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Ways to Give

Give from your IRA. Support Earth Talks. Owe nothing extra to the IRS

If you’re 70½ or older, a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) lets you send gift dollars from your IRA straight to Earth Talks Foundation — skipping your taxable income entirely and counting toward your Required Minimum Distribution if you have one.

WHY DONORS CHOOSE A QCD

One transfer, four advantages

A QCD isn’t a deduction you claim later — the gift is simply excluded from your income in the first place. For many donors, especially those who no longer itemize, that makes it the most tax-efficient way to give.

  1. Satisfies your RMD. If you’re required to take a Required Minimum Distribution, a QCD can count toward it–in full or in part
  2. Excluded from taxable income. The transferred amount never shows up as income, even if you don’t itemize deductions.
  3. No capital gains, no ACI limits. Unlike appreciated-stock gifts, a QCD isn’t capped by adjusted-gross-income percentage limits.
  4. Funds Earth Talks’ work now. Your gift supports ETF operations. 

WHO QUALIFIES, AND HOW MUCH

Eligibility & giving limits for 2026

You must be age 70½ or older on the gift date. Your Required Minimum Distribution age — when RMDs must begin — depends on your birth year under the SECURE 2.0 Act.

Minimum age to give a QCD: 70 1/2. Applies regardless of when your RMDs begin.

Eligible Accounts: Traditional, inherited, SEP & SIMPLE IRAs. All eligible accounts, regardless of when your RMDs begin.

RMDs begin at 73 for those born in 1951-1959 under the current law

RMDS begin at 75 for those born in 1960 or later under the current law.

Giving Limit: $111,000

The annual QCD limit per individual for 2026, indexed yearly for inflation.  Married couples with separate IRSs can each give up to their own limit–a combined $222,000.

  • The gift must move directly from your IRA custodian to Earth Talks Foundation–funds cannot pass through your hands first.
  • A QCD can satisfy all or part of your RMD for the year, dollar for dollar.
  • A one-time QCD of up to $55,000 can also fund a charitable gift annuity or charitable remainder trust; talk with your IRA custodian and tax advisor about whether this applies to you. 

MAKING THE GIFT

How to give from your IRA

Most custodians can complete a QCD in a few business days once you give instructions.  Here’s the process, start to finish.

  1. Contact your IRA custodian. 
  2. Give them the Earth Talks Foundation information.
  3. Let us know it’s coming. 

GIFT & CONTACT DETAILS

Legal name:  Rotary Earth Network DBA Earth Talks Foundation

Federal Tax ID (EIN) 41-239508

Tax status:  501(c)(3) public charity.  Gifts are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law (a QCD itself is excluded from income, not deducted)

Contact:

Laurie Zuckerman, Co-Chair & Co-Founder, laurie.zuckerman@earthtalksfoundation.org 

Karin Tome, Co-Chair & Co-Founder, karin.tome@earthtalksfoundation.org

Common questions

Frequently asked questions

Is a QCD the same as a tax deduction?

No — it’s better for many donors. A deduction lowers taxable income only if you itemize. A QCD simply isn’t counted as income at all, so it helps even donors who take the standard deduction.

Can I do this if I already took my RMD this year?

You can still make a QCD, but it won’t retroactively offset an RMD you already withdrew. To count toward your RMD, the QCD generally needs to happen before you’ve withdrawn the full amount for the year.

Can I direct my QCD to a specific Earth Talks program?

Yes. Let Laurie or Karin know if you’d like your gift to support general operations or the Rotary Foundation grant funding solar, agricultural, and hygiene-product training in Malawi.

Do I need to involve my tax advisor?

We recommend it. Rules around QCDs, RMD timing, and account eligibility can vary by individual situation, and Earth Talks Foundation cannot provide tax or legal advice.

Ready when you are

Every Thursday, Earth Talks turns learning into action. Your IRA gift keeps that going.

Reach out any time — before, during, or after you contact your custodian — and we’ll make sure your gift is received and acknowledged correctly.

Treasurer@EarthNetworkRotary.org

Earth Talks Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN 41-239508) supporting the Rotary Earth Network e-club, Rotary District 5400.

This page is provided for general information and does not constitute tax or legal advice. Please consult your tax advisor or IRA custodian about your specific situation.

EarthTalksFoundation.org · EarthNetworkRotary.org