A Malibu man who adored his dogs left most of a $28 million estate to animal charities. Six years after his death, most of that money sits with two charities that didn't exist when he was alive, and by the Los Angeles Times' reporting, they've done very little for animals so far.
Now, this story stopped me in my tracks because almost every part of it was preventable at the planning stage. This post isn't about picking apart two young nonprofits. It's about the estate plan, and what any of us can do to make sure a gift actually lands where the donor intended.
I highly recommend reading the full story. It has far more twists and turns than I could fit here: He left millions to animals. His executor gave it to her friends' charities, which have done little (Los Angeles Times, Oct. 23, 2026).
What happened, in brief
Based on the Times' reporting, here's a recap:
In an earlier version of his will, the donor split his estate equally among five established national and local animal welfare organizations.
About a year later, he amended it. The money would still go to animal charities, but his executor, a longtime friend and bookkeeper, would choose which ones.
After he died in 2020, the executor reached out to two of her friends. Each started a new animal charity.
When the estate was distributed in 2024, those two new organizations received about $9 million (including a Malibu home under reconstruction) and $14.7 million (including a commercial complex).
Two years later, the Times found little program activity at either organization. One says it is still in a program-development phase.
Where the plan left the dog door open
As a philanthropic advisor, I couldn't get past how the documents came together. Here's how a few choices made this unfavorable outcome possible.
1. Named charities became "charities TBD." The earlier will had five specific organizations. The amendment swapped them for one person's judgment. That's a huge amount of trust to place in a single individual, with nothing to back it up. It's also a huge burden for an executor who may not know how to select charities that carry out the donor's wishes.
2. The guidance was really thin. The only direction was that the charities rescue and protect companion animals. Nothing about how long they'd been operating, whether they had a track record, or how big a gift they could realistically absorb. A retired attorney who had drafted one of the donor's earlier wills told the Times he couldn't picture the donor choosing brand-new charities.
3. The language contradicted itself. In the amended will, one clause said to split the money equally among two or more charities. Another said the executor could set the amounts. A probate judge ultimately let the executor decide.
4. Nothing addressed conflicts of interest. The plan didn't stop the executor from choosing organizations run by her friends. Even when everyone means well, that's a setup that invites questions.
5. Family care and charity got tangled together. The executor told the Times she hoped one charity would let the donor's widow live in the rebuilt Malibu home. The charity's board said it never agreed to that, and charities generally can't accept gifts with personal strings attached. Caring for a spouse and supporting a cause are both beautiful goals. They just work best as separate pieces of the plan. In my view, a retained life estate could have been a cleaner solution. But as I always say, you don't know what you don't know.
And one more thing worth saying out loud: a new nonprofit isn't automatically a red flag. Every great organization was new once! But a startup with no programs yet, receiving an eight-figure gift, is being trusted with an enormous piece of someone's legacy.
For donors: Making sure your gift goes where you intended
If you're thinking about leaving part of your estate to a cause you love, here are a few things to talk through with your estate planning attorney.
Name names when you can. List each charity by its full legal name and EIN, and name a backup or two in case one merges or closes.
If you want flexibility, give it guardrails. You can let someone choose for you and still set the criteria. For example: in operation a certain number of years, current on its state and IRS filings, and actually running programs in the area that matters to you.
Think about who's choosing. Your executor is often the right person to settle your estate, but not always the right person to pick charities. Bringing in a philanthropic advisor is one option. Another is leaving the bequest to your local community foundation or a faith-based community foundation. Either could be a route worth exploring with your advisors.
Say what you want in your own words. A short letter of wishes explaining why you care about this cause gives whoever carries out your plan real guidance.
Keep family care separate. If you want to take care of a spouse or loved one, build that into its own part of the plan rather than hoping a charity will do it. If keeping a home in the family is part of the picture, a retained life estate may be worth a look. I cover it in my post on real estate gifts.
Revisit your plan. Life changes, and so do nonprofits. A quick review every few years keeps your plan matching your intentions.
For advisors and executors: Questions to ask before funds are released
If you're the one choosing the charities, or advising the person who is, a bit of due diligence goes a long way. These are the questions I'd want answered before a large bequest is distributed.
Is there any personal or financial connection between the person choosing the charity and the people running the charity? Will anyone involved be paid by the recipient afterward? This one matters most. Even well-meaning people can miss a conflict of interest, especially when a friend runs the charity. Having someone outside the situation take a look protects both the donor's wishes and the person doing the choosing.
Does the organization have a track record? How long has it existed, and can it show programs, not just plans?
Is it in good standing? In California, the Attorney General's Registry of Charitable Trusts shows whether a charity is registered and current on its filings. Check its Form 990s too. I like using ProPublica's Nonprofit Explorer to look up a charity's annual IRS filings for free.
Who's on the board? An independent board is one of the best protections a young nonprofit can have. When most members are the founder's friends or family, it's hard for anyone to push back or ask tough questions.
Can it handle a gift this size? Compare the gift to the organization's annual budget. If real estate is involved, ask the charity's leadership whether they plan to use, rent, or sell the property.
Is there a gift agreement? For a large gift, this is incredibly important, and it protects both sides. A good agreement spells out what the gift is for, how the charity will report on its use, and what happens if plans change. The donor's wishes are on paper, and the charity knows exactly what it has promised.
This is exactly the kind of vetting a philanthropic advisor can take off an executor's plate. The advisor helps make sure the charities chosen truly reflect the donor's wishes, while the executor focuses on settling the rest of the estate.
The takeaway
At the end of the day, this donor wanted animals to find good homes. He trusted the people around him to make that happen, but his plan gave them very little guidance. That's the real lesson: Generosity deserves a plan that's as thoughtful as the gift. Your executor and your charities will absolutely appreciate the care you took.
This case is a useful counterpoint to my recent post on Betty White's trust. There, the giving language was so specific that her trustee had to ask a court for help when things changed. Here, it was so open that almost anything could happen. Good charitable language lives in the middle: it names the cause, names the organizations (with backups), and gives whoever carries out the plan limited, clear discretion.
If you're leaving part of your estate to a cause you love, I'd be glad to help you choose and vet the organizations, working alongside your attorney on the language. If you're an attorney or executor handling a will that leaves the charity choice open, I can vet the options and document why each one was chosen, so the donor's wishes are honored.
A quick note on my role: I don't manage assets, prepare taxes, or give legal advice. I work alongside attorneys, accountants, and wealth managers to handle the charitable side of the giving plan.
This article is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, or financial advice. It is a case study based on published news reports as of October 2026, and details may change. The drafting concepts and vetting questions discussed are illustrative and are not language for any specific document. The author is not affiliated with the estate, its executor, or any of the organizations described. Readers should consult a qualified attorney to draft or revise the language in their own documents.
Sources
Alene Tchekmedyian, "He left millions to animals. His executor gave it to her friends' charities, which have done little," Los Angeles Times, October 23, 2026
About the Author
Eva Fordham, MPA, CAP®, is the founder and principal of Expert Philanthropy, a Los Angeles-based philanthropic advisory firm serving individuals, families, and family foundations nationwide. Before launching her firm, she spent 15+ years in nonprofit fundraising. She works alongside wealth managers, estate planning attorneys, and CPAs to help clients give with confidence.
Photo by Geoffrey Lippert.
Writing a charitable bequest, or settling one with the charity choice left open?