A few times a year, several people provide Whitehall-Coplay Hunger Initiative with a monetary donation from their IRA. The check comes directly from their financial institution.

I wanted to write an article on this, so others can know they, too, can donate to WCHI or to another charitable organization(s) of their choice through their IRA or Roth IRA. My husband donates this way several times a year to local charities we are involved with.

The following information comes from a longtime friend of mine, Steve Parrish, CEPA, AAMS. He is a financial adviser for Edward Jones, 3716 Lehigh St., Suite 104, Whitehall.

For any questions or advice on any of the following, talk with your own financial adviser or to Steve at 610-776-8030.

“A qualified charitable distribution (QCD) is a distribution from a traditional or Roth IRA made directly by the IRA trustee to a qualified charitable organization when the IRA owner is age 70.5 or older. A QCD may satisfy the client’s required minimum distribution, and, for 2026, up to $111,000 of QCDs may be excluded annually from an individual’s taxable income.

“Also, for 2026, distributions are limited to a one time (lifetime) $55,000 donation to fund a charitable remainder unitrust, charitable remainder annuity trust or charitable gift annuity.

“A qualified charitable distribution may be made when the IRA holder is age 70.5 or older; goes directly from the IRA to a qualified charity; can come from a traditional or Roth IRA and qualified charities. Generally, a qualified charity includes most public charities that are eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions, including religious institutions, certain veterans’ organizations, fraternal societies and community foundations that provide scholarships.

“Restrictions set on QCDs include the following. Distributions must be transferred to the charity no later than Dec. 31 of the current tax year. Deductible contributions made during or after the year an individual reaches age 70.5 will reduce the amount that may be excluded. A QCD must be a direct IRA distribution from the IRA custodian or trustee to a qualified charity. Not all charitable organizations qualify.

“QCDs are applicable only for traditional and Roth IRA distributions (excludes SEP and SIMPLE IRAs). Making a QCD provides an opportunity to make a charitable contribution that you might otherwise not have been able to make and/or receive potential tax benefits for charitable contributions that you are already making. You should consult your tax adviser and estate-planning attorney about your situation.

“For those who give larger gifts, deductibility limits do not apply to QCDs, which means the QCD can be made in addition to other charitable contributions that may be limited by the annual maximum deductible percentage of income or phaseouts of itemized deductions.”

Thank you for reading this article and considering contributing to WCHI and/or to another nonprofit. If you want to donate to WCHI from your IRA or the other options mentioned above, WCHI is a 501(c)3 public charity.

This was a lot of information in one article. Consult your financial adviser or Steve to understand what is available to you and what potential tax benefits you may attain.