Did you know that you can use your Individual Retirement Account (IRA) to help us continue our conservation efforts and make a difference for wildlife that will span generations?

If you’re age 70½ or older, a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) allows you to make a tax-free donation directly from your IRA to a qualified charity—like ours! This donation can count toward all or part of your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD), which the IRS requires individuals age 73 or older (or 75 if born in 1960 or later) to withdraw each year from their tax-deferred retirement accounts. Normally, these distributions are taxed as income, but when you make a QCD, the amount donated is excluded from your taxable income—helping to reduce your overall tax burden without needing to itemize deductions.

QCDs can be made from most tax-deferred IRA accounts, including traditional, inherited, SIMPLE, and SEP IRAs (provided the SIMPLE or SEP IRA is inactive, meaning no new contributions are being made). However, they cannot be made from workplace retirement plans such as a 401(k). Each individual can donate up to $108,000 per year ($216,000 per married couple) through QCDs, and there’s even a special one-time opportunity to give up to $54,000 to fund a charitable gift annuity or charitable remainder trust.

For many retirees, RMDs can push them into higher tax brackets or affect benefits such as Social Security. A QCD provides a smart solution—allowing you to meet your RMD requirements while supporting a cause you care about. By directing your distribution to us, you not only reduce your taxable income but also make a meaningful impact on Virginia’s wildlife. Your generosity helps us provide lifesaving care to thousands of injured and orphaned animals every year—a true win-win-win for you, your finances, and our shared natural world.

To get started, contact the custodian of your IRA or your tax professional to see if making a Qualified Charitable Distribution to our organization is right for you.

For additional information, please email our Executive Director Chester Leonard at: Chester@swvawildlifecenter.org.