How It Works

  • Donors can give up to $108,000 annually for an individual through a qualified charitable distribution (or $216,000 for spouses with separate accounts).
  • Contact your IRA administrator to initiate the tax-free transfer. Your custody agent should issue a check payable to “The President and Fellows of Harvard College” and mail it directly to the following address: 

    Harvard University
    PO Box 419209
    Boston MA 02241-9209

    For donors choosing FedEx or UPS:

    Bank of America Lockbox Services
    President & Fellows of Harvard College Box 419209
    2 Morrissey Boulevard
    MA5-527-02-07
    Dorchester, MA 02125

    Harvard's tax ID is 04-2103580. 

  • Please ensure your IRA custodian includes your name and address, as the donor of record, and specifies the purpose or affiliation for your gift (i.e., if you would like your gift to support a specific School or fund). Please contact us if you have questions about directing your gift, so we can ensure your contribution is used how you intend. 
  • Donors may also name Harvard as the beneficiary of all or a portion of their IRA. Contact your IRA administrator to complete a beneficiary designation form. This can often be done online. 

Benefits

  • Withdrawals for qualified charitable distributions are not subject to income tax.
  • Gifts count toward the required minimum distribution for donors aged 73 and older.
  • IRA gifts may be used to fulfill multiyear gift pledges.
  • IRA gifts may also be used—up to $54,000 for a single donor—to fund a charitable gift annuity, securing lifetime income for yourself or a loved one.
  • Your gift can be used to support any School or initiative or to create an endowed scholarship or another permanent fund—contact us to discuss details!

Interested in learning more?

Fill out our online form or contact the Harvard Gift Planning team at 800-446-1277 or giftplanning@harvard.edu.

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