If you’re 70½ or older, you can make a tax-free gift directly to the San Francisco Historical Society from your Individual Retirement Account (IRA). It’s a smart way to enjoy tax savings and support the history and preservation of San Francisco!

Please note that these gifts must be fully deposited by 12/31 to count for the 2024 tax year, so please don’t delay!

Here’s how it works:

Who? You must be 70½ or older to make a Qualified Charitable Distribution.

What? For 2024, you can give up to $105,000 per year from your IRA (and up to $210,000 for married couples).

How? Instruct your IRA custodian to send a specific dollar amount directly to the San Francisco Historical Society. (You cannot withdraw the funds yourself.)

Mail to:

San Francisco Historical Society, Development Office
P.O. Box 420470
San Francisco, CA 94142-0470

Nonprofit tax ID# 68-010488

Your IRA custodian can send the gift by check or electronic transfer. Please contact Todd Mayberry, executive director at Todd@SFHistory.org or (415) 537-1105 ext. 1 for any questions.

Please let us know of your charitable intentions so we can ensure your gift is processed in an accurate and timely manner.

When? Your gift must be completed on or before December 31 in order to count towards your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) for the calendar year. For those using an IRA checkbook, please remember: the date of gift is when we receive the funds in our account, not when the check is postmarked. To avoid penalties for not taking your full RMD, be certain that checks from an IRA checkbook are sent in plenty of time to clear within the calendar year.

Benefits to You:

RMDs. Your donation will count towards your RMD for the current year. Note that as of January 1, 2020, individuals must start taking RMDs at age 73. (Those who turned 70½ in 2019 must still take RMDs in 2019, 2020 and beyond).

Tax Savings. Before January 1, 2024, you can exclude up to $100,000 of this gift from your federal gross income — resulting in lower taxable income and possible tax savings (a $200,000 exclusion may apply for taxpayers who are married and filing a joint return). Beginning on January 1, 2024, you can exclude up to $105,000 of this gift from your federal gross income (a $210,000 exclusion may apply for married taxpayers filing a joint return).

Tip: This tax savings is especially valuable to donors who are non-itemizers and donors who have reached their limit on itemized charitable deductions.