Your IRA, 401(k), 403(b) or other qualified retirement plan can provide a tax-smart way to make an impact on California State University, Bakersfield either now or at the end of your lifetime. The qualified charitable distribution or QCD (also known as an “IRA charitable rollover”) is a great way to make a tax-free gift now to CSU Bakersfield and satisfy your required minimum distribution (RMD) too.

A gift of retirement plan assets could be right for you if:

  • You have an IRA or other qualified retirement plan such as a 401(k) or 403(b).
  • You do not expect to need all of your retirement plan assets during your lifetime.
  • You have other assets, such as securities and real estate, that you want to pass to heirs.
  • You want to provide income or payments to loved ones after you are gone.
  • You would like to make a charitable bequest to CSU Bakersfield.

Option 1: Make a tax-free gift now with a qualified charitable distribution.

You can make a tax-free gift with a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) from your IRA. (Other Qualified Retirement Plans such as 401(k)s and 403(b)s are not eligible). You must be at least 70½ years old to take advantage of this opportunity. Your QCD must go directly from your IRA administrator to CSU Bakersfield. The total of all of your QCD gifts for 2025 cannot exceed $108,000 per person however, your spouse with a separate IRA can also make a QCD of up to $108,000 in 2025 if they otherwise qualify.

The benefits of a QCD gift include:

  • If you don’t itemize your income tax deductions, a QCD provides the tax benefits of an itemized income tax charitable deduction.
  • If you are age 73 and must take a required minimum distribution, your QCD gift can satisfy your RMD without increasing your income taxes.
  • Your gift provides immediate support for the important work of CSU Bakersfield with a tax-free gift.

Option 2: Designate your remaining qualified retirement plan assets as a contribution to CSU Bakersfield.

Another attractive option is to designate CSU Bakersfield as the recipient of some or all of what’s left in your IRA, 401(k), 403(b), or other qualified retirement plan at the end of your lifetime.

In addition to having the satisfaction of making a significant future gift to CSU Bakersfield, your benefits include:

  • Your estate is entitled to an unlimited estate tax charitable deduction for the value of your qualified retirement plan donated to CSU Bakersfield.
  • Since CSU Bakersfield is tax-exempt, there will be no income taxes paid on the distribution to CSU Bakersfield.
  • A tax-smart estate planning strategy is to contribute taxable Qualified Retirement Plan assets to CSU Bakersfield and preserve non-retirement plan assets for your heirs.

Note: Directing your qualified retirement plan to charitable and noncharitable beneficiaries can accelerate the income tax. Always consult with your advisers before naming the beneficiaries of your qualified retirement plan.

How Can I Make a Qualified Charitable Distribution?

Contact your IRA administrator to request a Qualified Charitable Distribution from your IRA to CSU Bakersfield. Information that you may need for the QCD is provided below:

  • Legal name: California State University, Bakersfield Foundation
  • Mailing address: 9001 Stockdale Hwy, Mail Stop: 19AW Bakersfield, CA 93311
  • Federal Tax ID number: 95-2643086