Unrestricted giving, QCDs, and why they matter for your philanthropy
Written by Robin Elmerick, Senior Director of Effective Philanthropy
As someone who cares deeply about Central Indiana, you already understand how important charitable giving is to improving quality of life. Every year, Americans give nearly 2% of our nation’s GDP to charitable causes—a remarkable level of generosity that supports more than a million nonprofits across the country. At the same time, trust has become one of the most important factors that donors consider when deciding where to give. We are honored that so many of you place your confidence in us at CICF Collaborative to steward your philanthropy with care and integrity.
The CICF Collaborative (which includes Central Indiana Community Foundation, Hamilton County Community Foundation, IMPACT Central Indiana, the Indianapolis Foundation, and Women’s Fund of Central Indiana) is your home for charitable giving, no matter where you call home or what causes you support.
Simultaneously, we are committed to understanding the needs of our Indiana region and sharing that information with you and other donors to help ensure that charitable dollars are invested where they can do the greatest good. Some needs are urgent, such as immediate assistance in response to a crisis. Other needs are long-term, such as building educational opportunities, strengthening health and human services, or expanding economic stability. Because needs in Central Indiana evolve over time, we are focused on identifying what matters most at any given moment and helping you ensure that your generosity has a meaningful impact both immediately and across generations. Your philanthropic advisor is a great resource to help identify giving opportunities most aligned with your personal interests that may not be on otherwise be your radar. Curious about the current needs of an organization you’ve previously supported? Your philanthropic advisor can gather that information on your behalf!
There are also tax-savvy ways to support organizations you care about outside of your donor-advised fund. For donors aged 70½ and older, an effective charitable giving tool available is the Qualified Charitable Distribution, or QCD. A QCD allows you to direct up to $108,000 in 2025 from your IRA to a qualified public charity—bypassing taxable income. If you are already taking required minimum distributions (RMDs), a QCD will count toward that amount without increasing your adjusted gross income, which can be especially helpful for managing tax brackets, Medicare IRMAA surcharges, and other income-related considerations. QCDs cannot be directed to donor-advised funds. So, many donors choose to use their donor-advised fund to support their favorite charities directly through regular annual gifts
If you are looking for additional ways to leverage your QCD, each of the members of the collaborative (CICF, HCCF, IF, Women’s Fund, and IMPACT Central Indiana) would welcome the opportunity to connect with you on supporting unrestricted funds or other key initiatives of our respective foundations. Our unrestricted funds enable our board and staff the opportunity to carry out our missions, including deploying dollars toward the most pressing and emerging needs right here at home. It is one of the most powerful ways to support Central Indiana both now and in the future.
Be sure to talk with your tax advisors about whether a QCD fits into your 2025 charitable giving plans. Looking ahead, with new tax laws taking effect in 2026, QCDs may become even more valuable, so be sure to discuss next year’s opportunities, too.
No matter which tools you use—your donor-advised fund, a QCD to an unrestricted fund, or other giving strategies—we are here to support you. Please reach out anytime. The team at CICF Collaborative are honored to partner with you to ensure your generosity continues to make a meaningful difference in Central Indiana or wherever your philanthropic giving takes place.
About the CICF Collaborative
CICF Collaborative is a partnership of philanthropic organizations working together to strengthen communities across the region. Each entity within the CICF Collaborative (including the cornerstone entities, Central Indiana Community Foundation, Hamilton County Community Foundation, IMPACT Central Indiana, the Indianapolis Foundation, and Women’s Fund of Central Indiana) brings deep knowledge, strong relationships, and its own individual, focused mission. The CICF Collaborative unites the entities by providing shared services, allowing the entities to operate more efficiently and effectively. By leveraging what we each do best, we’re able to better serve our communities and create more lasting impact, together. Learn more »
About the Author
Robin Elmerick, senior director of effective philanthropy has been with CICF since 2019. A certified Impact Philanthropy Advisor, she works closely with fundholders across all entities of the CICF Collaborative to help them define their philanthropic strategies and maximize their impact. With a background in nonprofit leadership and consulting, she is passionate about bridging the needs of the community with the missions of nonprofits and the passions of our fundholders, aligning all three to create meaningful change in Central Indiana and beyond.