By Jennifer Doyle, President and CEO, The Foundation for Enhancing Communities
For generations, neighbors in Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Lebanon and Perry counties, and the Dillsburg area, have invested in their communities through work, service and generosity. When those individuals pass away, their impact should continue to strengthen the places they called home.
A recent change in Pennsylvania law makes it possible for individuals who pass away without a will or surviving family to continue to support the communities they cared about.
On January 23, 2026, Act 50 of 2025 took effect, ending a practice that sent these estates to the state’s general fund. Instead, those assets will remain local, placed into permanent charitable funds and stewarded by community foundations serving the counties where those individuals lived.
In our region, that stewardship will be carried out by The Foundation for Enhancing Communities. TFEC works alongside local volunteers, nonprofit leaders and donors who understand community needs.
While writing a will remains the best way to ensure personal wishes are honored, Act 50 ensures that when life does not follow a plan, dignity and community values guide the outcome.
For those who leave no family behind, Pennsylvania has chosen not to take, but to give back.
