Leave a Legacy. Change Lives.
You've already made a difference—now imagine that impact continuing for generations.
When you include United Way of Santa Barbara County in your will, trust, or estate plans, you become a Heritage Club member—a special community of people who are building a better future through their generosity.
Your planned gift will help children succeed in school, support families working toward financial stability, and ensure our community can respond when it's needed most.
This isn't just a gift. It's a legacy.
It's your values in action—long after today.
"It felt right to give back in a way that lasts."
"I've supported United Way for years. Making a planned gift gave me a
deeper sense of purpose. It felt right to give back in a way that
lasts—even beyond my lifetime."
— Dennis, Heritage Club Member
Your Legacy. Your Way.
Joining the Heritage Club is simple.
You can leave a gift through your:
You choose what's right for you—revocable or irrevocable, large or small.
A Legacy That Endures
At our 2025 Heritage Club luncheon, we honored a powerful story of legacy in action.
More than 40 years ago, ten donors created planned gifts through a Pooled Income Fund—providing income to loved ones during their lifetimes, with the remainder to benefit United Way. Those donors became some of the first Heritage Club members.
In 2024, all of the original Pooled Income Fund donors had passed, and their gifts were still providing quarterly income to six loved ones across the country. When the fund's trustee unexpectedly resigned, United Way faced a challenge: without a replacement trustee, the fund would need to be closed.
The second generation—those six beneficiaries and their family advisors—chose to help write the final chapter. Each one thoughtfully agreed to receive the present value of their future income now, allowing the fund to be closed and the remainder released to United Way.
Their decision wasn't automatic or easy. It was a deliberate act of respect, honoring the long—standing wishes of the original donors and ensuring their 40-year legacy of generosity could be fulfilled.
We'd Love to Celebrate You
Heritage Club members are invited to the annual luncheon and may be recognized in our Annual Impact Report and Donor Honor Roll (if you wish).
Most of all, you'll know your gift is doing good—long into the future.
Let's Talk
Already included United Way in your plans?
Let us know so we can thank you.
Considering it?
We'd love to hear what matters most to you.
Contact us today Your legacy starts with a conversation.
