Support ACA
Donations from an IRA
Money from an individual retirement account can be donated to charity. In addition, if you've reached the age where you need to make required minimum distributions (RMDs) from your traditional IRAs, you can avoid paying taxes on them by donating that money to charity. That tax break was made permanent in 2015. You just have to be sure to follow the rules carefully. Here's what you need to know.
- Funds from an IRA can be used for charitable donations if done correctly.
- Tax breaks on the charitable donation cannot be combined with the tax break on retirement savings.
- The IRS has established rules to make sure qualified charitable distributions are made properly.
Normally, a distribution from a traditional IRA incurs taxes since the account holder didn’t pay taxes on the money when they put it into the IRA. But account holders 70 1/2 or older who make a contribution directly from a traditional IRA to a qualified charity can donate up to $100,000 without it being considered a taxable distribution. The deduction effectively lowers the donor's adjusted gross income (AGI).
For 2020, the base standard deduction is $12,400 for individuals or married individuals filing separately, $18,650 for heads of household, and $24,800 for married couples filing jointly.
Taxpayers whose annual income affects their Medicare premiums might also find this provision helps control the premium cost.
The donation can also help meet all or part of the IRA’s required minimum distribution (RMD) for the year.
Notably, owners of traditional IRAs must start taking RMDs at age 72 or face tax penalties. Roth IRAs do not require distributions while the account holder is living so this provision doesn't work for them.
Account holders who are 70 1/2 or older can donate to a qualified charity directly from a traditional IRA, effectively lowering their adjusted gross income.
Using an IRA to make a charitable donation can help lower a tax bill and help a worthy cause. Distributions must be made directly to the charity, not to the owner or beneficiary. All distribution checks need to be made payable to the charity or they will be counted as taxable distributions.
Donor Advised Funds
Simplify your giving. A donor advised fund, which is like a charitable savings account, gives you the flexibility to recommend how much and how often money is granted to ACA and other qualified charities. You can recommend a grant or recurring grants now to make an immediate impact or use your fund as a tool for future charitable gifts.
You can also create a lasting legacy by naming ACA the beneficiary of the entire account or a percentage of the fund. With a percentage, you can create a family legacy of giving by naming your loved ones as your successor to continue recommending grants to charitable organizations. Contact your fund administrator for a beneficiary form.
To recommend a gift through your donor advised fund:
- Contact your fund manager to recommend a grant or log into your fund and make a grant online.
- Gifts from a donor advised fund to the American Camp Association (or ACA) should be made payable to: The American Camping Association, Tax ID 35-0962419.
- If you are making a gift through a donor advised fund to the American Camping Foundation including to the Acorn Society and/or the Cheley Family Endowment, the check should be made payable to the American Camping Foundation Inc., Tax ID 35-1811277
- Mail gifts from donor advised funds for either the American Camp Association or the American Camping Foundation to: The American Camp Association, 5000 State Road 67 North Martinsville, Indiana 46151-7902.
- If applicable, please designate your preferred fund in the memo line, in separate correspondence, or by contacting Andrea Stearly, 765-349-3305, [email protected].
- It is important to remember that donor advised fund gifts have some restrictions. Please consult your financial or tax advisor.
Send a Child to Camp – Donor Information
How scholarships are awarded
ACA does not provide scholarships directly to camper families, and we do not directly select which camps receive scholarship dollars. ACA partners with the UltraCamp Foundation to distribute Send a Child to Camp Funds. Through a formal application process, UltraCamp selects camps to receive funding. Those camps then award scholarships to campers on behalf of ACA and the Send a Child to Camp Fund. ACA-accredited day and overnight camps are eligible to take part in the program.
Emphasis is placed on children from financially disadvantaged backgrounds
Every child experiences some summer learning loss—the loss of skills learned during the school year resulting from a lack of organized learning during the summer. Children whose families are not struggling financially have more opportunity to participate in camp and other educational programs during the summer to help their minds stay sharp. ACA believes children whose families are financially disadvantaged should have the same opportunity. Send a Child to Camp scholarships help children from financially disadvantaged backgrounds to constructively learn independence and safe risk-taking, build essential mentor relationships, and reap the benefits of connecting with nature.
Awards to date
Since the Send a Child to Camp Fund was established in 2008, more than 900 scholarships have been awarded to campers at ACA-accredited camps.
- Learn more about UltraCamp Foundation
- Make a Donation — Help Send a Child to Camp
- For more information on how you can help change a child's life, contact [email protected] or 765-342-8456, ext. 305
Partnering with ACA
ACA has opportunities for you to support the Send a Child to Camp Fund through a partnership.
Camps: Accessing Send a Child to Camp Funding
Understanding the Send a Child to Camp Fund
The American Camp Association (ACA) Send a Child to Camp Fund provides camp scholarships for ACA-accredited day and resident camps to support children who will benefit from the camp experience but whose families may not otherwise be able to afford camp for their children.
How to access Send a Child to Camp Fund scholarships
ACA does not provide scholarships directly to camper families, and we do not directly select which camps receive scholarship dollars. ACA partners with the UltraCamp Foundation to distribute Send a Child to Camp Funds. UltraCamp selects camps to receive funding through a formal application process. Those camps then award scholarships to campers on behalf of ACA and the Send a Child to Camp Fund. ACA accredited day and resident camps are eligible to take part in the program. Learn more about the UltraCamp Foundation.
Emphasis is placed on children from financially disadvantaged backgrounds
Every child experiences some summer learning loss—the loss of skills learned during the school year resulting from a lack of organized learning during the summer. Children whose families are not struggling financially have more opportunity to participate in camp and other educational programs during the summer to help their minds stay sharp. ACA believes children whose families are financially disadvantaged should have the same opportunity. Send a Child to Camp scholarships help children from financially disadvantaged backgrounds to constructively learn independence and safe risk-taking, build essential mentor relationships, and reap the benefits of connecting with nature.
Camps: Learn more about the ACA Camper Scholarship Program.
Families: Learn more about affording camp.
