leave a meaningful legacy

1917 Legacy Society

Since 1917, Heart of West Michigan United Way has played a vital role in improving the quality of life for everyone in West Michigan. Driven by our vision, our 1917 Legacy Society members dedicate themselves to building a thriving community for all through their long-term support.

In addition to supporting your community in a meaningful way, a planned gift to United Way:

  • Makes West Michigan an even better place to live, work, and thrive

  • Provides you numerous tax and financial benefits

  • Leaves a legacy for future generations to remember you by

United Way has served West michigan for more than 100 years, and we’ll be here for the next 100 years, too. Your planned gift is an investment that will help us continue to solve our area’s greatest issues and future challenges we may face.

  • HEALTHY COMMUNITY

    Improving health and wellbeing for all

  • YOUTH OPPORTUNITY

    Helping young people realize their full potential

  • FINANCIAL SECURITY

    Creating a stronger financial future for every generation.

  • COMMUNITY RESILIENCY

    Addressing urgent needs today for a better tomorrow

WAYS TO MAKE A PLANNED GIFT

There are many ways to invest in United Way’s future work. Join your neighbors who offer the opportunity of a better life for generations to come. Here are just a few ways to begin planning your legacy.

  • A bequest is a gift made through your will or trust. It’s one of the most popular and flexible ways to support our mission. You can designate United Way as a beneficiary of your estate and gift a specific dollar amount, property, or a percentage of your estate’s residual value.

    Benefits to you:
    • Maintain control of your assets
    • Receive an estate tax charitable deduction
    • Continue to use the property you’ll leave to charity
    • Change or modify your gift at any time

  • Naming United Way as a primary, partial, or contingent beneficiary of your retirement plan is a simple and flexible planned giving option. As a nonprofit, United Way can take a tax-free withdrawal and use your gift at its full value.

    Benefits to you:
    •     Continue withdrawing funds and using your benefits
    • Receive an estate tax charitable deduction
    • Avoid income tax on your gift to United Way
    • Change your beneficiary at any time

  • Champion our work far into the future by designating United Way as a beneficiary of your new or existing life insurance policy. Or, you can assign ownership of the policy to United Way and cover the cost of premiums to receive immediate tax benefits.

    Benefits to you:
    •     United Way as beneficiary:
    Maintain ownership of your policy
    Avoid paying estate tax
    Change your beneficiary at any time

    • United Way as owner:
    Remain insured under your policy
    Avoid paying estate tax
    Receive a charitable tax deduction

  • Your gift of cash or other property funds a trust that you designate to United Way. The trust sells your property tax free and provides you income for life or a certain number of years. United Way receives the remaining assets when the trust’s term ends.

    Benefits to you:
    •     Avoid capital gains tax when you transfer property
    • Receive a charitable tax deduction
    • Ensure regular income for life or a certain number of years
    • See possible income growth over time

LEGACY COMMUNITY NEWSLETTERS