Americans are a generous bunch. Among the world economies, no country gives more than the United States. It’s not even close.

Charitable giving helps fulfill a deep sense of purpose among many donors. Be it giving to a church, a local food pantry, or an arts organization; these organizations carry significance to many Americans. In this light, not only does it not feel like giving money away when charitably donating, it can actually feel like a reward to the donor!

But giving doesn’t have to be strictly about helping others. It can lower your taxes as well. In this post I’ll share the basics of a gifting strategy many charitably-inclined retirees can use right away–the Qualified Charitable Distribution.