Charities for Leaving a Legacy

Charities for Leaving a Legacy in Central Florida

Create a Meaningful Legacy Through Charitable Estate Planning

Many individuals choose to include charitable donations in their estate plans as a way to create a lasting legacy. A charitable gift through a will or trust can reflect your traditions, values, culture, and the causes that have been meaningful throughout your life.

For many families, charitable giving is about more than transferring assets. It is an opportunity to create a lasting impact from your life, experiences, and the organizations that have made a difference. Elizabeth Devolder helps individuals throughout Central Florida create thoughtful estate plans designed around the people and causes that matter most.

A Will or Trust That Truly Reflects You and Your Life

As you create or update your estate plan, you may consider whether you want to leave a charitable gift to:

• Support your church or faith-based organization
• Honor educational institutions that shaped your life
• Support a cause that inspired or affected you
• Give back to organizations that helped you or your family during a time of need
• Pay forward support to a group facing challenges you experienced or want to help address

Charitable gifts can be structured in different ways depending on your estate planning goals. You may choose to leave a specific monetary gift, such as $5,000, or designate a percentage of the remaining assets in your estate, such as 10%, to the charity or charities of your choice.

Depending on the size and structure of your charitable gift, some organizations may recognize your generosity during your lifetime through invitations to special events, membership in legacy societies, or other recognition opportunities. After your passing, your gift may create a lasting memorial through a plaque, scholarship, or other meaningful tribute.

How Charitable Giving Works in Estate Planning

One of the most common questions people ask is, "How can I leave money to charity in my will or trust?" The answer depends on your goals, your assets, and the organizations you want to support.

A properly prepared estate plan can include charitable gifts while also providing for family members, protecting assets, and ensuring your wishes are followed. Working with an estate planning attorney can help you understand your options and create documents that clearly communicate your intentions.

A Meaningful Backup Plan for Your Estate

Even if your primary beneficiaries are family members and you do not currently plan to leave a charitable gift, you may want to consider naming a charity as a backup beneficiary.

A backup beneficiary provision can provide direction if the loved ones named in your will or trust are unable to inherit. Life can change unexpectedly, and a complete estate plan should address different possibilities for the future.

Many wills and trusts include what is sometimes called a "remote contingent beneficiary" provision. This determines who receives your assets if all named beneficiaries have passed away.

In Florida, these provisions may direct assets to your nearest heirs at law as determined by Florida Statutes §732.102 and §732.103 or to a charity or charities selected by you.

If your primary beneficiaries are no longer living, do you want your estate to pass to distant relatives you may not know well, or would you rather support an organization that reflects your values? Naming a meaningful charity as a final beneficiary allows your legacy to continue supporting a cause important to you.

Great Choices for a Deliberate Estate Plan

Many individuals and families throughout Central Florida choose to support charitable organizations that create a positive impact in their communities. The organizations below represent some of the charities that Elizabeth Devolder and her clients have learned about through personal experiences and community connections.

Charities, missions, and leadership can change over time. Before making any charitable contribution, whether during your lifetime or through a gift in your will or trust, it is important to research the organization and confirm that it aligns with your personal values and goals.

Resources such as Charity Navigator can help individuals evaluate charitable organizations and make informed decisions about their planned gifts.

Give Kids The World (Kissimmee)

Give Kids The World Village is an 89-acre nonprofit "storybook" resort in Central Florida where children with critical illnesses and their families can enjoy weeklong, cost-free vacations.

The Village provides wish families the opportunity to laugh, play, and create meaningful memories together while taking a break from hospital visits and medical treatments. Since 1986, Give Kids The World has welcomed more than 205,000 families from all 50 states and 77 countries through the support of donors, community partners, and thousands of volunteers.

Friends of Joshua House Foundation, Inc. (Tampa)

Friends of Joshua House Foundation, Inc. provides support for abused, abandoned, and neglected children in the Tampa community.

Through therapeutic programs and a family-focused environment, Joshua House helps foster children facing complex trauma find stability, healing, and opportunities for growth. The organization supports children through residential programs designed to provide safety, encouragement, and long-term support.

New Life Village (Tampa)

New Life Village is an intergenerational community designed to support foster, adoptive, and kinship families raising children affected by trauma and the foster care system.

The community brings together families and seniors ages 55 and older, creating opportunities for connection, mentorship, and support. New Life Village provides more than affordable housing by creating a network where children feel safe, caregivers receive support, and seniors find purpose through meaningful relationships.

Blaze of Hope (Sarasota)

Blaze of Hope was founded by Lisa Moore in memory of her son Blaze, who was diagnosed with liver cancer as an infant and passed away at 13 months old.

The organization provides financial assistance to families experiencing the challenges of having a child in the hospital due to serious illness. Blaze of Hope helps families during difficult moments by providing support when they need it most.

