Ways To Give

Thanks for investing in United Way of Central Maryland!

United Way offers a variety of options for you to support our work. Find out which giving method is best for you.

By Credit Card

Thank you for choosing to donate to the United Way of Central Maryland via credit card! Your contribution allows us to continue our important work and positively impact the lives of individuals and families in our community. Please follow the steps below to make a secure credit card donation. 

By Check

We greatly appreciate your support through a check donation to the United Way of Central Maryland! Your generosity enables us to create lasting change and improve the lives of individuals and families in our community. Please follow the steps below to make your check donation. 

Stock Donation

When donating stock, simply transfer the stock directly to United Way as described below rather than selling it. United Way will be responsible for any fees related to the sale of the stock.  

Donor Advised Funds

We sincerely appreciate your interest in donating to the United Way of Central Maryland through a Donor Advised Fund (DAF). Your contribution can support our ongoing efforts to improve lives in our community. Please follow the steps below to make a donation from your DAF. 

Qualified Charitable Distributions

If you’re an American taxpayer aged 70.5 or older, you may donate up to and including $100,000 from your IRAs each year without having to treat the withdrawals as taxable income.  

Planned Giving

Your gift to our endowment can provide significant benefits to you and builds a permanent savings account for United Way’s future. Our endowment provides the financial stability and flexibility we need to continue to create lasting solutions to our region’s most pressing needs.

ENDOWMENT ASSETS: $35 million (June 2023; Based on unaudited financial reporting)  

ANTICIPATED CONTRIBUTIONS FROM ENDOWMENT TO UNITED WAY PROGRAMS:  

$1,200,000 (Fiscal year 2023)  

ANNUAL ENDOWMENT SUPPORT:  

Each year, the United Way of Central Maryland Board allocates up to five percent of the endowment balance to augment and support United Way programs that would not otherwise be fully funded through our annual campaigns. Without this endowment support, many vital programs that improve lives and neighborhoods would be curtailed or eliminated. 

ENDOWMENT GIFT ADVANTAGES:  

There are many ways to give that require no cash outlay, provide significant tax advantages or generate income for the donor. While some endowment gifts are in the “current” form—including cash, marketable securities or real estate—most are in the “deferred” form—including will or trust designations, life insurance, designation of retirement plan assets upon death, or annuity. 

COMMON GIFT OPTIONS:  

- Gift of Cash/Securities or Real Estate: Offers immediate tax deduction and potential avoidance of capital gains tax with appreciated assets.  
- Will/Trust Beneficiary: Simple to establish; provides flexibility and control.
- Beneficiary of Retirement Plan: Simple, avoids potential double taxation (estate tax and income tax) on retirement funds.  
- Beneficiary of Existing or New Life Insurance Policy: Donors with existing, fully-paid policies can easily assign their beneficiary benefits to United Way. Additionally, the United Way Life Program provides the opportunity to name United Way as beneficiary under a five-premium program that is particularly attractive for young donors eligible for low premiums. With United Way matching 50 percent of the annual premium up to $2,500 per year, this program offers a low-cost approach to making a large gift.

- Charitable Gift Annuity: This “win-win” option provides the donor with an income stream, a portion of which is tax-exempt, as well as a charitable deduction (based on IRS formula), and United Way receives a lump sum gift.  
- Charitable Trusts: There are many such trusts, adjustable to estate, income and tax needs of donor. Examples include:  
- - Charitable Remainder Trust—An efficient way to transfer appreciated property, benefit from the charitable income deduction and reduce estate taxes, while still reaping the benefits of the underlying assets for income. 
- - Charitable Lead Trust—A portion of trust income is first donated to United Way, and after a specified period of time it transfers the remainder of the trust to the trust beneficiaries (donor or donor designated recipients). The beneficiaries face lower gift taxes and estate taxes with this type of trust.

For more information, contact our Customer Support Center. A United Way representative will be in touch to answer any of your questions. 

Employers - Offer Workplace Giving for your Employees

Annually, United Way of Central Maryland is honored to have the opportunity to partner with many local businesses, offering employees an opportunity to give back to the community through Workplace Giving engagements.