At the Catch, the Drive, and the Finish: Powering OSU Rowing Through Your IRA

You may be able to avoid taxes on otherwise taxable distributions from a traditional IRA if you are 70 1/2. They may even count towards your Required Minimum Distributions. Details here from Stephanie Zaino, our rep at the OSU Foundation.

Rowing isn’t about a single moment of effort—it’s about thousands of early‑morning strokes, repeated with discipline and trust, each one building toward long‑term success. A Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) offers rowing supporters age 70½ or older a way to keep that momentum going by making a direct, tax‑wise gift to Oregon State Rowing from an IRA.

Your gift helps ensure that every athlete who lines up at the start is equipped, prepared, and supported—today and in the seasons ahead.

What Is a Qualified Charitable Distribution?

A Qualified Charitable Distribution is a direct transfer from your traditional IRA to a nonprofit like the Oregon State University Foundation. When structured properly, a QCD:

May count toward your required minimum distribution (RMD)
Is excluded from your taxable income
Delivers immediate support to the program you care about—OSU Rowing.

It’s a steady, reliable stroke—efficient and impactful.

A Steady Stroke Rate: How to Make a QCD Gift to OSU Rowing

Step 1: Set the Boat — Confirm Eligibility

You may be eligible to make a QCD if:

You are 70½ or older
Your gift comes from a traditional IRA
The funds transfer directly from your IRA to the OSU Foundation

QCDs are not permitted from employer‑sponsored plans such as 401(k)s or 403(b)s. For 2026, total QCD gifts cannot exceed $111,000 per donor.

Step 2: Take the Catch — Initiate the Transfer

Ask your IRA administrator to issue a Qualified Charitable Distribution payable directly to:

Oregon State University Foundation

4238 SW Research Way

Corvallis, OR 97333

Federal Tax ID: 93‑6022772

Request that your name be included with the transfer so your gift can be properly credited—just as every seat in the boat matters.

Step 3: Drive the Legs — Direct Your Gift to Rowing

Be sure your QCD is designated for OSU Rowing, where it can support:

Boats, oars, and training technology
Travel and competition expenses
Scholarships and student‑athlete support
Long term endowment growth

Your gift strengthens the infrastructure that allows crews to train with purpose and compete with confidence

Step 4: Keep the Crew in Sync — Notify the OSU Foundation

IRA custodians often send checks without donor details or designations. Please let the OSU Foundation Office of Gift Planning know when your QCD is on the way so we can:

Ensure accurate receipting
Apply your gift exactly as you intend
Keep everything moving smoothly, without disruption

Communication keeps us rowing together in rhythm.

Step 5: Finish Strong — Complete Your Gift by December 31

To count toward your RMD for the current year, your QCD must be received by December 31. If you use an IRA checkbook, contacting us early helps ensure your gift clears the line cleanly.

Want to use a QCD to support Rowing on Dam Proud Day? Please alert Stephanie Zaino prior to April 29 and include your name, amount and intended designation and if you wish your gift to count towards any challenge gifts. stephanie.zaino@osufoundation.org

Why Rowing Donors Choose QCDs

A QCD is ideal for supporters who value consistency, discipline, and results. This approach:

Supports OSU Rowing’s immediate needs
May satisfy required distributions
Reduces taxable income
Keeps annual support flowing—no sprint required

It’s one of the most efficient ways to stay part of the crew.

Building Endurance Beyond Today

Just as rowers train for the long race, many supporters pair QCDs with beneficiary designations from retirement accounts to create lasting support for OSU Rowing. Together, these commitments help stabilize the program through shifting tides in collegiate athletics—providing strength, balance, and endurance well into the future.

By naming the Oregon State University Foundation as a beneficiary of your IRA, you can:

Use a highly tax‑advantaged asset for charitable impact
Create long‑term support for OSU Rowing through endowment
Maintain full control of your retirement account during your lifetime

Legacy gifts help ensure OSU Rowing remains strong—through changing tides and for generations of student‑athletes to come. Want to learn more? Contact Stephanie S. Zaino, Sr. Director of Development, Gift Planning at the OSU Foundation at 541-520-2832 or stephanie.zaino@osufoundation.org.