How You Can Help

LEADERS UNITED:
Leading the way for a more equitable community

Leaders United recently formed from United Way’s affinity groups that were created more than 20 years ago by passionate leaders who supported our work to reduce poverty and create impact in central Ohio. In the past, your level of giving would allow you to opt in to one or more of our leadership giving groups based on your gender, race, age or whether you identify as LGBTQ+. During the separation that was necessary due to the pandemic, we realized the importance of community engagement, recognizing diversity and intersectionality, and the need to evolve to meet our donors’ needs.

We believe this transformation into one group, Leaders United, will result in better events, better discussions and better overall connectivity with those who are passionate about our community and United Way’s mission. It will open our conversations and allow you to feel heard, with each of your identities welcomed and appreciated while maintaining a safe place to network, volunteer and amplify voices for leadership. Our goal is to keep our engagement opportunities intentionally diverse.

It will encourage intentional coalitions of leaders from diverse backgrounds with common goals. The best example of this is the Justice Vault, whose founders were highly engaged members of United Way groups. Ignited by injustice resulting from racist systems, the Justice Vault invests in local innovators with high-potential ideas to dismantle racism and create an equitable future. Our goal is to ensure this type of alignment and empowerment happens often.​​​​​

Mission Statement: To mobilize change leaders, bringing them together to connect and learn from one another while amplifying diverse voices and opinions.

Focus areas: Impact. Connection. Philanthropy.

WHY JOIN LEADERS UNITED?
Join this group of passionate change leaders to create an impact in our community. Leaders United is the primary group of leaders and ambassadors of United Way, working to identify and support critical initiatives.

This powerful network of leaders represents a wide variety of age groups, backgrounds, workplaces and interests, who are all committed to making central Ohio an even better place to live, work and play. Leaders United members want to play an important role in setting and carrying out agendas for change in central Ohio. Members invest their time and treasure to help create a more equitable community.

Leaders United can help you make a positive impact on our community by supporting a platform for educating and developing the next generation of leadership volunteers and advocates for change. You’ll receive regular Leaders United emails with information on opportunities to lead and participate in diverse, equitable and inclusive networking,  community education events and special projects designed with Leaders United members in mind. And don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn, and register for our monthly Learn United events featuring timely topics in the community and in the news.

Join us. Together we can make a difference.

Who is Eligible for Leaders United? 

You can choose to be a member of Leaders United if you are an individual or household giving any amount to the Community Response Fund or to one or more of United Way’s impact areas: Success by Third Grade, Student Success or Basic Needs.

HOW DO I REGISTER AS A MEMBER?

There is no need to register or sign up. If you give through a workplace campaign or make an individual gift outside a workplace campaign, plus you meet the previously mentioned criteria, then you will be automatically enrolled in Leaders United.

For more information, questions or to get involved with Leaders United, contact Robert Fournier at 614.227.2763 or Robert.Fournier@uwcentralohio.org.

In 2019, nearly 300 Tocqueville members invested almost $5 million, adding to the more than $70 million given since 2006.

We are grateful to all our Tocqueville Society members for leading the change in central Ohio.

“ Giving has become much more meaningful to me over time. I believe that investing in children at an early age is extraordinarily important and pays huge dividends later in life.” —Antonio Smyth

“ We have been supporting the work of United Way for so many years because we know that our investments and service are helping effectively fight poverty and make lives better. It’s that simple.”  —Donna and Larry James

Members of the Alexis de Tocqueville Society make annual gifts of at least $10,000 to United Way of Central Ohio each year. When you join, you’ll enjoy:

• Building relationships with like-minded local community leaders
• Invitations to exclusive events
• Personalized options for directing charitable investments, including the ability to leverage gifts to maximize their impact
• Access to volunteer and leadership opportunities
• The knowledge that you are part of a network–making an impact and changing lives of thousands of neighbors served by United Way funded partners each year.

Join us. United, we can make a difference.

Become a Tocqueville Society member immediately while increasing your gift over time with incremental pledges.

