About Qualified Charitable Distributions
A Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) is a tax-efficient way for individuals who are age 70 ½ or older to make gifts directly from their Individual Retirement Account (IRA).
QCDs can count towards satisfying an individual’s Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) for the year, which is the minimum amount that an individual must withdraw from their IRA each year once they reach their RMD age.
Benefits
- Reduce taxable income
- Counts towards your Required Minimum Distribution for the year
- Make an immediate impact on your recipient organization’s mission
How it works
- Instruct your IRA custodian to distribute funds directly to one or more eligible charities.
- Enjoy the benefit of a tax-free distribution from your IRA, contributing towards your required minimum distribution for the year.
- Potentially reduce tax liability by excluding the distribution amount from taxable income.
You will not receive a charitable income tax deduction for a Qualified Charitable Distribution.
More ways to donate using your retirement accounts
Gift assets not covered by your will — like 401(k) or IRA accounts — by designating your congregation or favorite ministries as beneficiaries.
Learn more about Qualified Charitable Distributions
If you wish to make a Qualified Charitable Distribution, contact your IRA custodian.
We’re here to help you meet your goals!
Our team would be happy to speak with you in confidence about your giving goals, with no obligation.

Name: Sarah Callahan
Title :Executive Director
Phone: 402-342-5728
Email: info@lutherangiving.org
As Executive Director, Sarah provides charitable gift planning services to anyone wishing to support Nebraska Synod congregations and its agencies and institutions as well as any Synodical or Churchwide ministry. Sarah provides legacy presentations across Nebraska and consultation services to congregations wishing to form or build up an endowment fund. She also serves as the local representative of the ELCA Foundation’s Ministry Growth Fund.
Before joining Lutheran Giving in 2018, Sarah built a financial advising practice where she worked with families in Nebraska and Iowa with generational transition and estate planning. In her early career, she worked in fundraising and development. She holds a bachelor of arts in music and a master’s in business administration from Valparaiso University in Valparaiso, Indiana. Sarah earned the Accredited Estate Planner (AEP®) and Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy® (CAP®) professional designations from The American College of Financial Services.
Already included your favorite ministry in your estate plan? Let us know
More ways to make an impact
Gifts in a will or trust
Donations in your will or trust are (by far) the most popular type of planned gift. Learn more, or get help starting your will (for free!).
Beneficiary designations
Gifting assets not covered by your will — like 401(k) or IRA accounts — may help your heirs avoid unwanted taxes, even if you’re below the estate tax threshold.
Gifts that pay you back
Give assets while providing yourself or others with income for a period of time or distributions at a later date.