Give

Your gift to the United Way means a homeless person will get a home, a student will have a better chance to graduate and succeed, and a family will have the dignity of being self-supported. Thank you!

Ways to GIVE

Donors have several options available when wishing to contribute to the United Way. We at the United Way of Southern Illinois understand that no one method of giving fits all donors. Therefore, for the convenience of our supporters, we make available several options as described below:

Cash Donation

You can print out our PLEDGE FORM and mail it to:

United Way of Southern Illinois
PO Box 1901
Marion, IL 62959

Online Donations

United Way donations made online are processed by Truist, a secure and trusted partner of the United Way Worldwide.
or you may donate using PayPal 

Workplace Giving/Payroll Deduction

United Way raises a majority of its dollars through workplace giving. Interested in running a United Way campaign? Contact Iva Dell Clay by phone: (618) 997-7744 or (866) UWHELPS.

Leadership Circle - Winged Elm Society

Contributors of $500 or more are included in our Winged Elm Society, a published list of Leadership Givers, if they so wish. Winged Elm Society Brochure (pdf)

Planned Giving

Many people, at one time or another, do not have the available funds to give to the charity of their choice; or, prefer giving in another manner. The following are a few other options available to you when wanting to donate to the United Way:

  • Securities: Gifts of long-term appreciated securities can be deducted at their fair market value: up to 30% of your gross income. Such gifts avoid any capital gains tax, thus providing the donor with a double tax benefit.
  • Gift Annuity: The Charitable Gift Annuity is a combination of a gift to United Way and an annuity. The annuity portion provides you a high rate of return on cash or certain assets for as long as you live. And the gift comes into play when, upon your death, the value of the agreement becomes a charitable contribution.
  • Life Insurance: Naming United Way as a beneficiary for all or part of the proceeds of an insurance policy can provide tax benefits for you and future support for those in need.
  • Bequests: Naming United Way as a beneficiary of your estate will allow our agencies to build families and strengthen our community in the years ahead and will leave a legacy that extends your commitment to the United Way.
  • Giving stock: By making a gift of securities, you may:
    • Claim the market value of the stock as a tax deduction, which is usually more than the actual amount paid for the shares.
    • Avoid capital gains, state and local taxes on the profit from the sale of the securities.

Contact your broker and request a transfer of securities to the United Way. Your broker can contact us at 618.997.7744 for our broker account information. Please do not send stock certificates by mail.

These are only a few of the many options available to donors. United Way recommends that donors first consult with a lawyer, tax accountant or estate planner to be sure the best method of giving is chosen.

To discuss these and other possible ways of giving, please call our office at 618.997.7744 and every attempt to meet your needs will be made.

Donate Items

Please call our office first!! We don't have enough space for large items, but we may know where they are needed. Some items we are always looking for:

  • Gift Cards (Grocery, gas, phone, restaurant & department stores)
  • Event tickets
  • Toiletries (paper goods and hygiene)
  • Baby Items
  • Food (single sized foods & snacks, cans with pop-tops)
  • First-aid kits
  • School supplies

You and United Way of Southern Illinois

What kind of difference can you make with your United Way donation? We asked United Way Funded Agencies from all around our 14-county southern Illinois region to give us specific examples. Here are just a few of the things they told us:

YOUR GIFT LAST YEAR:

  • Helped to train American Red Cross volunteers who responded to over 125 single family fires.
  • Provided training for over 3,000 individuals in first aid and CPR and over 1,000 individuals in swimming.
  • Helped 790 children and adults receive the loan of durable medical equipment.
  • Provided over 6,000 nights of shelter to women & children fleeing violent homes.
  • Helped serve over 2,000 hot meals to over 1,000 seniors on holidays.
  • Provided services for over 8,000 patients and filled over 5,000 prescriptions for the employed but uninsured.
  • Provided formula, bottles and diapers for over 1,000 struggling families.
  • Educational services were provided to over 500 adults and children.

WHY SHOULD YOU GIVE TO UNITED WAY?

  • Children who are mentored using the Big Brother/Big Sisters model are 46% less likely to start using drugs and 27% less likely to start drinking. They are also 52% less likely to skip a day of school, 33% less likely to hit someone, and are more trusting of their parents and adults.
  • 36% of adults in Southern Illinois cannot fill out an application or read a simple story to a child.
  • In 2010, over 11,000 crisis calls from domestic violence and sexual assault/sexual abuse survivors in our local communities.
  • 1 out of every 4 current women entrepreneurs is a former Girl Scout.