• 1st year – $5,000
• 2nd year – $7,500
• 3rd year – $10,000

2021-2022 Campaign Chair

• John Ammendola
  President & CEO, Grange Insurance

If you would like more information or to get involved with The Tocqueville Society – contact Julia Wyche at 614.227.2713 or Julia.Wyche@uwcentralohio.org.

If you would like to learn more about building a legacy for United Way of Central Ohio by arranging a planned gift, click here.

Community Leaders Passionate About Creating Change

Based on 5 core values, United Way’s Cinquefoil Fellowship focuses on appreciation, recognition, education, advocacy and inclusion. Through their generous gifts, Cinquefoil members demonstrate a commitment to our community and a dedication to helping provide opportunities for all people to reach their potential.

Last year, with the support of Cinquefoil members, United Way of Central Ohio has helped:

• Provide job training to 3,780 unemployed and underemployed central Ohioans
• Identify and screen more than 7,000 children through Columbus Kids & Franklin County Kids Initiative
• Link 19,317 people to healthcare providers and wellness services
• Provide direct food, shelter and emergency assistance to more than 389,089 people

In addition to creating positive impact in our community, Cinquefoil members enjoy  networking with others who believe in opportunities for everyone.

Join us. United, we can make a difference.

Eligibility

Cinquefoil Fellowship membership is open to central Ohioans who invest $5,000-$9,999 each year in United Way of Central Ohio. Spouses and partners may combine their respective gifts to become Cinquefoil Fellowship members.

Activities

Cinquefoil Fellowship offers several networking events and activities throughout the year to learn more about United Way’s work in our community.

Cinquefoil has no expected attendance requirements; you may select the activities most important to you.

Benefits

Cinquefoil Fellowship members receive special recognition throughout the year and have the opportunity to:

• Interact with business and community leaders
• Meet others who are dedicated to creating opportunities for everyone
• Participate in advocacy opportunities that help make central Ohio a better place to live

Additional Recognition

Cinquefoil Fellowship members may also join other United Way giving groups, including:
Leaders United, to actively create impact in our community
The Society of 1885 (planned gift)

If you would like more information or to get involved with Cinquefoil Fellowship – contact Julia Wyche at 614.227.2713 or Julia.Wyche@uwcentralohio.org.

Improving Lives. Strengthening Our Community.

When you give an individual or household gift of $1,000 – $4,999 annually to United Way of Central Ohio, you demonstrate values shared by thousands of your neighbors and friends. For you, we’ve created Community Builders, a new program that provides special recognition for those who believe in bringing positive change to our community.

As a Community Builder, you help ensure that everyone in central Ohio reaches their potential. Community Builders support United Way’s focus on education, income, health and home because these are the building blocks for a better life:

• A quality education that leads to a stable job
• Sufficient income to support a family through retirement
• Good health maintained throughout life
• A safe and decent place to live

These blocks form the foundation of a strong community. By building together, we have the power to make a bigger difference than we ever could individually. The effect of our actions and donations is amplified, and so is the change we can make.

Community Builders affirms this collective impact. Your individual or household gift of $1,000 – $4,999 annually will change lives and strengthen our community. Not just for today, but for tomorrow, too.

To Be Recognized As A Community Builder:

• Give an individual or household pledge of $1,000 to ­$4,999 annually.
• Mark “Community Builders” on your pledge card or electronic pledge form

If you would like more information or to get involved with Community Builders – contact Julia Wyche at 614.227.2713 or Julia.Wyche@uwcentralohio.org.

Your Giving Becomes a Powerful Force for Good (with Tax Benefits and Flexibility)

A donor advised fund, which is like a charitable savings account, gives you the flexibility to recommend how much and how often money is granted to United Way of Central Ohio and other organizations. With United Way’s Donor Advised Fund, you decide which United Way partners and other eligible charities to support according to your own interests and timetable. Your fund has the potential to grow tax-free in an investment option, ready to support your next philanthropic mission when the moment is right for you.

