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Giving through your Individual Retirement Account (IRA) is one of the most powerful and tax-efficient ways to support land, water, and wildlife conservation in the Upper Delaware River region. Whether you are meeting your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD), planning for the future, or simply looking for a smart way to give back, an IRA charitable rollover—also called a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD)—offers meaningful advantages for you and for conservation.

Benefits of Giving Through Your IRA

1. Tax Savings
   When you donate directly from your IRA to the Delaware Highlands Conservancy, the amount of your gift is excluded from your taxable income. That means you can support protecting forests, farms, and clean water while also managing your taxes wisely—a win for nature and for your financial planning.
2. Satisfy Your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD)
   If you are age 73 or older, you can direct all or part of your RMD to the Conservancy. Instead of treating your RMD as taxable income, you can transform it into lasting good by helping to protect the Upper Delaware River watershed for future generations.
3. Simplicity
   Giving through your IRA is remarkably easy. You don’t need to withdraw funds, realize income, or pay additional taxes. Simply instruct your IRA administrator to send a gift directly to the Delaware Highlands Conservancy. It’s straightforward, efficient, and immediately impactful.
4. Support Conservation Without Affecting Your Cash Flow
   Because IRA gifts use retirement assets—not your checking account or monthly income—you can make a meaningful difference without altering your day-to-day budget. And because these gifts are made with pre-tax dollars, more of your contribution goes directly toward protecting clean water, wildlife habitat, and open space across our region.
5. Your Gift Stays Local
   Donations made through your IRA support conservation work right here in the Upper Delaware River region. Your gift helps protect family farms, safeguard forest habitat, and preserve the clean water that sustains our communities. Every acre protected strengthens the natural and rural character of our home.
6. Create a Living Legacy
   Giving through your IRA allows you to align your financial planning with the values you hold dear. Your contribution helps ensure that the scenic views, working lands, and wildlife habitat you cherish today will be preserved for generations to come.

Contact Us

To learn more about making a Qualified Charitable Distribution or to notify us of an IRA gift, please contact Samantha Mango at 570-226-3164 ext. 9 or samantha@delawarehighlands.org. We’re here to help you maximize your impact and protect the lands and waters you love.