactive SEP or SIMPLE IRA. Some Roth IRAs qualify as well, though most Roth owners don't need the tax benefit since Roth withdrawals are already tax-free. Funds held in a 401(k) or other workplace retirement plan don't qualify; you would need to roll them into an IRA first.
How much can I give through a QCD?
For 2026, you can direct up to $111,000 per person to charity through QCDs, or up to $222,000 for a married couple where both spouses have IRAs and each makes their own gift. This limit adjusts for inflation most years, so confirm the current figure with your IRA custodian or advisor before giving.
How does a QCD count toward my Required Minimum Distribution?
If you're 73 or older and subject to Required Minimum Distributions, a QCD counts toward that year's RMD, up to the gift amount. If your QCD is larger than your RMD, the extra does not carry over or reduce next year's requirement, so you still have to satisfy each year's RMD on its own.
What are the tax benefits of giving this way?
A QCD is excluded from your taxable income entirely, rather than being reported as income and then deducted as a charitable gift. That distinction matters because it can lower your adjusted gross income, which affects things like Medicare premiums and how much of your Social Security is taxed- benefits you would not get from a standard deduction. The tradeoff is that you cannot also claim a charitable deduction for a gift made this way.
How does the money actually move?
The gift has to go directly from your IRA custodian to Education Unbound. You can ask your custodian to send funds electronically or issue a check made out to Education Unbound rather than to you. If a distribution is paid to you first and you then donate it yourself, it will not qualify as a QCD, even if you give away the full amount.
Does Education Unbound qualify to receive a QCD?
Yes. QCDs must go to a public charity such as Education Unbound; you can't direct them to a donor-advised fund, a private foundation, or a supporting organization. Ask your IRA custodian for our EIN and mailing address when you request the transfer, and let us know it's coming so we can confirm it lands and send you an acknowledgment for your records (QCDs don't get a charitable deduction, but you'll still want documentation of the gift).
Is there a deadline?
The distribution has to be completed by December 31 to count for that tax year. Many custodians take one to two weeks to process a QCD request, so it's best to start the request well before the holidays if you're aiming for a given year.
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