{"id":6599,"date":"2026-04-15T15:51:25","date_gmt":"2026-04-15T19:51:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/giving\/?p=6599"},"modified":"2026-04-15T15:54:42","modified_gmt":"2026-04-15T19:54:42","slug":"generosity-in-practice-spring-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/giving\/2026\/04\/15\/generosity-in-practice-spring-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Generosity in Practice"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

For many in the Bates community, the transition into the years of taking distributions from, rather than making contributions to an IRA brings a new perspective on philanthropy. Last year alone, Bates alumni and friends contributed close to $1 million through qualified charitable distributions (QCDs).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While the median age for a first-time QCD gift at Bates is 76, there is a significant advantage to starting as soon as you are eligible at age 70\u00bd. The majority of donors, 75.6%, who switched to using their QCD for Bates support were able to increase their average annual gift by nearly 55%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why is this better than a standard gift?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Lowers Your Taxable Income:<\/strong> Unlike a regular withdrawal, a QCD is excluded from your adjusted gross income (AGI). This is a major advantage even if you don\u2019t itemize your deductions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Satisfies Your RMD:<\/strong> If you are age 73 or older, a QCD counts toward your annual Required Minimum Distribution (RMD), allowing you to meet your obligation without increasing your tax bill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Protects Other Benefits:<\/strong> By keeping your AGI lower, a QCD may help you avoid higher Medicare premiums or the taxation of Social Security benefits that can be triggered by higher income levels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s Changed in 2026?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Annual Outright Gifts:<\/strong> You can now direct up to $111,000<\/strong> per year (up from $108,000) directly to Bates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Life-Income Option:<\/strong> You may also take advantage of a one-time election to fund a Charitable Gift Annuity (CGA) using a QCD. For 2026, the limit for this one-time gift has increased to $55,000. This allows you to support the college while securing fixed payments for yourself or a spouse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Legacy Beyond Your Lifetime<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

While QCDs are a powerful way to give today, you can also ensure the future of Bates by naming the college as a beneficiary of your retirement account, a simple step that allows these tax-burdened assets to pass to the college entirely tax-free. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

To learn more, contact us at giftplanning@bates.edu<\/a> | 800-762-3145. As always, please consult your financial advisor or tax professional for advice tailored to your personal situation.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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