Monetary Donations
Our donors play a powerful role in improving the quality of life of people in our community. Beyond regular donations, people and organizations can invest in their community in other ways through us.
Major Giving ($5,000 and up)
For those donors who want to contribute at a deeper level to help us address root causes to significant issues and challenges, we will customize a giving plan that reflects your interests and objectives. Major gifts are in the form of cash, real estate, securities [link] or life insurance [link]. Major Donors are invited to signature events throughout the year. For information, please contact Investor Development at 613-228-6767 or e-mail giving@unitedwayottawa.ca. Download the pedge form or donate online.
Generosity of spirit — this is a valuable lesson that both Scott and Sue took from their respective families growing up. They enjoy helping their family, friends and neighbours in whatever way they can, and on a community scale, they believe strongly in the work that United Way is doing. “As long-time Leadership Donors and now Major Donors, we support United Way because it reaches into the community to help hundreds of people, no matter what their background or circumstances. No other charitable organization looks at a community so holistically and provides such a broad base of support. In our view, it is unique in the way it identifies needs, provides support to address those needs and tracks the results of that support. United Way offers a very compelling business case for investing our dollars wisely and effectively in our community.”
~ Scott Lawrence, Vice-President, Consulting, CGI, and Dr. Sue Dojeiji, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist and Acting Chief
Leadership Giving ($1,000 or more)
Leadership Donors are the fastest-growing segment of our annual campaign: last year, donors at the Leadership level contributed $13.1 million to our annual campaign. Donors can help us build the foundation for a stronger community while ensuring maximum impact for their gift. Leaders are invited to sponsored events that celebrate the impact of their investment in the lives of so many. For information, please contact Investor Development at 613-228-6767 or e-mail giving@unitedwayottawa.ca. Download the pedge form or donate online.
Friends ($500-$999)
Donors who give between $500 and $999 help to make a difference in their community. For information, please contact Investor Development at 613-228-6767 or e-mail giving@unitedwayottawa.ca.
Planned Giving
While there are many ways to donate a planned gift to United Way, these gifts are always bestowed in the future. Planned gifts often reflect a donor’s commitment to an organization, cause or issue and are a viable option for donors. You can plan to give through a Bequest [link], Life Insurance [link] or The Tomorrow Fund [link]. Your planned gift is wisely and professionally managed to ensure its real value is maintained. The annual investment income goes to support innovative community programs. As well, you benefit from both tax savings and estate planning perspectives. For information, please contact Investor Development at 613-228-6767 or e-mail giving@unitedwayottawa.ca.
Targeted Community Investments
Through the Targeted Community Investment (TCI) program, people, families, corporations and foundations are able to make a tailored investment in our community. A TCI helps to connect donor meaningfully with their community, aligns their interests with a local need and strengthens the important work being done by our community partners. In some cases, a TCI can be the catalyst for developing an entire program that meets critical needs in our community. An example of a TCI at work in our community is a 10-year $1 million gift from one of our major donors, Stephen Greenberg and family. This gift is being used to enhance after-school homework clubs in three vulnerable neighbourhoods in the city — providing academic support, recreational and social opportunities, computer access and support, and nutrition. Ultimately, the goal is to help all children and youth reach their full potential. To learn more about the TCI program, please contact Investor Development at 613-228-6767 or e-mail giving@unitedwayottawa.ca.
Our Registered number: BN 108 160 250 RR0001
Gifts in-Kind
Our Gifts in-Kind program matches identified needs for goods and services at community organizations with people and corporations who are able to help, offering a unique opportunity to participate in building a stronger community. By receiving items through Gifts in-Kind, community organizations can focus on providing improved services that directly benefit their clients. Examples of new or gently used goods include tickets to sports games and concerts, office supplies and equipment, computer hardware, furniture suitable for home or office use, appliances, recreational and sports equipment. Contact giftsinkind@unitedwayottawa.ca.
Donors can also give to United Way through Gifts of Securities, In Memorium or Tribute Donations
The Tomorrow Fund
Unlike a bequest or gift of life insurance, which are realized sometime in the future, a named endowment fund is created during your lifetime. You have the satisfaction of watching your fund grow and knowing that the interest earned will help us make long-term, measurable and meaningful change in your community. The Tomorrow Fund is a permanent pool of capital that remains intact, with only a portion of the interest income used annually to fund important community programs. The principal continues to generate income, and as a donor, you are able to designate the priorities that this income supports.
Following the death of his brother (the result of a long-term addiction), Kevin Dee and his wife, Janis Grantham, contacted us to plan an investment that will help others suffering from addiction while honouring his brother’s memory. Their invetsment includes job training and counselling for those most at risk in the community. “As business leaders, we’re careful about how we make investments, including charitable investments. United Way knows this community better than anyone, which makes us feel confident about the investment we’re making here.”
