Can I use the Qualified Charitable Distribution using the Fidelity Charitable fund? Is it better than a non QCD gift deducted as an itemized deduction?

[ClariFile]

I heard that a QCD gift cannot be made through Fidelity Charitable because it is not going directly from the donor to a charity--true?

[Hal_Al]

No.

You cannot make a QCD gift, from your IRA, to a donor advised fund (like the Fidelity Charitable fund). It simply isn't allowed, by the rules. Instead, you must make your QCD directly to the charity. 

Reference: https://www.irahelp.com/slottreport/ten-qcd-rules-2019-you-need-know

"The QCD rules are not available for gifts made to grant-making foundations, donor advised funds or charitable gift annuities".

[tombell23669]

May I ask what "rules" do not allow this?

[SweetieJean]

<a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.fidelitycharitable.org/philanthropy/qualified-charitable-distribution.shtml">https://www...>

[SweetieJean]

The distribution must transfer directly to a qualified charity. "Qualified charity" is an official IRS designation. The list of qualified charities includes all 501(c)(3) organizations; and the list explicitly does not include donor-advised funds, foundations, or other grant-making organizations.

[dmertz]

It's the law.  Section 408(d)(8)(B)(i) explicitly excludes donor advised funds (described in section 4966(d)(2)) from being eligible recipients of qualified charitable distributions.

[fitzgerald21209]

Thank you.

[fitzgerald21209]

Thank you for the detailed answer.

[fitzgerald21209]

Thank you for the detailed and referenced answer.