Real change in Pickens County is the work of donors, volunteers, employers, and neighbors who show up. There are many ways to be part of that work. Whether you're ready to give, volunteer, attend an event, or bring your company alongside us, this is where you start.
GIVE
A gift to United Way of Pickens County stays in Pickens County. It supports children learning to read, families finding stability, children's mental wellness, and neighbors rebuilding after disaster. Here are the ways to give.
Make a one-time gift, set up monthly giving, or honor someone with a tribute. Every gift stays in Pickens County and funds the work children, families, and neighbors here rely on.
Prefer to mail a check? Make it payable to United Way of Pickens County and send to PO Box 96, Easley, SC 29641.
If your employer runs a United Way of Pickens County workplace campaign, you can give through payroll deduction or with a one-time gift during the campaign. Payroll deduction is the easiest way to make a meaningful annual gift- small amounts come straight from each paycheck and add up to real annual support for your community.
If your company doesn't have a campaign yet, talk to your employer about starting one, or contact us and we'll reach out on your behalf.
Leadership donors play a defining role in what United Way of Pickens County can do for this community. Their gifts make ambitious work possible.
A Palmetto Society gift of $1,000 or more puts you among the community's leading annual donors. A Tocqueville Society gift of $10,000 or more lifts you into a national network of philanthropists committed to local change.
A planned gift to United Way of Pickens County continues your support of this community after your lifetime. Through a bequest in your will or a beneficiary designation on a retirement account, life insurance policy, bank account, or other asset, you can ensure the work continues for the children, families, and neighbors who will need it next.
Donors who include United Way of Pickens County in their estate plans are recognized as members of the Heritage Society.
A gift of appreciated stock or mutual fund shares can be one of the most tax-efficient ways to support United Way of Pickens County. Donating shares directly may let you avoid capital gains tax on the appreciation while still claiming the full fair market value as a charitable deduction.
United Way of Pickens County accepts gifts of stock or mutual fund shares of any size. To complete a stock transfer before year-end, gifts should be initiated by December 20.
VOLUNTEER
Volunteering with United Way of Pickens County is a great way to connect to our work: tutoring struggling readers, preparing free tax returns, supporting families through recovery after a disaster, and other roles that show up across the year as needs arise.
JOIN A GROUP
United Way of Pickens County offers four ways to deepen your engagement and connect with others who share your commitment to this community. Each group below has its own focus and recognizes its members in distinct ways.
Palmetto Society members are the Pickens County donors whose $1,000+ annual gifts form the backbone of United Way of Pickens County's leadership giving. They're the business leaders, professionals, retirees, and neighbors who anchor the year-round work this community counts on.
Membership includes invitations to Palmetto Society events and opportunities to connect with other leadership donors who share your commitment to this community.
Tocqueville Society members are the Pickens County donors whose $10,000+ annual gifts power some of the most ambitious work United Way of Pickens County does. Their leadership shapes what this community can take on, and their gifts fund the kind of work that wouldn't otherwise be possible.
Membership at this level connects local Tocqueville members to a national network of philanthropists committed to local change, along with invitations to special events and opportunities to connect with other leadership donors.
Make a commitment to United Way of Pickens County in your will or estate plan and leave a lasting legacy to meet the needs of future generations in our community.
Heritage Society members are the Pickens County donors who have included United Way of Pickens County in their estate plans, choosing to extend their support of this community beyond their lifetime. Membership reflects a different kind of commitment than annual giving: a decision today to invest in work that will still matter long into the future.
Heritage Society members may be recognized publicly or remain anonymous. Membership includes a print newsletter and invitations to occasional Heritage Society gatherings.
Women United brings together the women of Pickens County who choose to invest in early literacy through United Way. They power Preschool Pages, the signature program that brings young children and their caregivers into local elementary schools, and they host the Luncheon for Literacy each year to fund the work.
Any woman who wants to support early literacy in Pickens County is welcome to be part of Women United, whether by attending the luncheon, giving to Preschool Pages, or sharing the work with others.
PARTICIPATE IN AN EVENT
Coming to a United Way of Pickens County event is one of the best ways to see this work up close, meet the people behind it, and become part of the community that powers it.
Each September, United Way of Pickens County hosts the Annual Meeting Luncheon, a gathering of donors, volunteers, and partners who power the year's work. The event recognizes those who went above and beyond, shares key updates, and looks ahead to the year to come.
The luncheon is open to the public. Sponsorship opportunities are also available.
Each spring, Women United hosts the Luncheon for Literacy, the annual event that funds Preschool Pages. Friends gather over good food and an inspiring keynote to support every child's chance to walk through the kindergarten door ready to learn.
Buy a ticket, sponsor a table, or invite a friend who shares the belief that early literacy changes the trajectory of a child's life.
Looking for other events? See our full calendar.
CORPORATE PARTNERSHIP
A corporate partnership with United Way of Pickens County is more than a donation. It connects your business to a network of community leaders, gives your employees real ways to engage, and puts your company's resources behind the work that strengthens Pickens County.
A United Way workplace campaign turns your employees' giving into a shared, year-round investment in Pickens County. Dozens of local companies run one each year, and our team handles the logistics so your coordinator can focus on rallying your team.
A workplace campaign also simplifies your corporate giving. Instead of fielding dozens of individual requests, your company gives through one trusted partner that already vets and supports the programs you'd want to fund.
A direct corporate gift is one of the most flexible ways to invest in Pickens County. Your company can give to United Way of Pickens County's general work or designate your gift to a specific Impact Area or program: Education, Financial Security, Mental Well-Being, Community Resilience, or one of our signature programs like Camp iRock, Preschool Pages, or Free File.
Whether your company is making its first gift or building on a longstanding partnership, we'll work with you to direct your investment where it matters most to your team.
Pathways at Work brings a free, confidential United Way Success Coach on-site at your workplace to help your employees navigate whatever they're facing outside of work — from a surprise bill to a tax notice to a search for childcare or housing assistance.
When employees have somewhere to turn, performance improves, retention strengthens, and your team can focus on the work in front of them.
Sponsoring a United Way of Pickens County event puts your company alongside the work of this community and in front of the people who lead it. Opportunities range across the year, from the Annual Meeting in September to the Luncheon for Literacy in spring to the Camp iRock Matching Grant Challenge each summer, with options for a wide range of budgets.
Each opportunity comes with its own visibility, recognition, and ticket benefits.
Connecting your employees to United Way's Free File program is a no-cost benefit you can offer your team. Free tax preparation by trained, IRS-certified volunteers helps qualifying employees keep more of their refund and skip the cost of a paid filer. Your company can promote the program internally during tax season, or host an on-site Free File tax preparation event at your workplace.
A workplace tax prep event removes barriers for employees who would otherwise miss out on a full refund or pay for filing services they don't need.
READY TO GET INVOLVED?
If you've explored the options above and want to talk before deciding, or if you don't see exactly what you're looking for, send us a note. A member of our team will be in touch.