Benefits of IRA giving

If you’re age 73 or older, your QCDs count toward your required minimum distribution for the year. If you need to take your required minimum distribution but you don't need the funds for personal use, QCDs are a good way to distribute the amount out of the IRA directly to a nonprofit. With a QCD, the distribution does not get treated as income to you, reducing your risk of entering a higher tax bracket. 

IRA Giving Rules

• You must be 70-1/2 or older when gifting your IRA to charity. 

• You may distribute up to $111,000 per person in a calendar year to one or more public charities when completed by December 31 of that year.

• QCDs may not be used to purchase Beastly Bash or Wildlife Conservation Benefit tickets, cabanas, or auction items. 

• Your IRA administrator must make the distribution directly to the Minnesota Zoo Foundation, or you may write a check to the Minnesota Zoo Foundation from your IRA checkbook.  

How to Make My IRA Gift

1. Contact your IRA administrator and ask them to transfer funds to the Minnesota Zoo Foundation.

2. Have your financial institution make the check out to “Minnesota Zoo Foundation” and identify you as the donor by name and address so we can acknowledge your gift. Also, have your administrator note that the transfer is an IRA Qualified Charitable Distribution.

3. The Minnesota Zoo Foundation’s Federal Tax ID number is 51-0147653.

They can mail the check to:

Minnesota Zoo Foundation
13000 Zoo Boulevard
Apply Valley, MN 55124