Tocqueville Society

The Tocqueville Society at United Way of Frederick County is an opportunity for passionate individuals to become more deeply involved in United Way’s mission. The Tocqueville Society recognizes local philanthropic leaders and volunteer champions who have devoted time, talent, and annual contributions of $10,000 or more to create long-lasting positive change.

Alexis de Tocqueville admired three elements in North American society: liberty, equality and the spirit of neighbor helping neighbor. These same elements are embraced in the French national motto: “Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité.” Tocqueville believed that by achieving these elements of democracy, all people would choose to pursue freedom, knowledge and prosperity. The Tocqueville Society at United Way of Frederick County has been created to create lasting change while honoring, through philanthropy, the contributors who commit to Tocqueville's vision.

Objectives

The Tocqueville Society at United Way of Frederick County aims to:

Change lives through philanthropic leadership focused on the building blocks for a better life: health, education and financial stability.
Communicate the vital role of personal philanthropic action in creating long-lasting change.
Expand high-level personal giving and United Way Major and Planned Giving programs.
Strengthen United Way of Frederick County leadership by building a network of like-minded leaders across the county.

Opportunities

Membership in the Tocqueville Society offers options and flexbility to expand your philanthropic influence in Frederick County. These opportunities include:

Joining a national network of philanthropic leaders who are engaged locally to create long-lasting, positive change.
The power to produce local solutions that meet existing and emerging needs. A Tocqueville Society-level commitment to United Way of Frederick County Community Impact Funds supports programs that produce measurable results that change and save lives. To qualify, at least $5,000 must be unrestricted to United Way of Frederick County, designated to mutually agreeable projects or committed to the United Way of Frederick County's Community Impact Funds.
Partner with United Way of Frederick County and dedicated staff ensuring that giving, advocacy and volunteerism are effectively invested in Frederick County to maximize impact.
Invitations to attend local, national and worldwide gatherings of Tocqueville Society members.
Opportunity to designate annual contributions in excess of $5,000 to nonprofits of your choice. Some contributors designate their entire contribution to United Way's Community Impact Fund. Others use United Way of Frederick County to designate their contributions to nonprofit organizations of their choice. The convenience of writing one check, instead of many checks, is very attractive.

Membership Levels

Special orders of recognition have been created based on Tocqueville writings. Each are distinguished by each member’s chosen level of giving:

Membres de la Société: $10,000 - $24,999
Ordre de Liberté: $25,000 - $49,999
Ordre d’Egalité: $50,000 - $74,999
Ordre de Fraternité: $75,000 - $99,999
La Société Nationale: $100,000 - $249,999
Ordre d’Indépendance: $250,000 - $499,999
Ordre de Connaissance: $500,000 - $749,999
Ordre de Prospérité: $750,000 - $999,999
La Table Ronde de Millions de Dollars: $1 million

Step-up Program

United Way of Frederick County offers a Tocqueville Executive Step-up program that allows you to gradually step-up to the annual gift of $10,000 while enjoying the benefits of the Society today. Each gift in structured for the individual. Contact Ken Oldham at 240-578-4006 for more information.

Tocqueville Society Legacy Circle

The Tocqueville Legacy Circle was created to honor current Tocqueville Society members who have also made legacy commitments of $200,000 or more. The legacy commitment may be: (1) a realized deferred gift of $200,000 or more received from a bequest or similar vehicle; (2) an outright gift or documented written pledge of $200,000 or more to United Way of Frederick County's endowment fund; or (3) a written notification of a revocable or irrevocable planned gift arrangement such as a provision in a will, a life insurance policy, or a split interest gift with a face amount or death benefit of $200,000 or more.

Legacy commitments, when coupled with annual contributions, help change lives today and create long-term solutions that will benefit Frederick County for years to come. We honor United Way Tocqueville Society Legacy Circle members for their uncommon generosity and leadership in advancing the common good.

Next Steps