About UsOur WorkPartners
Live United
Give
Give
Advocate

OPEN YOUR HEART

LEND YOUR MUSCLE

JOIN THE MOVEMENT

Join Now

United Way Foundation

Established in 1992 with a bequest of $750,000 from Helen L. Curry in memory of her husband Oscar H. Curry, the United Way Foundation of Indian River County allows donors to provide for United Way's future through bequests and other planned gifts or perpetuate their annual giving. The vision and leadership of these donors ensures that United Way can continue, during and beyond their lifetimes, to address urgent human care needs in our community which cannot solely be met through campaign funds. 

Whereas the annual campaign provides support for critical health and human services each year, the United Way Foundation is designed to respond to emerging or emergency needs, provide support for capital projects that enhance the delivery of services, serve as a source of funding for special initiatives, and sustain United Way’s work in our community for years to come. While both are important to furthering United Way’s mission, your generous gift to United Way’s annual campaign impacts lives today.  Your investment in the Foundation impacts lives forever.

Contact Michelle Malyn, Director of Gift Planning, at (772) 567-8900 extension 14, or via email at michelle.malyn@unitedwayirc.org .

Give Now

United Way of Indian River County funds dozens of programs locally that reach one out of three residents. Only 14% goes to administrative costs, and 99% stays right here in Indian
River County.

GIVE NOW

Our Promise to You

Your donation is a sound and secure investment in our community. United Way assures donors that their investments are achieving the outcomes they expect through our Community Investment process. Community Investment volunteers conduct annual organizational assessments of each partner agency to measure the operational efficiencies and effectiveness. To participate in our Community Investment process. call 567-8900

Live United in Our Community

You may think volunteering means picking up a paintbrush, planting trees, or working in a soup kitchen. But many nonprofits need professional services like answering phones, writing a business plan, doing their books or board governance.

Volunteering is open to any individual or group thats ready make Indian River County a better place for everyone to live. To become involved contact one of our partner agencies or call 772-567-8900

Four Things You Can Do

1. Start a food drive at your work to benefit the Treasure Coast Food Bank.

2. Clean your closet and donate items to the Homeless Family Center or the Samaritan Center.

3. Give $2 a week through your paycheck at work to support United Way partner agencies.

4. Mentor a kid! (Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Youth Guidance, Boys & Girls Clubs & more).

Legacy Giving

There are a variety of ways to make an enduring gift to the Foundation and leave a lasting legacy.  Your gift demonstrates your personal commitment to helping people through philanthropy and that you view United Way as a partner in driving positive change.  It is only thanks to you, and those like you who give so generously, that we are able to do the good work we do.  Furthermore, outright or deferred gifts to the Foundation can be structured to provide tax advantages and life income while achieving your personal philanthropic goals at the same time. 

Your gift will become part of a separate fund which operates independently of the annual campaign and promotes long-term financial stability through sound investment.  Income generated from unrestricted gifts will be distributed in the form of grants by the Foundation Committee and United Way Board of Directors.  As a board-designated fund, the principal of unrestricted gifts may be accessed in case of extreme emergency with a three-fourths majority vote of the United Way Board of Directors.  The principal of restricted gifts will remain intact and income generated will be used per your specific instructions.

Ways To Give

Hellen Miller

Mrs. Helen F. Miller

Known as Lella among family and friends, Mrs. Helen F. Miller has a long history of volunteering and supporting charitable causes. 

“It’s always been in my nature to help people and all of my friends feel this way,” she says humbly as if hers in an average story.  “My mother was an active volunteer and my father served on numerous Boards as a business leader in the community.” 

At 17, she joined Junior League, and shortly thereafter, the Red Cross where she volunteered for 3 years before meeting her husband.  She served as a volunteer for the Hartford Hospital for more than 20 years and has been actively engaged with McKee Botanical Garden since its inception so it comes as no surprise that she chose to support 4 non-profit organizations, including United Way, by establishing a Charitable Lead Annuity Trust (CLAT).