Feeding Tampa Bay

Feeding Tampa Bay works to address food insecurity throughout the Tampa Bay community.

Many individuals and families are only one unexpected hardship away from needing assistance. Food insecurity is often connected with challenges involving housing, transportation, employment, and health. Feeding Tampa Bay provides meals and resources designed to help individuals and families access essential support.

Crisis Center of Tampa Bay

Crisis Center of Tampa Bay provides support for individuals experiencing crisis situations, including sexual assault or abuse, domestic violence, financial distress, substance abuse, medical emergencies, suicidal thoughts, and other emotional challenges.

Through compassionate assistance and connections to resources, the Crisis Center helps Tampa Bay residents find hope, support, and pathways toward healing.

USF Foundation

USF Foundation provides philanthropic support for student success, academic initiatives, research, and strategic priorities at the University of South Florida.

One area supported through the University of South Florida includes The Center for Autism and Related Disabilities at USF, which provides community-based services designed to help individuals with autism and related disabilities reach their potential.

A-Town Community, Inc. (Tampa Bay)

A-Town Community, Inc. is a nonprofit organization working toward developing a supported residential community for adults with autism and other neurodiversities in the Tampa Bay area.

The organization focuses on creating a more inclusive future where individuals with autism and their families have access to support, community, and opportunities.

Angel of God Equine Sanctuary (Tampa Bay)

Angel of God Equine Sanctuary (AGES) & Serenity Center provides a sanctuary for rescued horses that have experienced abuse, neglect, abandonment, medical challenges, or other difficult circumstances.

Located in the Tampa Bay area, the sanctuary creates a connection between helping rescued animals and helping people through therapy and equine experiences. Their mission focuses on inspiring healing and promoting happiness through rescued equines.

Coffee Uniting People (CUP) (Tampa)

Coffee Uniting People (CUP) is a nonprofit organization focused on inclusion, acceptance, and opportunity by creating employment opportunities for people with and without disabilities.

CUP operates multiple locations throughout the Tampa Bay area and provides an inclusive workplace where individuals of all abilities can work together. The organization promotes the belief that every person deserves meaningful opportunities and connection.

Dogs, Inc. (Palmetto, Florida)

Dogs, Inc. trains guide and service dogs for individuals who are blind and for veterans, providing highly trained service animals at no cost.

Through training, placement, and ongoing support, Dogs, Inc. helps individuals gain greater independence, confidence, and quality of life through the partnership between people and service animals.

Frequently Asked Questions About Charitable Giving in Estate Planning

Can I leave money to a charity in my will or trust?

Yes. A charitable gift can be included in your will or trust as part of your overall estate plan. You may choose to leave a specific dollar amount, a percentage of your estate, or designate a charity as a backup beneficiary. The right approach depends on your goals and the structure of your estate.

How do I name a charity as a beneficiary in Florida?

A charity can be named as a beneficiary through properly prepared estate planning documents, including a will or trust. Working with an estate planning attorney can help ensure your wishes are clearly documented and your charitable intentions are carried out according to your plan.

Can a charity be the backup beneficiary of my estate?

Yes. Many individuals choose to name a charity as a remote contingent beneficiary. This means the charity would receive assets if all primary beneficiaries are unable to inherit. This option allows your estate to continue supporting a cause that reflects your values.

What are the benefits of charitable giving through estate planning?

Charitable estate planning allows you to create a lasting legacy, support organizations that are meaningful to you, and ensure your assets continue making an impact after your lifetime. It can also provide clarity for your family by documenting your final wishes.

Should I update my estate plan if I want to add a charitable gift?

Yes. Estate plans should be reviewed regularly as your family, financial circumstances, and charitable goals change. Updating your documents ensures your wishes remain accurate and your chosen beneficiaries are properly identified.

Create a Legacy That Reflects Your Values

A charitable gift in your estate plan can help preserve the causes, organizations, and communities that have been important throughout your life. Whether you want to support a local nonprofit, honor an institution, or provide future assistance to others, thoughtful planning can help ensure your legacy continues.

Elizabeth Devolder helps individuals and families throughout Central Florida create personalized estate plans that reflect their goals, values, and wishes. Whether you are creating your first estate plan or updating existing documents, having a clear plan can provide confidence for the future.

Schedule a Consultation with Elizabeth Devolder

If you are considering leaving a charitable gift through your will or trust, Elizabeth Devolder can help you explore your options and create an estate plan designed around what matters most to you.

To learn more about estate planning and how charitable giving can become part of your legacy, contact Elizabeth Devolder to schedule a consultation. You can also reach the office directly at 813-379-9839.

Planning today allows you to make thoughtful decisions about the future and create a lasting impact for the people, organizations, and causes you care about most.