Ways to Support

Donating appreciated securities – such as stock, bonds or mutual funds – can support Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation’s mission and inspire conservation of the natural world through education, exploration and example while maximizing potential tax benefits.

After saving for years, you may find your long-term financial goals have been achieved or that you may not need income from your IRA right now. If so, and if you are 70.5 years or older, tapping your IRA account might be a way to support the impact you’d like to have through charitable giving.

Such a gift to the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation would support the conservation and environmental education efforts on the mountain, and it could reduce the amount of taxes you owe.

A regular IRA withdrawal is included in your taxable income, and often there are minimum distributions required annually. A Qualified Charitable Distribution would not be counted in that income, and you would not have to itemize your taxes to enjoy the tax savings

The following are some guidelines to keep in mind:

• You aren’t required to withdraw IRA assets until age 72, but you can use a QCD to give as soon as you are 70.5.
• Using QCDs, you can give up to $100,000 each year. If you file taxes jointly, your spouse can also give up to $100,000 from their IRA.
• QCDs count toward your required minimum distribution (RMD). If you choose to give more than the required minimum distribution through a QCD, it will not carry over and/or apply to next year’s RMD.
• QCDs are excluded from taxable income, likely reducing the taxes you will owe.

Making this arrangement is easy. It only requires that you notify your IRA Administrator of the amount you wish to contribute and ask for a check to be mailed to Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation, P.O. Box 129, Linville, N.C. 28646. Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Federal ID# 26-4812778.

It is possible to name Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation as a full or partial beneficiary of your IRA, 401(k) or other qualified retirement plan.

A Donor Advised Fund (DAF) is a charitable giving account that allows donors to make tax-deductible contributions and then recommend grants to qualified charities over time. It’s a tax-efficient way to organize your charitable giving, offering flexibility and the potential for the DAF to grow.

Please contact your charitable gift fund administrator directly for their guidelines for minimum contributions and recommending grants.

To learn more, you can email Margaret Thiele, Vice President of Development, or call her direct line at (828) 833-6339. Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Federal ID# 26-4812778.

Many employers encourage giving by offering matching gift programs for their employees. To participate, typically the employee must complete paperwork that they submit to their employer after making a gift to a charity. You can check with your employer to see if a donation match program is available and what steps you will need to take to ensure that your donation is maximized.