Wanting to support charities in which she strongly believed and provide for her childrens’ future at the same time, the Charitable Lead Annuity Trust allowed Mrs. Miller to remove assets from her taxable estate, benefit from an income tax deduction and pass assets to her four children in a way that eliminated gift and estate tax.

On behalf of all those that have and will continue to benefit from Mrs. Miller’s generosity, we extend our most sincere thanks.

1. Outright Gifts: A gift of cash, stock, real estate or other forms of personal property given now. You benefit from an immediate income tax deduction and may be able to eliminate capitals gains tax on appreciated assets.

2. Charitable Bequest: The majority of all planned gifts are in the form of bequests. Perhaps the most simple way to make a legacy gift, a bequest is a gift through your will or living trust that allows you to leave a percentage of your estate, a specific amount, or the residue of your estate to United Way. Bequests do not affect your assets or cash flow during your lifetime and reduces potential estate tax obligations since a bequest to United Way is tax-free. Capital gains tax may also be eliminated depending on the type of asset you give.

3. Life Insurance Policies: You can name the United Way Foundation as a beneficiary or partial beneficiary of a life insurance policy that you already own or purchase a policy to donate.

4. Retirement Plan or IRA: United Way can be named as the primary or contingent beneficiary of a retirement plan or IRA, or through 2009, you can donate up to $100,000 directly from your IRA without declaring the distribution as income.

5. Retained Life Estate: You can gift a residence to United Way retaining the right to use the property for life. Responsible for all maintenance costs and taxes during your lifetime, the property will pass to United Way upon death. You may avoid significant capital gains tax on appreciated property in choosing this option.

6. Charitable Remainder Trust (unitrust or annuity trust): Assets are irrevocably transferred to a trustee and you or named beneficiaries receive payments for life or for a fixed period of years. In a unitrust, payments are based on a percentage of the fair market value of the trust’s assets. In an annuity trust, payments are a fixed dollar amount. When the trust dissolves or upon death, the remaining assets are transferred to United Way. You benefit from an income tax deduction and may be able to eliminate capital gains tax on appreciated assets. There are potential estate tax savings as well.

7. Charitable Lead Trust (unitrust or annuity trust): Similar to a Charitable Remainder Trust except that the income first goes to United Way with the remainder amount going to named beneficiaries. You benefit from an income tax deduction and may be able to eliminate capital gains tax on appreciated assets. This option can be an innovative way to pass appreciating assets to family members while immediately helping charity.

8. Charitable Gift Annuity or Deferred Gift Annuity (CGA or DGA): Upon making an irrevocable gift of cash or securities, you and up to one beneficiary (typically a spouse) are guaranteed lifetime income based on rates established by the American Council of Gift Annuities based on your age(s) at the time you take out the annuity. This option offers secure returns at generally higher rates than other fixed-income investments and may be ideal for retirees or those nearing retirement. A Deferred Gift Annuity commences at a date of your choosing in the future.

9. Tocqueville Legacy Circle: An opportunity exclusively for members of the Alexis de Tocqueville Society of Indian River County to perpetuate their annual gift to the campaign and leave a powerful, lasting legacy. The Tocqueville Legacy Circle is a national effort recognized by United Way of America. In joining the Tocqueville Legacy Circle by selecting a planned giving vehicle that best suits your individual needs (typically an outright gift, bequest or distribution from a private foundation or donor advised fund), your gift will be invested and income generated will be used to make a gift annually in your name as a member of the Alexis de Tocqueville Society in perpetuity.

We would welcome the opportunity to work with your professional advisor to structure a plan best suited to your individual needs.  Please contact Michelle Malyn, Director of Gift Planning, at (772) 567-8900 extension 14, or via email at michelle.malyn@unitedwayirc.org . for more information.

To learn more please visit United Way of America’s Planned Giving site for important tax news and gift calculators.

Learn More