Giving from your IRA

Make a tax-free gift to support climate action

If you are 70½ years or older, you can make a tax-free gift of up to $108,000 from your Individual Retirement Account in 2025 to a qualified organization such as EDF. This popular option is commonly called an IRA charitable rollover or a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) and is a powerful, tax-smart way to support EDF and other causes you care about.

These gifts can also count toward your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD), if you are 73 or older, without increasing your taxable income. 

How to make a Qualified Charitable Distribution to EDF 

  1. Contact your IRA administrator  
    Request to make a "qualified charitable distribution" (QCD) to Environmental Defense Fund, Inc.
  2. Provide our details  
    Your gift should be made payable to:  
    Environmental Defense Fund, Inc. 
    Tax ID # 11-6107128,  
    And mailed to:   
    Environmental Defense Fund, Inc.  
    Attn: Gift Processing  
    257 Park Avenue South  
    New York, NY 10010
    Please ask your IRA administrator to include your name and address on the check, so we can properly credit you for your gift.
  3. Tell us that you are sending a QCD  
    Please complete our online form here, or you may notify your personal contact at EDF or call our Member Services team at 202-572-3298 to be on the lookout for your QCD gift. 

Fill out the form below to notify us of your gift!

 

After you make your QCD gift

  • Once your IRA administrator receives your request, your gift is typically mailed to us in about 5-10 business days.
  • EDF will provide you with an acknowledgment of your gift for income tax purposes.
  • Your IRA Administrator will send you a 1099-R, which will not differentiate between your QCD and your other distributions.
  • When completing your tax return, subtract the amount that was transferred directly to EDF from the total distributions. Report the remainder (even if it’s $0) on line 4b, and write “QCD”, so the IRS knows why the numbers don’t match. If using tax software, a drop-down box for line 4b should give you a choice to click QCD.

Leave a legacy

Did you know that if you designate EDF as a full or partial beneficiary of your IRA (or other retirement account), the full value of the funds will go to EDF tax-free?  You can also use your IRA funds to create a charitable gift annuity. Learn more about the taxwise gifts you can make with your retirement plan here.

Questions?

If you have questions about making a gift from your IRA or one that you have already made, please contact our Member Services team at 800-684-3322 or by submitting a request here.