Keel Club

What is the Keel Club?
The Keel Club was established in 1988 to recognize individuals who contribute $1,000 or more to the United Way of Rhode Island’s annual campaign.  Last year, 1,854 Rhode Islanders made this level of Leadership investment in our community.  Collectively, they contributed over $3.2 million — 22 percent of the total amount raised during last year’s campaign.

Benefits
All Keel Club members receive special recognition in our Annual Report and on our website (unless they prefer to remain anonymous).  Keel Club members are invited to join fellow Leadership givers at special appreciation events.  Additionally, Keel Club members may take advantage of our Philanthropy Account program. Finally, all dollars invested in our Community Impact Fund are used to create changes that reduce the number of people in need in Rhode Island. Thanks to a trust established by Textron founder Royal Little in 1937 to benefit United Way (currently administered by The Rhode Island Foundation), no donor dollars are used to pay our fundraising and general administration expenses.

Levels of Keel Club Giving
To celebrate Rhode Island’s close ties with the America’s Cup yacht race, each of the Keel Club’s giving levels is named after a winning yacht.  The Constellation won in 1964; the Intrepid in 1967 and in 1970; the Courageous in 1974 and again in 1977; the Freedom in 1980; and the Stars & Stripes won the cup back in 1987 after it was lost in 1983 to Australia.  

Constellation Crew                       $1,000 - $1,499

Intrepid Crew                                  $1,500 - $2,499

Courageous Crew                        $2,500 - $4,999

Freedom Crew                               $5,000 - $7,499

Stars & Stripes Crew                    $7,500 - $9,999