Other Ways to Give

United Way Story County offers many ways for supporters to contribute, donating isn’t the only way!

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Ready to Get Involved?

Looking to collaborate with United Way Story County or one of the causes listed below? Get in touch with our team to see how you can help!

Other Ways to Give

Learn more about the other ways that we empower donors to support United Way Story County and help us achieve our goals and strengthen our community.

Planned Giving

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Participating Businesses

A list of participating businesses here.

Sign Up For Planned Giving

A form or link here for businesses to sign up for planned giving.

Endowment

Overview

The United Way of Story County (UWSC) Endowment, created in 2004 by the United Way of Story County Board of Directors, supports, sustains and enhances the UWSC mission – now and into the future. 
 
Since that time, UWSC has learned a lot about our community AND perpetual giving. UWSC’s Endowment has helped support projects within the scope of the UWSC mission, including start-up funds for NAMI’s Wellness Center, financial support for the BackPack Program and RSVP’s Volunteer Transportation Program.
 
The problems facing our community are increasingly complex and require evidence-based solutions to provide real, long-lasting change. UWSC is a strategic leader in building county-wide partnerships. The relationships we have with partner agencies, businesses, community members and experts outside of the area means UWSC is in a unique position to identify needs and to develop, support and evaluate effective human services. This calls for a focus in three key areas:  healtheducation, and financial stability

What does it mean for Story County?

Your gift to the LIVE UNITED annual campaign helps meet the needs of today. Partner agencies receive important funding for program support through the ASSET process on an annual basis. In addition, UWSC is more adept at responding to the ever-changing landscape of needs through grant funding and leading conversations in high need areas. We are at the forefront of building collaborations to address community-wide problems. And a gift to the Endowment will allow you to invest in the health, education, and financial stability of tomorrow. 
 
To date, more than $500,000 in cash gifts – as well as numerous estate gifts – have been contributed to the Endowment from more than 100 generous givers. 
 
The most exciting thing about the Endowment is that its annual income is already helping us address critical, unmet needs. Earnings from our growing fund have supported needs in our community that impact health, education, and financial stability. 

UWSC’s Endowment and the projects it supports are exciting to donors and the community. In order to build momentum so even more lives can be touched, new recognition levels for donors are offered as of 2014. Rarely do donors give for the sole purpose of their recognition, yet UWSC and other organizations are eager to show appreciation through these tools. 

Endowment Supporters

The recognition levels are listed below. Many thanks to the following individuals and organizations for investing in the future of Story County! Join us by supporting the endowment and helping us build a better Story County for tomorrow. 

Membership in the Porch Light Society includes donors who have taken steps to endow a leadership gift of $1,000 or more in perpetuity by either documenting a planned gift that would generate income or endowing through cash gifts or another charitable giving tool. The name of this honored group refers to the early days of when UWSC, then known as the Ames Community Chest, conducted its annual campaign door-to-door. Households who wished to contribute turned on their porch lights to welcome the campaign volunteers. Today’s Porch Light Society honors our legacy as well as our future

Kay and Roger Beckett
Mary and Alan Christy
Carolyn and Chuck Jons
Yvonne and Kevin Kinzler
Jean and Marion Kresse
Teresa and Jami Larson
Frankee and Jim Oleson
Becky Perkovich Parmelee
Suzan and John Shierholz
Marianne and David Spalding

Donors who contribute $1,000 or more annually to the Endowment:

Pat and Louis Banitt
Jennifer and Brian Dieter
Barbara and Harlan Hanson
Liz and Randy Hertz
Carolyn and Chuck Jons
Mary Jo and Roger Kluesner
Jean and Marion Kresse
Beverly and Warren Madden
Marie and Ken McCuskey
Barbara and Robert Mittman
Jim Oleson
Ruth Ann Robson
Pam and Dan Sargent
Cosette and Lou Scallon
Karen Wagner

