qualified charitable contributions

[johnpkeller]

From my IRA, I have a check made out to the church, which I would like part for tithing, and part for a missionary in another ward. I cannot handle it as an online donation because the check is made out to the church. My clerk said MLS cannot transfer to a missionay in another ward. Any suggestions?

[russellhltn]

Some thoughts:
1) The easy way is to ask your IRA to cut two checks. That way you can donate one to your ward and the other to the other ward.
2) It's possible to donate tithing in other wards. As long as they record your MRN with the donation, it will show up in all the right places.
3) You may want to explore Donation in Kind. That may offer some additional tax advantages.

[lajackson]

From my IRA, I have a check made out to the church, which I would like part for tithing, and part for a missionary in another ward.

The LDS Philanthropies site has a page with instructions for IRA Qualified Charitable Distributions. Here is the section pertaining to your situation.

To make an IRA qualified charitable distribution to the Church that includes tithing, fast offerings, and/or ward mission fund, a donor should:

1. Instruct his or her IRA administrator to make the check payable to Corporation of the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (TIN 23-7300405) and send the check addressed as follows:

Donations Department
50 East North Temple, Rm 1521
Salt Lake City, UT 84150

2. Notify Treasury Services by mail to the above address or by email to donations@ldschurch.org that the distribution is being made. Include the donor’s name, Church record number, mailing address, name of IRA administrator, exact amount contributed, and allocation of the donation among tithing, fast offerings, and other funds of the Church. This will help ensure that the donation is credited properly. A donor may contact Treasury Services at 801-240-2554 if there are questions or additional information is needed. Treasury Services will email an acknowledgment letter to the donor using the email address on their membership record, otherwise an acknowledgment letter will be mailed to the physical address on file.

Since it appears you already have the check, simply mail it to the Donations Department with instructions on how much is for tithing and how much is for ward missionary fund. In your letter, be sure to specify the name of the missionary and the ward from which he is serving.