~ Kevin Dee and Janis Grantham
When you contribute $10,000 or more, an endowment allows you to perpetuate your own values and priorities by specifying which priorities the income from the fund will support. After federal and Ontario tax credits, a $1,000 contribution to The Tomorrow Fund costs you only $635. For information, please contact Investor Development at 613-228-6767 or e-mail giving@unitedwayottawa.ca.
Bequests
A will is a legal document that enables you to exercise the right to choose what to do with a lifetime of accumulations. Making a gift to United Way in your will allows you to make a lasting commitment to your community and has the potential to impact others for years to come. You have the option to leave a specific dollar amount or a share or a percentage of your estate. In this way, you can still provide for the needs of your loved ones (either through an outright gift or subject to a trust) and leave the rest (residue) of your estate to United Way.
“Financial success is not meant to be hoarded but shared — with family, friends and community. Sylvie and I chose to include United Way in our wills so that our children will understand that it is a key value of our family to give back to our community, even in difficult times such as death. Through its extensive network, we feel that United Way can accomplish so much in building a better, stronger, more caring community for all of us.”
~ Paul and Sylvie Vaillancourt and family
- Your estate will receive a valuable tax credit for your final tax return.
- Bequests are flexible. You can make a bequest anonymously, and you have the flexibility to change it at any time. A bequest provides the comfort of knowing your assets are still available to you today if needed.
- With bequests of $10,000 or more, you can create a named endowment fund that will support United Way in perpetuity.
For information, please contact Investor Development at 613-228-6767 or e-mail giving@unitedwayottawa.ca.
Gifts of Securities
Donating securities — publicly traded stocks, bonds, bills, warrants, futures, units in mutual trust funds and shares acquired through employee stock options — is one way you can help to change lives and shape our community’s future. Federal tax regulations make this type of giving more beneficial than ever: you can donate appreciated securities without paying capital gains tax and you receive a tax receipt for the full value of the shares. This is the most tax-effective way to donate to United Way — more so than selling the securities and donating the cash proceeds.
Example: Mrs. Jones paid $2,000 for shares in ABC Corp. Because they are now worth $5,000, her capital gain is $3,000. By donating the shares to United Way, she pays no capital gains tax. She receives a charitable donation receipt of $5,000, which she can apply against other income. At a marginal tax rate of 44 per cent, she saves $2,200 in tax.
While tax incentives are not the only reason to give, they are an important consideration. A gift of securities to United Way puts money where it is needed the most in the community and where it will have the greatest impact.
“For me, giving to United Way Ottawa through a gift of security is the best way to contribute to making change happen in my community. It’s easy, it’s tax-efficient and it’s a simple way to give back.”
~ Richard Shantz, long-time supporter and major donor
For information, please contact Investor Development at 613-228-6767 or e-mail giving@unitedwayottawa.ca.
Gifts of Life Insurance
Donors often struggle between a desire to fulfill their own philanthropic goals and a need to preserve their estate for their families. By naming United Way as the owner and beneficiary of your life insurance policy or a registered plan such as a RRSP or RRIF, you ensure that any proceeds go directly to us. The proceeds are paid directly to us and are therefore not subject to probate and other estate fees. As well, several tax credit options are available to you with this kind of gift.
Donating a policy can take two forms:
- You can donate an entire policy (a paid-up policy or one that requires ongoing premiums to maintain), which will generate a charitable receipt based on the cash surrender value of the policy, along with any accumulated dividends. Annual premium payments will also generate a charitable receipt for you.
- You can purchase a new policy on behalf of United Way, which entitles you to a charitable receipt for any premiums paid.
Example: Michael purchased a new $125,000 policy, naming United Way as owner and beneficiary. He makes 20 annual payments of $1,050 each and receives a tax receipt for each payment. Assuming a federal/provincial tax credit equal to 50 per cent of the tax receipts, his annual tax savings are $525. His net cost for each premium is only $525, and he makes a future gift of $125,000, for a total net cost of only $10,500.
For information, please contact Investor Development at 613-228-6767 or e-mail giving@unitedwayottawa.ca.
Memorium or Tribute Donations
You can use Memorium or Tribute donations to mark a milestone or a special occasion such as a birthday or anniversary, to honour a speaker or presenter, or to honour someone’s memory with a gift. All donors receive a tax receipt (for donations more than $20) and a note of thanks for their generosity. As well, those being honoured with a tribute gift receive a card. To take part in our Tribute and Memoriam Giving Programs, contact Investor Development at 613-228-6767 or e-mail giving@unitedwayottawa.ca. Download our pledge form or donate online.
Monthly Donations
Giving monthly is simple and efficient — and helps some of our community’s most vulnerable citizens. Becoming a monthly donor is an effective way to spread your donation throughout the year. Simply download our pledge form or donate online.
