As you know, our League depends upon volunteers, donations and memberships to carry out our mission of empowering voters and defending democracy.
LWV of Bellingham/Whatcom County is a 501(c)(4) organization, which means donations to us are very welcome but not tax deductible. A 501(c)(4) organization is a social welfare organization that is exempt from taxes by the IRS but has the ability to lobby and advocate for its positions, which is different from a charity.
But there are ways to donate that do have tax benefits. The League of Women Voters of Washington State (LWVWA) maintains a qualified charitable 501(c)(3) organization, the Education Fund, that accepts tax-deductible donations on our behalf. Donations must be made directly to LWVWA Education Fund with a clear notation that they are intended for the Bellingham/Whatcom County League. LWVBWC may then apply to make use of the funds in a way that is strictly educational, supporting activities such as our election forums, non-partisan voter registration work, and civics education.
A qualified charitable distribution (QCD) is another way for IRA owners who are 70 1⁄2 years of age or older to donate up to $100,000 to the League’s education fund each year without including the donation amount in their gross income. For a married couple, if both spouses are age 70 ½ or over when the distributions are made, and both have IRAs, each spouse can exclude up to $100,000 for a total of $200,000 per year.
Contributions must be made directly from a traditional IRA account by your IRA administrator. They can be made by check payable to the League of Women Voters of Washington Education Fund (for Bellingham/Whatcom County).
QCDs can help donors avoid being pushed into higher income tax brackets and prevent phaseouts of other tax deductions. QCDs made prior to the age you are required to take a minimum distribution from your retirement assets will not reduce or otherwise impact future Required Minimum Distributions. For more information about QCD’s, check with your tax advisor or
the IRS.
To make a donation to the Education Fund electronically, click
here. Be sure to select Bellingham/Whatcom County in the space provided.
You may also mail a check to (and in the memo line, write "Bellingham/Whatcom County"):
League of Women Voters of Washington
Education Fund
1511 3rd Ave Suite 900
Seattle, WA 98101
We are grateful for your support!