Ways to Give: Tax-Smart Giving

Did you know you can support our mission while maximizing your tax benefits? By giving through a Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) or an IRA Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD), you can make a lasting impact without dipping into your everyday bank account.

Before initiating your gift, please ensure you or your financial advisor have our official organization details handy:

  • Legal Name: Colorado State Science Fair, Inc.

  • Mailing Address: P O Box 772, Wellington, CO 80549-0772

  • Tax ID / EIN: 74-1884595

1. Give From Your Donor-Advised Fund (DAF)

If you have a Donor-Advised Fund with Fidelity Charitable, Schwab Charitable, Vanguard Charitable, or another provider, you can easily direct a grant to support our work.

How to give:

  1. Log in to your DAF provider’s online portal.

  2. Search for us using our Legal Name or Tax ID (74-1884595).

  3. Recommend a grant to our organization. You can choose to make it a one-time gift or set up a recurring annual grant to sustain our programs.

Note: DAF distributions do not qualify for an additional charitable tax deduction since you received the deduction when you initially funded your DAF, but they are a seamless way to put your charitable dollars to work immediately.

2. Give From Your IRA (Qualified Charitable Distributions)

If you are 70½ or older, you can give up to $105,000 per year directly from your traditional IRA to a qualified charity tax-free. If you are required to take a Required Minimum Distribution (RMD), a QCD counts directly toward meeting that obligation!

Why it’s smart:

  • The money goes directly to our mission without ever being counted as taxable income to you.

  • It reduces your adjusted gross income (AGI), which can help minimize taxes on Social Security benefits or prevent higher Medicare premiums.

How to give:

  1. Contact your IRA custodian (Fidelity, Vanguard, Charles Schwab, etc.).

  2. Request a "Qualified Charitable Distribution" form.

  3. Instruct them to issue a check payable directly to Colorado State Science Fair, Inc. and mail it to our address listed above.

⚠️ Important Reminder: The check must be made out directly to our organization, not to you. If the funds are distributed to your personal bank account first, it will count as taxable income, even if you write us a check later.

Need Assistance?

If you or your financial advisor have questions about executing a DAF grant or an IRA rollover, please contact us directly at treasurer@csef-colo.org or 970-491-7716. We are incredibly grateful for your partnership and investment in our community.