Giving can be both practical and prayerful. If you must take a Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) from your retirement account, you can transform that obligation into a blessing for the Church by directing support through the Catholic Community Foundation (the Foundation). Below are clear, mission-aligned ways to use your retirement resources to help parishes, schools and ministries thrive today and for generations.
What is a Required Minimum Distribution?
A Required Minimum Distribution is the annual withdrawal most retirees must take from traditional IRAs and certain retirement plans after reaching the age of 73. Always consult your tax or financial advisor for personal advice. When redirecting your RMD to charitable causes through a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD), you avoid paying taxes on the forced distribution. It is one of the best, and most efficient ways to give!
Faith-first ways to use your RMD through The Foundation
1) Start an endowment for the cause closest to your heart
If you want your gift to bear fruit year after year, consider using your Required Minimum Distribution to establish an endowment through Catholic Community Foundation, where you can name the purpose and beneficiaries in alignment with your Catholic values; learn how the Foundation structures and stewards endowments on the Endowments & Family Foundations page. With an endowment, your principal is invested for long-term growth while distributions support ministries such as Catholic education, parish life, pro-life outreach, or aid for the vulnerable.
Why it’s powerful:
- Creates a lasting, reliable stream of support for the ministries you love.
- Offers documentation and stewardship so your intentions are honored.
- Can be funded initially with an RMD—and built over time with future gifts.
2) Donate directly to an existing endowment or fund
If you want to make a ready-now difference, you can direct your RMD to an existing parish, school, or ministry fund by searching the Foundation’s secure giving portal and selecting a cause you love on the Donate page. This route is simple for year-end giving, can often be paired with a QCD from an IRA, and immediately strengthens the missions already at work across our Catholic community.
Why it is convenient:
- Fast way to put your RMD to work this year.
- Flexible; choose from many Catholic funds and ministries.
- Helps meet urgent needs while supporting long-term stability.
3) Fund a Charitable Gift Annuity (CGA)
For donors seeking income and impact, you can use RMD dollars to fund a Charitable Gift Annuity with the Foundation, potentially securing lifetime payments and a charitable deduction while supporting Catholic causes; review program details and illustrative rates on Catholic Community Foundation’s Charitable Gift Annuities page. A CGA can be a thoughtful way to balance retirement income needs with your desire to bless the Church.
Why it’s balanced:
- Provides fixed payments for life (rates vary by age and timing).
- May offer an immediate charitable deduction.
- Leaves a meaningful gift to support Catholic ministries.
Stewardship you can trust
The Foundation exists to help Catholics give with clarity and confidence. From establishing an endowment to making a one-time contribution or setting up a CGA, the Foundation provides faithful stewardship, investment oversight, and reporting so your gift is used exactly as you intend. By aligning your Required Minimum Distribution with a mission you love, you convert a tax-driven requirement into an enduring blessing for the Church.
How to get started (simple next steps)
- Talk with your advisor about RMD timing and whether a QCD is right for you (confirm rules at the IRS RMD page: https://www.irs.gov/retirement-plans/retirement-plan-and-ira-required-minimum-distributions-rmds).
- Choose your path: Start an endowment through the Foundation, give to an existing fund, or explore a CGA.
- Coordinate with The Foundation to ensure the transfer is handled correctly and designated to the ministries you want to bless.