Giving Later in Life

And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that you may always have enough of everything and may provide in abundance for every good work.

2 Corinthians 9:8

Thank you for considering our parish for your charitable giving. We’re delighted to share options that are beneficial to both you and the parish, depending on your age.

If you are 70½ or older, you can support the mission of St. Francis Xavier Parish while maximizing your tax benefits through your Individual Retirement Account (IRA) using Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs).

Further still, if you are 73 or older, you are likely required to take a Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) from your IRA, which is usually taxable income. However, by using a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD), you can satisfy your RMD without increasing your taxable income.

What is a QCD?

A QCD is a direct transfer of funds from your IRA custodian to a qualified charity (like our church). Since the money goes directly to the church, it is excluded from your taxable income.

Benefits of a QCD in 2026:

  • Tax-Free: The donation does not count toward your adjusted gross income, which can lower your overall tax bill.

  • No Itemizing Necessary: You can use a QCD even if you take the standard deduction.

  • Satisfies RMD: A QCD counts toward your annual RMD requirement.

  • High Limit: In 2026, you can transfer up to $111,000 per person, per year.

To simply make a QCD to St. Francis Xavier Parish, correctly follow these steps:

  • Contact your IRA Administrator or Custodian: Call the financial institution that holds your IRA (Fidelity, Vanguard, Schwab, etc.).

  • Request a QCD: Tell them you want to make a "Qualified Charitable Distribution" directly to St. Francis Xavier Parish.

  • Provide Church Details:

    • Legal Name: St. Francis Xavier Parish

    • Address: 455 Table Rock Rd., Gettysburg, PA 17325

    • EIN/Tax ID: 84-3616063

  • Send Directly: Ensure the check is made payable to St. Francis Xavier Parish and mailed directly to the church.

  • Timing: The transfer must occur by December 31 to count for the current tax year.

For additional information on QCDs and RMDs, contact our Parish Manager, Gerald Michel @ gmichel@sfxcs-pa.org or (717) 334-3919, ext. 7, or speak with your IRA advisor.

For more giving options, please see our Give Online page.