United Way of the Coastal Empire welcomes charitable gifts that advance our mission to improve lives and strengthen communities. Gifts may be accepted in many forms, including cash, securities, and planned gifts. All gifts are reviewed to ensure they align with our mission, respect donor intent, and can be responsibly stewarded. UWCE encourages donors to consult their own professional advisors when considering charitable gifts.
Purpose and Guiding Principles
United Way of the Coastal Empire (“UWCE”) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to improving lives by mobilizing the caring power of communities. UWCE serves Bryan, Chatham, Effingham, Liberty, and Long counties through a network of community partners, service centers, volunteers, and direct assistance programs focused on education, financial stability, and health. UWCE is a volunteer-driven organization that actively engages community leaders in governance, fundraising, and investment decisions.
Gifts to UWCE represent a vital expression of trust from donors and partners who share our commitment to strengthening communities and expanding access to opportunity.
This Gift Acceptance Policy establishes ethical, transparent, and fiscally responsible guidelines for the solicitation, acceptance, management, and acknowledgment of gifts. The policy is intended to:
- Safeguard UWCE’s integrity, reputation, and long-term financial sustainability
- Ensure gifts align with UWCE’s mission, community impact priorities, and strategic objectives
- Protect donor intent while preserving appropriate organizational flexibility
- Comply with applicable federal and state laws, IRS regulations, the Georgia Uniform Prudent Management of Institutional Funds Act (UPMIFA), United Way Worldwide standards, and nonprofit best practices
UWCE reserves the right to decline any gift at its discretion. UWCE will not accept any gift that does not further UWCE’s purpose and mission, jeopardize UWCE’s tax-exempt status or violate UWCE’s policies or federal, state, or local laws, or that would result in excessive administrative burden, financial risk, legal exposure, or reputational harm.