Giving through United Way of King County is an efficient way to combine all of your charitable giving. We reduce administrative effort and costs for the organizations receiving your gifts. More than 94 cents of every dollar you give supports people in need.

United Way of King County charges modest processing fees for gifts made with a credit card, gifts made to United Ways outside Washington state and for designated gifts.

Donations from individuals

What designation fee is charged?

• The designation fee is 9.50% of the gift amount. The maximum designation fee for an individual donor is capped at $475 per gift, regardless of the number of designations made per gift.
• If an individual pledges $10,000 or more directly to United Way of King County, United Way of King County Endowments, United Way of King County's two stated priorities, or United Way of King County Initiatives for a specific campaign year, the designation fees for that donor's other annual gifts will be waived for that same campaign year.
• NOTE: if a gift is made via credit card, United Way of King County will also charge or deduct a credit card fee to cover the fee charged to United Way of King County by the credit card company. The credit card processing fee is 2.50% of the gift amount, with no maximum.
• No designation fees are charged on gifts directly to United Way of King County, United Way of King County Endowments, United Way of King County's two stated priorities, United Way of King County Initiatives or Washington state United Ways.

How is the designation fee applied?

• For a gift where the designation fee is capped at $475: The designation fee is deducted pro-rata from each agency gift.
• For a gift where the designation fee is less than $475: The fee is calculated on each gift and deducted from each gift amount.

Donations from companies

• Donations used to match employee gifts: The designation fee for a matching gift is 5.00% of the gift amount, with no maximum.
• Corporate gifts: The designation fee for a corporate gift is 5.00% of the gift amount, with no maximum.
• NOTE: if a gift is made via credit card, United Way of King County will also charge or deduct a credit card fee to cover the fee charged to United Way of King County by the credit card company. The credit card processing fee is 2.50% of the gift amount, with no maximum.
• No designation fees are charged on gifts directly to United Way of King County, United Way of King County Endowments, United Way of King County's two stated priorities, United Way of King County Initiatives or Washington state United Ways.

Examples

Learn more

• Where your money goes
• Leadership Giving
• Alexis de Tocqueville Society
• Planned giving
• Gates Challenge
• Processing fees
• Gift substantiation

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