Planned Giving25 May,2026Samantha Dye

IRA Distributions

Donating your Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) directly to charity—a strategy known as a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD)—helps you by lowering your taxable income, satisfying your annual IRS withdrawal requirements, and supporting causes you care about without inflating your tax bill.

Important Rules to Keep in Mind:

  • Age Requirements: You must be at least 70½ years old to make a QCD, even though RMDs generally start at age 73.
  • Direct Transfer: The funds must be transferred directly by your IRA custodian to the charity. If you withdraw the money into your personal bank account first, it will be counted as taxable income, even if you later donate it.

Wills and Trusts

How it works:

  1. You designate a particular asset or a percentage of your estate to GEC by including a bequest provision in your will or revocable trust. You can do this while creating your will or trust, or you can amend an existing one with a simple document. GEC can be either a primary or a contingent beneficiary.
  2. If you plan to restrict the use of your bequest (designating to a specific area or program), you contact GEC while drafting your will or trust to ensure your wishes can be met. The more narrowly you restrict the use of your bequest, the greater the risk that the program you want to benefit today won’t be as vital or as relevant when we receive your gift in the future. 
  3. You inform GEC of your intent, which helps for planning and ensures your wishes can be fulfilled. This is especially important for gifts of real estate, business interest or other specialized property.
  4. GEC receives the gift after your lifetime and applies it to the purpose(s) you specified. At GEC, unrestricted charitable gifts are used to support priority needs such as new horses, tack for the lesson program, or property improvements such as fencing and facility upgrades.
  5. Your distribution is fully deductible for federal estate tax purposes, and there is no limit on the deduction your estate can claim. In addition, the gift is usually exempt from state inheritance taxes.

Appreciated Securities

Donating stocks or mutual funds to GEC is a smart and simple way to help GEC continue to bring the JOY of horses to a diverse community, regardless of income or ability, through riding and therapeutic horsemanship activities, while preserving the open space of Gunpowder Falls State Park.

How it works:

You can make a gift of appreciated securities—publicly traded stocks, bonds and mutual fund shares—to GEC while avoiding capital gains tax, diversifying your portfolio and/or securing a stream of income. It’s a simple and efficient way to give.

  1. You transfer appreciated securities to GEC.
  2. GEC sells the securities and uses the proceeds to fund programs and improvements.
  • Statements made on this page are for general information purposes only – please consult a Certified Financial Planner *