How the Donor Advised Fund works:

• Establish your account by completing the Donor Advised Fund Agreement with United Way of Central Ohio.
• Contribute a minimum of $10,000 in cash, appreciated stocks, bonds or other eligible marketable assets. Receive an immediate charitable income tax deduction.
• The Columbus Foundation administers the account and provides investment options in one of the approved Vanguard family of funds. Your fund has the potential to grow based on your investment preferences.
• Distribute your fund by recommending grants to United way and other charities according to your own timetable and interests. At least 50 percent of total gifts must be designated to United Way.
• The donor advised fund will make the grant payments, manage tax reporting and provide you with tax receipts.

For more information and to set up a Donor Advised Fund, contact Julia Wyche at Julia.Wyche@uwcentralohio.org or 614.227.2713.

Starting a workplace campaign is an ideal way for you and your co-workers to take a stand for your philanthropic values. Creating a culture of giving at work benefits your employees, your organization and our community.

When you partner with United Way of Central Ohio, you help improve the lives of everyone in our community —including your own.

We’re here for support.

Let us help you customize your campaign. Together, we’ll make it fun, productive and engaging, regardless of the size of your organization.

Call 614.227.2700. We’ll connect you with your personal United Way campaign manager so you can get started today.

A planned gift is a unique and personal opportunity to have a lasting impact on your community and the issues that matter most to you.

United Way of Central Ohio invites you to make the ultimate investment in your community by arranging for a planned gift to United Way.  A planned gift to United Way of Central Ohio will enable us to continue to do what works and what matters for decades to come by finding solutions to the important problems of our time, problems like employment, education, health, housing, and safe neighborhoods.

Donors also reap benefits from making a planned gift to United Way of Central Ohio. Not only do donors build legacies for themselves and their families, often times they see a reduction in their taxes, an increase in their income, the fulfillment of their charitable goals and reap great personal satisfaction in seeing their desires carried forth into the future.

Donors who make a planned gift to United Way of Central Ohio have many options available to them to implement this transaction. Donors can make an outright gift from appreciated assets, through a bequest, with a life insurance policy, through a trust, retirement plans or an annuity. These are but a few of the many avenues available to donors interested in making a planned gift. We encourage donors to work with their legal or financial adviser in making a planned gift but United Way can also provide assistance.

Planned Giving: It assures the future of United Way and what matters most to you.

To discuss planned giving options, contact Stephanie Harris at Stephanie.Harris@uwcentralohio.org or at 614.241.5245.

Invest in Central Ohio’s Future with United Way Life

United Way Life uses an affordable guaranteed life insurance policy. With a modest out-of-pocket cost, you can create a substantial gift that will make an impact in our community forever. With just five annual tax-deductible premium payments to United Way of Central Ohio, the policy is fully paid. Both the premiums and the death benefit are guaranteed to fulfill your gift intent.

Working through a national partnership, United Way Life identifies highly rated best-in-class insurance carriers and constantly searches the market for the greatest value for your charitable dollars. The team at United Way Worldwide will assist you every step of the way, ensuring confidential handling of your information and arranging all required underwriting processes with program partners.

Once premium amounts are determined, they are guaranteed and do not change over the five years. And with United Way of Central Ohio named as the owner and beneficiary of the policy, you receive a tax deduction for each of your five annual premium payments.

The addition of a United Way Life policy also may qualify you for membership in one or more of United Way’s giving groups, or you can use it to step up to the next level of giving over a short period of time, while enjoying membership benefits immediately.

Complete this form to get your free quote today, or to have someone contact you with more information! Or contact Julia Wyche at Julia.Wyche@uwcentralohio.org or 614.227.2713.

Persons wishing to use appreciated stock as settlement of their United Way pledge should check the box labeled “Stocks and Securities” on their pledge card and make sure to fill out the Home Address section of the form. The pledge will be logged as a Direct Bill pledge payable before the end of the following calendar year (i.e. – a pledge made in the fall of 2017 is due prior to 12-31-2018.)

