A planned gift looks beyond the present. It helps ensure that the American Council on Germany can continue bringing people together, developing transatlantic leaders, and strengthening German-American cooperation for generations to come.
Planned giving can also include strategic gifts from retirement assets. For eligible donors, a Qualified Charitable Distribution from an IRA can provide an immediate way to support the ACG while incorporating charitable giving into broader retirement and financial planning.
Planned gifts may take many forms: a bequest through a will or trust, a beneficiary designation, a charitable trust, or another arrangement developed with your legal or financial advisors. Depending on the structure of the gift and your individual circumstances, it may also offer financial or tax benefits.
Some donors choose to direct their planned gift to a particular program or priority. Others provide unrestricted support, giving the ACG the flexibility to respond to the needs and opportunities of the future. Donors considering a restricted gift are encouraged to speak with the ACG in advance so that their intentions can be carried out as envisioned.
Qualified Charitable Distributions from an IRA
Individuals age 70½ or older may be eligible to make a Qualified Charitable Distribution directly from an IRA to the American Council on Germany. A QCD allows eligible donors to use IRA assets to support the ACG without including the distribution in taxable income, subject to applicable federal requirements and annual limits.
The transfer must generally be made directly from the IRA custodian to the ACG. Donors should ask their IRA administrator to include their name and address with the payment so that we can properly identify and acknowledge the gift.
A QCD may also count toward all or part of a donor’s required minimum distribution for the year. Direct QCDs generally cannot be made from a 401(k) or 403(b), although donors may wish to ask their advisors whether those assets can first be transferred to an IRA.
Like donor-advised fund grants, Qualified Charitable Distributions may not be used to purchase event tickets, memberships, sponsorships, or other benefits provided in return for a gift.
Because tax rules and individual circumstances vary, donors should consult their financial or tax advisors before making a Qualified Charitable Distribution.
Information for IRA Administrators
Legal Name: American Council on Germany, Inc.
EIN: 13-1889074
Mailing Address:
American Council on Germany
60 East 56th Street, 10th Floor
New York, NY 10022
Please ask your IRA administrator to include your name and address with the distribution so that the ACG can properly identify and acknowledge your gift. For questions, please contact info@acgusa.org.
The American Council on Germany’s Legacy Circle
The American Council on Germany’s Legacy Circle recognizes individuals who have made a commitment to the future of the ACG through a planned gift. By sharing your intentions with us, you give the ACG the opportunity to thank you during your lifetime and welcome you into a community of supporters who share a commitment to sustaining German-American dialogue and cooperation for future generations.
Participation in the Legacy Circle does not require disclosure of the amount or terms of your gift, and members may choose to remain anonymous.
If you have already included the ACG in your plans, we hope you will let us know. Sharing your intentions allows us to thank you, welcome you to the Legacy Circle, and better understand how you would like your future gift to be used. Any information you provide will be treated with discretion and does not create a binding obligation.
Suggested Bequest Language
Donors who wish to include the American Council on Germany in their will or trust may share the following sample language with their attorney:
“I give and bequeath to the American Council on Germany, Inc., a nonprofit organization located in New York, New York, the sum of $________ [or ______ percent of my estate or residuary estate] to be used for its general charitable purposes.”
Legal Name: American Council on Germany, Inc.
EIN: 13-1889074
Mailing Address:
American Council on Germany
60 East 56th Street, 10th Floor
New York, NY 10022
The ACG encourages donors to consult with their attorney, financial advisor, or tax professional to determine which planned giving arrangement best reflects their circumstances and intentions.
Declaration of Future Intent Form
For More Information
For more information, please contact the ACG at jmontier@acgusa.org