#GivingTuesday 2025

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If you are over 73 years old and must make an annual required minimum distribution (RMD) from a retirement account (IRA or annuity), you may be able to make a charitable distribution of up to $100,000 directly from such an account to the Academy. There may be several benefits of doing this. If made directly from the IRA to the Academy, the distribution may be excluded from taxable income.

Check with your accountant and IRA administrator about the specific steps you need to take to initiate such a distribution, because the procedures can vary. If it is being sent as a check, please ensure that the check is made out to the “American Academy of Diplomacy” and that your name is noted on the check, so that we know who advised it.

Another way to make your gift to the Academy is by donating appreciated securities (e.g., stock, bonds and mutual funds). With a gift of appreciated securities held for more than one year, you may be entitled to one or both of the following benefits – a tax deduction for the full fair market value of your securities, and/or no tax on any potential capital gain.

The easiest way to give securities is by means of an electronic transfer following two steps below:

1. Send instructions to the custodian of your securities to make the donation of a specific number of your shares in a specific company to the following Academy account at our custodian, Merrill Institutional Consulting at Bank of America Merrill Lynch. Please make sure to include the following information in your instructions:

   
   

   Bank of America Merrill Lynch

   DTC Number: 8862

   For Credit to Account: 5TL02986

   Account Name: American Academy of Diplomacy

   
   

2. Alert the Academy of your transfer by emailing the following transfer details to mreissaus@academyofdiplomacy.org:

   
   

   -   Name and address of the donor

   -  Name and ticker symbol of the security

   -   Number of shares

   
   

Upon receipt of your gift, the Academy will follow up with a Thank You acknowledgement including the exact value of your gift.  Please consult with your accountant or financial advisor before donating.  If you would prefer to give a gift of a physical certificate instead of an electronic transfer, please contact the Academy at mreissaus@academyofdiplomacy.org for additional instructions.

Consider joining the Academy’s Founders Society – a small circle of AAD members, who are especially committed to the Academy’s long-term financial well-being. You can become a part of this dedicated group by contributing $10,000 or more to the #GivingTuesday Member Match Challenge.

Check with your workplace about possible options for charitable contributions through payroll deduction or workplace-sponsored matching gift programs.