When donating appreciated stock, the individual should transfer the stock(s) as described below before selling it. By doing this, the individual may be able to claim a charitable contribution in the amount of the average of the high and low stock price on the day of transfer to the United Way. He/she may also not have to pay any capital gains tax on the deposition of the stock.

Note: Only stock which has appreciated in value should be contributed directly to the United Way. If you are considering stock whose current selling price is below the purchase price, it would be advantageous for tax purposes to sell the stock first and contribute the proceeds after receiving the cash settlement, so that the individual may be entitled to the capital loss on the sale as well as the charitable donation for the cash paid to the United Way.

PLEASE CONSULT YOUR PERSONAL TAX ADVISOR BEFORE MAKING STOCK TRANSFER DONATION(S).

To transfer stock(s) or mutual fund(s) to the United Way:

1.) Please contact The United Way of Central Ohio at (614) 227-8703 or donorchoice@uwcentralohio.org and inform us of the transfer. We can also answer any questions that you may have.

• If your shares of stock are being held in a brokerage account they can be transferred electronically from your brokerage account to the United Way account. To transfer shares electronically, please provide your broker/brokerage firm with the following United Way account information:

United Way Account: 54H04150
Brokerage Firm: Merrill Lynch
Merrill Lynch DTC Number: 8862
Federal Tax ID: 31-4393712

Your brokerage firm can contact Merrill Lynch directly at (800)285-0648 for information regarding the transfer.

• If you have stock certificates in your possession, please call the above numbers and we will guide you on how to proceed. It is important that you not endorse the stock certificate itself. We will supply you with a separate stock power to use which will expedite the transaction and remove the need for you to have your endorsement certified before sending. You will need to send us the original stock certificate and the separate stock power for our processing. We recommend that these documents be sent separately by certified or registered mail for your protection. We will then sell the stock and give you credit for the average of the high and low stock price on the day you mailed or delivered the certificate.

2.) If you wish to transfer mutual funds, please contact Merrill Lynch at 614-342-6267 or 1-800-285-0648. They will be able to recommend the appropriate procedure to follow.

Our policy is to sell donated stock as quickly as possible after receiving the transfer. Once we receive the proceeds we will post the contribution to your account and send you an acknowledgment letter to serve as evidence of the value of your contribution for tax purposes. To ensure proper posting of stock payments, please ask your broker to provide your full name and address when funds are transferred.

Our work in the community is made possible by the generous support of individuals and business through monetary and in-kind donations.  We would like to thank the following organizations and individuals for their generous in-kind support through the donation of goods, services or consulting expertise valued at $5,000 or more.

Consider an In-Kind Gift

In-kind product and service contributions help United Way of Central Ohio and our partner nonprofit organizations thrive by expanding resources, reducing overhead costs and helping increase efficiency. By making an in-kind donation, you can take pride in knowing your gifts have found a good home and made a real difference in our community.

If you’re an organization:

To coordinate an in-kind fundraiser, such as a school supply drive or clothing drive, or to make a large in-kind donation such as advertising/media placement or consulting services, please contact us and we will gladly help connect you to the right people, programs and agencies in our community.

We also welcome your in-kind donations of goods and services made directly to United Way of Central Ohio—such as gift cards, printing, catering services, office supplies, video production/editing. These generous donations allow us to do our work in central Ohio more efficiently and effectively.

Please contact and work with your organization’s United Way Relationship Manager. If you don’t have an assigned Relationship Manager, please contact Andrea Edwards at Andrea.Edwards@uwcentralohio.org.

If you’re an individual:

We can help you find a nonprofit agency home for your new and/or gently used household items or office equipment including household tools, gently used clothes and winter jackets, and office equipment including computers and printers. Please contact Andrea Edwards at Andrea.Edwards@uwcentralohio.org.

When you make an in-kind gift, you’re entitled to receive all the tax credits allowed by law.  Please contact a tax professional for specific tax advice.  United Way of Central Ohio gladly coordinates the donations of in-kind gifts among individuals, companies and non-profit organizations. We are not responsible for any damage or inconvenience encountered during an in-kind transaction.