Endowment Giving

Legacy gifts are gifts to the United Way of Central Alabama’s endowment and build upon your generosity to support our community. These gifts are separate from a donor’s annual campaign contribution. Typical gifts are current, such as cash and stock, or deferred, such as bequests and life insurance policies. Donors who make a gift of $1,000 or more qualify for membership to The Legacy Society and $250,000 or more qualifies for membership to The Tocqueville Legacy Circle.

Gifts to United Way of Central Alabama’s endowment build upon your generosity to support our community both today and tomorrow. Contact our staff to learn more.

The Legacy Society and Tocqueville Legacy Circle

It is easier than you may realize to give a legacy gift to the United Way of Central Alabama. Close to 400 individuals and families are members of The Legacy Society and The Tocqueville Legacy Circle. In fact, we have the largest Tocqueville Legacy Circle in the United States. Our staff can help you and your financial advisors determine the best way for you to give. We also have matching programs available to increase the size of your Tocqueville Legacy Circle gift.

 FAQs About the Endowment

1. Why does United Way need an endowment? Through the years, generous donors have made planned gifts to United Way. The endowment was created in 1991 to hold those gifts and build a financial foundation for the future.
2. How are endowment funds used? The endowment earnings support UWCA initiatives such as Success By 6, provide matching dollars for current and future gifts, and the annual campaign fund. Endowment funds may also be used by the Board of Directors to respond to emergency and immediate needs in our community.
3. How much does the endowment currently contribute to UWCA and our partners? That amount is based on a 16 quarter moving average of the market value of the endowment’s total assets. For the past few years, the endowment has contributed over $560,000 a year to United Way’s work in the community.
4. How are the endowment funds held and managed? Funds are part of UWCA’s overall investment portfolio and managed by a volunteer investment committee of financial professionals.
5. What kind of gifts may be made to the endowment? Many donors have made direct cash gifts to the endowment, but deferred gifts are most often the choice. Bequests and gifts of insurance are the most common financial vehicles and the endowment is also the beneficiary of trusts and appreciated assets. There are any number of ways to give over several years to gain the most impact. Our staff will work with your estate planner or financial professional to structure a gift beneficial both to United Way and the donor.
6. How large is the endowment? Currently we hold approximately $18.65 million in realized gifts and we have expectancies of $33.2 million. Expectancies are the total of known planned gifts which will be realized in the future.
7. What is The Legacy Society?  The Legacy Society recognizes those individuals who have made a current or deferred gift to the endowment of $1,000 or more.
8. What is The Tocqueville Legacy Circle?  Tocqueville Legacy Circle members have permanently endowed a Tocqueville gift with a current or planned gift of $250,000 or more.  We also recognize members of the Million Dollar Legacy Circle who have made a current or planned gift of $1 million or more.

Legacy Gifts Staff:
Maggie McDonald 205.458.2022, maggie.mcdonald@uwca.org

Stirling Hutchins 205-458-2027, stirlings.hutchins@uwca.org