Donors who contributed before 2014 with a gift that helped begin the Endowment

Roberta Abraham
Barb and Jack Adams
Julia F. Anderson
Julia Apple-Smith and Ron Smith
Pat and Louis Banitt
Irene Beavers
Sharon and Jeff Becker
Kay and Roger Beckett
Jean Beckwith Bailey
George Belitsos
Neala and Chuck Benson
Jan and George Beran
Doreen and Kenneth Berg
Sue and Craig Bjorkgren
Roberta and Robert Boeke
Jo and Verle Burgason
Ann Campbell
Jeanne and Darrel Campbell
Sally and Jerry Chase
George C. Christensen
Dorothy and Jim Christy
Mary and Alan Christy
Elizabeth and David Cox
Phyllis E. Crouse
Linda and John Dasher
Jennifer and Brian Dieter
Etiquette Iowa – Dr. Patricia Tice
Alyce and Glenn Fanslow
Jane Farrell-Beck
Jenn and Jeremy Galvin
Kathy and Kevin Geis
Darlene and Neil Harl
Janet and Pete Hermanson
Karen and Al Hermanson
Ann and Jim Herriott
Frank Horn
Dianne and Rick Hugdahl
Julie and Tom Huisman
Marge and Erb Hunziker
Peggy and Jeff Johnson
Roger W. Jones
Carolyn and Chuck Jons
Susan and J. Michael Kelly
Chris and John Kinley
Mary Jo and Roger Kluesner
Jenni and Steve Koger
Jean and Marion Kresse
Teresa and Jami Larson
Gale and Lee Livingston
Mary Ann and Paul Lundy
Jere Maddux
Jackie and Dick Manatt
Carolyn and Ralph Manning
Barbara Matthies
Roberta Milinsky
Barb and Fred Miller
Carol Ann and Dave Morris
Amy Myers
Frankee and Jim Oleson
Jan and Don Payer
Becky Perkovich
Randi and Steven Peters
Marlys and Jim Potter
Jan and Tom Putnam
Rosellyn and William Rudolph
Cindy and John Russell
Sherry and Lee Sargent
Lynn and Dave Scarlett
Jan and Dick Seagrave
Joy and George Serovy
Suzan and John Shierholz
Karen and Bob Shirk
Sigler Companies and Employees
Frances and Richard Smith
Maureen and Chris Snyder
Virginia and Robert Stafford
Wilma Struss
Ruth and Clayton Swenson
Kathleen and John Timmons
Mardi and Regis Voss
Janice and Marvin J. Walter
Mary Watkins
Wells Fargo Advisory Board
Wells Fargo Foundation
Lynn and Bill Whisler
Wendy Wintersteen
Julie Wooden
Nine Anonymous Gifts

Endowment FAQ

Here, you’ll find answers to common questions about our endowment program and how it supports our mission. This resource is designed to help you understand the benefits and details of contributing to our endowment fund, including a clear explanation of what an endowment is and how it works, insights into the impact of endowment gifts on our community and organization, and step-by-step instructions on making contributions, including various giving options.

This section aims to provide you with the information you need to make informed decisions about supporting our endowment. Together, we can create a lasting legacy for future generations!

An endowment is a fund that is invested to produce annual income. Most endowment funds are designed to be permanent so the principal is not compromised. Either all or a percentage of the annual earnings are used to further the mission of United Way.

At United Way of Story County (UWSC) we are continually working to identify needs, evaluate programs and direct resources to help address those needs. Through the Endowment, UWSC can secure the resources needed, so that when the problems are identified, we are prepared to address them. The Endowment can fund special projects that address emerging needs of the county. Hunger, child safety and transportation are examples of county-wide needs that have been funded.

The UWSC Endowment supports the mission of United Way of Story County, just as the LIVE UNITED campaign does. Both the UWSC Endowment and Allocations Committees review the human services environment and make the annual recommendations to the Board of Directors on how funds will be used. The following are areas that may benefit from annual Endowment earnings:

  • Emerging needs
  • County-wide emergencies
  • Pilot programs
  • Capital expenditures for UWSC or qualifying agencies
  • Funding to offset a downturn in annual campaign gifts
  • Supplement annual funding for UWSC or qualifying agencies
  • Defray UWSC administrative costs (to allow more spending on programs)
  • Management of non-cash gifts

There are many tools to use in estate planning. The simplest is a bequest in a donor’s will, and others include securities, life insurance, retirement income gift annuities and remainder trusts. Donors can contact UWSC for more information and should also contact their financial professionals to discuss the options that are best in their individual situations.

Gifts of all sizes and kinds are important in building the endowment for UWSC. Gifts may include cash, naming UWSC Endowment in your will, identifying UWSC Endowment as a beneficiary of an insurance policy, a charitable gift annuity, and transfer of stock are all accepted. Should you be interested in donating directly through the Story County Community Foundation for a tax advantage, visit each fund’s secure online form separately: UWSC Agency FundFrankee Oleson Women with Initiative Endowment, and/or the UWSC Endow Iowa Fund.

UWSC has partnered with Story County Community Foundation to make giving to a permanent endowment even more rewarding. Your gift creates lasting change in the community, and the Endow Iowa Tax Credit Program offers you generous tax incentives to make it easier for you to give more for less. Those who give to a permanently endowed fund at a qualified community foundation or affiliate organization, including Story County Community Foundation, are eligible to receive 25% tax credits for their gifts. Community members who give also are able to take advantage of the federal tax deductions along with the Endow Iowa tax credits.
 
Tax credits are offered on a first come, first serve basis, with approximately $6 million available annually statewide. The Endow Iowa tax credits can be claimed by individuals, businesses or financial institutions. 

A Charitable Gift Annuity is a planned gift that provides an income for life to the donor, while designating a gift to a charitable organization. In return, the donor also realizes an annual return on the gift and a sizable tax benefit. Donors who are interested in a Charitable Gift Annuity should contact UWSC as well as their financial professionals.

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The Story County Food Pantry Collaboration is convened by UWSC and meets on a quarterly basis. To learn more or join, email Allegra Selzer, Associate Director of Community Impact.

Looking For VOlunteers or want to get involved?

Have a volunteer need? Let us help! United Way of Story County connects local volunteers with meaningful opportunities. Register your agency or program’s project with us, and we’ll help match you with community members ready to make a difference.