Meeting your philanthropic and financial goals through an IRA distribution gift

As we approach the end of the year, many donors will be meeting with their financial advisors. If you are among them and 73 or more years young — here's a topic you may want to explore with them: the benefits of using the required minimum distribution from your IRA to meet your philanthropic goals.

"It really is a win-win. If I took the distribution for myself, I would have had a tax hit. I would rather the Arc have the money for the important work here," said Carol Conway, who worked with her financial planner last year to begin an annual tradition of making a generous gift from her IRA to Northeast Arc.

Carol grew up as part of a big family in the Barry Park neighborhood of Lynn. She began her career teaching English in Lynn Public Schools and retired as Head of the Special Education Department at Lynn English High School, with 15 years of teaching in Virginia, where she made the shift from English to Special Education, in between.

When Carol returned to Lynn Public Schools, she continued to support students with the highest level of need, which she found to be most rewarding. It was through interacting with Northeast Arc staff at Individual Education Plan meetings and the positive experience of a family member who utilized NeArc services that Carol developed an affection for the organization.

"I'm impressed by the breadth of all that you do here," Carol shared after a visit to Northeast Arc's Center for Linking Lives in Danvers.

This fall, Carol was welcomed into Northeast Arc's 2054 Society in recognition of her annual planned gift to the organization. It's because of her generosity and that of other community, corporate and government partners that Northeast Arc can be here for kids and adults with diverse abilities when they and their families need us, across the arc of their lives.

To learn more about the 2054 Society, please contact Susan Ring Brown, Director of Foundation and Legacy Engagement at [email protected].