Donation options

Each of the giving methods below offer advantages that may align with your financial goals and philanthropic vision. However you choose to give, your contributions will make a vital difference to all of those that enjoy the Montour Trail.

Planned Giving while Living

By giving appreciated securities instead of cash, you maximize your giving to nonprofits instead of paying capital gains tax. Consider a planned gift that makes MTC the beneficiary of some or all of your IRA or other qualified plan, so you can give more while reducing tax burdens. If you’re at the required minimum distribution (RMD) age, these gifts will count towards your required RMD.

Legacy Giving

Legacy giving is a type of charitable giving in which donors include donations in their estate plans, ensuring their support for a cause that continues after their passing. These gifts are typically deferred until the donor’s death. They can include bequests, donations of assets like retirement accounts or life insurance, or charitable trusts.

Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD)

If you are 70½ years old or older, you can give up to $100,000 per year from your IRA directly to a qualified charity, such as the Montour Trail Council, without having to count the distribution as taxable income.In addition, QCD can be a strategic way to fulfill your RMD and reduce your taxable income, which may have a positive implication for Medicare premiums and Social Security tax.

Required Minimum Distribution (RMD)

Required minimum distributions are the minimum amounts that individuals must withdraw annually from their retirement accounts once they reach a certain age. These are mandated by the IRS to ensure taxable income from tax-deferred accounts, such as traditional IRAs, 401(k)s and similar retirement plans.

The government has been adjusting the RMD age, based on the year you were born. People are not required by law to spend the funds from their RMDs ,they just need to be removed and taxes paid. Failing to withdraw the required amount can result in a hefty penalty.

Donor Advised Fund (DAF)

A Donor Advised Fund acts as a charitable savings account where you can contribute cash, stocks or other assets to receive an immediate tax deduction. Over time, you can recommend grants from your DAF to MTC or other charities. It’s a flexible way to manage your charitable giving, allowing you to invest the funds for tax-free growth and support your favorite causes when the time is right for you.

Stock Donation

Donating stocks, bonds or other appreciated securities can be a tax-efficient way to support MTC. When you transfer ownership of long-term holdings to us, you receive a charitable dedication for their full market value at the time of the gift, and potentially avoiding any capital-gains tax if you sold the assets yourself.

Crypto Donation

Increase your impact by donating Bitcoin or other cryptocurrency directly to MTC. Compared with donating cash or selling your cryptocurrency and contributing the after-tax proceeds, you potentially can increase tax efficiency along with the size of your charitable gift. You may also reduce capital-gains taxes the Medicare surtax while taking an immediate fair-market value tax deduction if you itemize.

Endowment

MTC has an Endowment Fund to help with maintenance costs once the fund is mature. The highly regarded Pittsburgh Foundation administers the fund, and several local advisory groups direct the investments in a “pooled” account. Click here for detailed information.

Personal Donations

There are a number of other ways to feel invested in the nature corridor that runs through Pittsburgh’s suburban communities. For example, Montour Trail Councils runs special campaigns from time to time to fund a specific project with an overwhelming shortfall. You can view the  list of opportunities, from United Way to retail promotions, here.

Double the Donation

Employer matching gifts are a form of corporate giving in which companies agree to match their employees’ and sometimes retirees’ charitable donations. For Montour Trail COuncil, these programs produce additional fundraising revenue that goes toward maintenance and expansion of the trail.

Charity Navigator has scored Montour Trailat 96%, earning us a four-star rating. This means that you can give with confidence due to our financial health (financial efficiency, sustainability, and trustworthiness) and commitment to governance practices and policies.

Charity Navigator helps millions of people take action and support the causes they care about by connecting them to the best charities that align with their passions and values.