PG Calc Blog

The RMD: Timing Is Everything

Does the timing of the first RMD for a 73-year-old matter? A question from a client came up about a donor who was turning 73 in the calendar year using their Individual Retirement Account (IRA) to fund a charitable gift. Would a qualified charitable distribution (QCD) taken in the year the donor turns 73 but before the donor’s actual 73rd birthday count toward the Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) for that year? For instance, can a donor turning 73 on December 31st establish a QCD charitable gift annuity (CGA) on December 1st and still have it count toward their RMD?

Plan Your Postmark: Operational Changes at USPS Can Affect Gift Dates

In 2025 the US Post Office made a quiet shift in its operations that resulted in some gifts handed to the US Post Office on December 30th and 31st being postmarked in January. Donors and charities should be aware of this change, as the mailbox rule to establish a gift date for a mailed check relates to when the postmark is applied not when the US Post Office came in possession of the mail. Mail deposited in mailboxes, retail locations, and US Post Offices is sent to central processing facilities for sorting. Even though the US Postal Service (USPS) has possession of the mail, the postmark is not usually applied until the mail reaches a processing facility. In 2025 the US Post Office made changes to its transportation operations which no longer guarantee that mail deposited in a mailbox or handed to a postal worker at a retail post office will arrive at a processing facility on the same day. This means mail that is simply dropped off in a mailbox or US Post Office may not be postmarked...

New Jersey Is Inflexible on Flexible Gift Annuities

New Jersey is requiring actuarial verification of state reserve reports as part of a charity’s gift annuity annual reporting if the charity offers flexible gift annuities (FGAs). If your charity has a pending application, you will need to add an actuarial verification of your New Jersey reserve calculations if you offer FGAs. Charities that are already registered in New Jersey will need actuarial verification of their state reserve report as part of their annual filings if they offer FGAs.

Talking to Your Donors about the OBBBA Changes: Turning Tax Changes into Gift Opportunities

As we approach tax season, many of your donors may be confused when they hear whispers about the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) and how it might impact their charitable giving. While tax law shifts can feel daunting, these changes aren’t reasons for your donors to stop giving. In fact, a door has opened to engage donors in conversations about how to give more strategically … and give more.