Invest in a stronger future.
Plan Your
Gift
Creating a charitable legacy doesn’t require great wealth or an abundance of time.
By planning your gift, you will:
Expand opportunities for local children and families
Invest in quality jobs and stable housing across our region
Support access to affordable healthcare and food
Respond to emerging needs for generations to come
Most importantly, a planned gift allows your values to continue making a difference in the community you call home.
Ways to Leave Your Legacy
Whether through a will, trust, endowment, retirement account, donor-advised fund, or other giving vehicle, your legacy gift helps ensure that future generations in East Central Iowa can thrive.
One of the simplest and most popular ways to create a lasting impact is through a bequest in your will or trust.
You can designate:
• A specific dollar amount
• A percentage of your estate
• A particular asset
• The remainder of your estate after loved ones are cared for
A charitable bequest is flexible and can be updated whenever your circumstances or wishes change.
United Way partners with FreeWill to make your bequest even easier. Create your own will at no cost and add United Way of East Central Iowa as a beneficiary. Visit https://freewill.com/unitedway to get started.
You can name United Way of East Central Iowa as a full or partial beneficiary of different accounts to maximize both your impact and provide potential tax advantages for your heirs.
In many cases, all it takes is completing a simple form through your financial institution, retirement plan administrator, or insurance provider.
You can designate United Way of East Central Iowa as a beneficiary of:
• Retirement accounts (IRA, 401(k), 403(b), or other qualified plans)
• Life insurance policies
• Bank or investment accounts
• Donor-advised funds
Beneficiary designations are simple, flexible, and often do not require you to update your will or work with an attorney. As your circumstances change, you can easily modify your designation at any time.
An endowed gift to United Way of East Central Iowa creates a permanent source of support for our community. Your gift is invested, and a portion of the earnings is used each year to address local needs, helping ensure that United Way can improve lives not just today, but for generations to come.
Endowed gifts provide long-term stability and flexibility, allowing United Way to respond to emerging challenges, invest in lasting solutions, and strengthen East Central Iowa far into the future. One gift can create impact year after year, becoming a legacy that reflects your values and commitment to the community.
United Way of East Central Iowa is proud to partner with the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation to help donors establish and grow donor-advised, endowed funds. Whether you’re interested in creating a named fund, incorporating an endowed gift into your estate plans, involving future generations in your philanthropy, or supporting an existing United Way endowment, our team can help you explore the option that’s right for you.
Depending on your personal and financial goals, you may also consider:
• Charitable remainder trusts
• Real estate gifts
• Other estate planning strategies
We are happy to work with you and your professional advisors to explore options that align with your values and objectives.
A Legacy of Local Impact
For more than 100 years, United Way of East Central Iowa has brought people together to solve our community’s toughest challenges. A planned gift helps ensure that work continues for decades to come.
Your legacy can support future generations. Together, we can create lasting change that extends far beyond our lifetimes.
To recognize donors who have made this incredible gift, United Way of East Central Iowa has founded two societies.
Recognition Societies
The Touch Tomorrow Society honors individuals and families who have included United Way of East Central Iowa in their estate plans through a planned gift.
Members have chosen to leave a lasting legacy by naming United Way as a beneficiary in their will, trust, retirement account, life insurance policy, donor-advised fund, or other planned giving vehicle. Their generosity helps ensure that future generations will continue to benefit from programs and services across East Central Iowa.
By joining the Touch Tomorrow Society, you become part of a community of forward-thinking donors who are helping shape a stronger tomorrow.
Examples of qualifying gifts include:
• Bequests through a will or trust
• Retirement account beneficiary designations
• Life insurance beneficiary designations
• Donor-advised fund beneficiaries
• Charitable trusts
• Other estate gifts
The Whipple Legacy Circle recognizes donors who create an endowed gift to support United Way of East Central Iowa in perpetuity.
Named in honor of William P. and Gayle S. Whipple, the first Eastern Iowans to endow an annual gift to United Way, this recognition society celebrates individuals whose generosity provides permanent support for our community.
Endowed gifts are invested to create an ongoing source of funding, with earnings used to address local needs year after year. Your leadership gift continues working for the community long into the future, creating impact that extends far beyond a single generation.
Members of the Whipple Legacy Circle help ensure United Way remains a strong and reliable force for good in East Central Iowa for decades to come.
Examples of qualifying gifts include:
• Establishing a named endowed fund
• Endowing an annual leadership gift
• Making an estate gift that funds a permanent endowment
Lisa Ramlo
Tocqueville Society Member
“A community is only as strong as reaching out and lifting up the people most at need. To me, that’s the most critical thing about giving to United Way. We can make sure our community is reaching out and putting their arms around everyone in this community.”
Let’s Start the Conversation
Creating a legacy gift begins with a simple conversation.
We would be honored to discuss your philanthropic goals, answer questions, and provide information you can share with your attorney, financial advisor, or tax professional.
Contact VP of Donor Engagement & Development, Katie Benedix at katie.benedix@uweci.org.
Important Information
United Way of East Central Iowa does not provide legal, tax, or financial advice. We encourage you to consult with your professional advisors when making estate and charitable planning decisions.