Changing the Conversation. As important with donors as in “real life”
- Amy Mauser
- 7 days ago
- 2 min read
Earlier this month, I went on my annual “Girls Weekend” with my four college besties. Not surprisingly, our conversations have evolved over the years. This time, instead of dissecting college applications or early career decisions, we found ourselves talking about caring for our aging parents—and making sure our own financial and estate plans are in order.
Some of the questions were practical (When should we start taking social security?) and others led to more philosophical discussions. Choosing which of your children to put “in charge” of significant decisions might be easy, but committing to your decision in a legal document is trickier.
We talked about expectations (and how they’ve shifted), about our husbands and children, and about what really matters to us now.
It was thoughtful, honest, and not unexpectedly - totally amazing.
As fundraisers, we can’t expect our conversations with donors to mirror the openness we share with our closest friends. But we can bring the best version of ourselves into those conversations—the one who listens without judgment, asks thoughtful questions, and shares ideas with clarity and care.
And in fundraising conversations, you are the expert. It’s okay to share what you know—about your organization’s needs, about giving strategies, and about opportunities donors may not even realize are available to them.
Here are a few helpful facts to keep in mind when talking with older donors:
If a donor is age 70½ or older and has an IRA, they may already know they can make a direct transfer from their IRA to one or more charities. (Their IRA administrator can help facilitate this.) They may also know that once they reach age 73, they are required to withdraw an increasing percentage of their IRA each year—the Required Minimum Distribution (RMD).
What’s especially helpful is that gifts made directly from an IRA to qualified charities can count toward that RMD.
In 2026, individuals can transfer up to $111,000 annually from an IRA to qualified charities. These gifts are called Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs).
QCDs are not included in taxable income, which makes them especially appealing. In many cases, they can be more advantageous than a standard charitable deduction. For example, while itemized charitable deductions are generally tied to a donor’s tax rate, recent legislation caps the effective rate at 35%. For donors in the 37% tax bracket, this difference may matter.
QCDs are most often used for immediate, outright gifts that support a charity’s current needs. However, there is also an opportunity to use a one-time QCD—up to $55,000 in 2026—to fund a life-income gift, such as a charitable gift annuity. (And yes, we should absolutely be talking more about gift annuities!)
In summary: As our own lives evolve, so do the conversations we’re having—and the financial decisions that come with them. The same is true for our donors. By showing up with empathy, listening well, and confidently sharing what we know, we can help donors make informed, meaningful choices. Tools like QCDs are not just tax-efficient—they’re opportunities to align generosity with life stage, values, and impact.
At Team Kat & Mouse, we love helping organizations take the next step toward more meaningful donor conversations—whether that’s through donor research, CRM strategy and reporting, or major gift coaching. If you’re thinking about what’s next, we’d be glad to connect.
