A Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) is a way for people with traditional IRAs to donate money directly to a qualified charity without having to pay income tax on the amount given. It’s often used by individuals who are required to take minimum distributions from their IRAs but don’t need the funds and would rather support a cause they care about. The money must go straight from the IRA to the charity to count as a QCD. This type of distribution can help reduce your taxable income and still meet your required distribution for the year.