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Making a qualified charitable distribution

This planned giving option allows you to make a gift to the animals without it counting as taxable income.

A qualified charitable distribution (QCD) is a wonderful option for people 70 ½ and older. That's because it allows you to make a gift to the animals — from $100 to $105,000 — without the distribution counting as taxable income. 

This giving option is a direct contribution made from your traditional or Roth IRA to a public charity like Best Friends, and it is a great option if you don't normally itemize your charitable deductions.

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Gifts through your QCD are a flexible way to give

Your contribution to Best Friends Animal Society through your qualified charitable distribution saves lives and comes with great benefits for you.

A qualified charitable distribution (QCD) may be used as a convenient, tax-free way to make gifts up to $105,000* per year to Best Friends Animal Society or other qualified charitable organizations, while satisfying IRA required minimum distributions.

Those with significant assets in an IRA or those who don't deduct charitable gifts benefit the most from a QCD. Qualified charitable distributions count toward required minimum distributions. 

Your QCD may be used as a convenient, tax-free way to make gifts up to $105,000 per year to Best Friends Animal Society or other qualified charitable organizations, while satisfying IRA required minimum distributions. 

Every gift, no matter how large or small, helps save the lives of homeless pets. When you make a contribution to Best Friends through a QCD, you'll be supporting lifesaving adoption programs, no-kill initiatives, and more. You'll be helping to Save Them All.

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Making a gift through your qualified charitable distribution

Interested in making a gift through your QCD? Our team is here to help.

Please talk with your tax adviser or other financial professionals to determine whether a QCD could benefit you. 

Here are some key features of a qualified charitable distribution:

  • You must be at least 70 ½ years old.  
  • You may transfer up to $105,000* per year directly from your traditional or Roth IRA to Best Friends or other qualified charitable organizations.  
  • Married couples can gift up to $105,000* per person, per year, from their IRA if each meets the requirements above. Other gift limitations apply; please contact us for details.
  • You may not receive any goods or services in return for your gift.
  • You may use your QCD to fund a life income gift, such as a charitable gift annuity.
  • New legislation effective in 2023 makes it possible to use qualified charitable distributions to fund life-income gifts like charitable gift annuities and charitable remainder trusts.   

* For gifts made in 2024. Maximum gift limits are scheduled to increase in coming years. 

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Information you’ll need to complete a QCD:

Legal name: Best Friends Animal Society   
Tax ID number: 23-7147797   
Address: 5001 Angel Canyon Road, Kanab, UT 84741

Please notify us when you request a QCD so that your gift can be matched to you when it arrives. It is helpful to let us know the financial institution that will be issuing the check and a contribution amount. Many financial institutions do not include the donor name on the check. 

Consult with your tax adviser or other financial professional to determine whether a QCD could benefit you. You can print and bring this fact sheet to your consultation.

For more information about making a QCD to Best Friends, please contact a member of the Best Friends Animal Society planned giving team at 435-359-9227 or plannedgiving@bestfriends.org.

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We have a planned giving advisor ready to help you create a gift that works best for you.
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Leave a lifesaving legacy

Planning your gift today will make a difference for the animals for years to come, making you a Forever Friend.

The gifts of Forever Friends provide love and safety for homeless pets long into the future.

Becoming a Forever Friend