• Founder Jacob Schmalzle says estate administration can preserve family legacy while continuing support for churches and charitable causes.

Florida, USA, Jun 09, 2026, ZEX PR WIRE — Spirit of Service (SOS), the faith-based estate executor and trustee organization founded by Jacob Schmalzle, is bringing charitable giving into the estate administration process through a model that donates a portion of executor fees back to churches and nonprofit organizations selected by clients.

The organization, founded in 2025, provides estate executor and trustee services for families navigating probate and trust administration. Under its operating model, Spirit of Service charges no more than the state minimum executor fee of three percent and donates ten percent of collected statutory fees to the client’s church or preferred charity.

According to Schmalzle, the idea came from recognizing that many families already think about stewardship and charitable giving when creating estate plans, but very few consider how probate administration itself fits into that legacy.

“Families spend a lot of time thinking about who receives assets,” Schmalzle said. “Very few think about how the administration process itself could continue supporting the people and causes they care about.”

The model reflects Schmalzle’s personal background and the mission behind Spirit of Service.

Raised in a missionary family, Schmalzle says he grew up around the idea that service and stewardship should work together. Years later, after losing both his father and grandmother within a short period of time, he found himself navigating probate firsthand while grieving.

That experience shaped how he viewed estate administration.

“I realized probate is not just paperwork,” he said. “Families are dealing with grief, legal responsibilities, property issues, financial accounts, and major decisions all at once. The process can feel overwhelming very quickly.”

The experience eventually led him to create Spirit of Service after helping members of his church community with probate planning and executor responsibilities.

Today, the organization works with families, churches, and communities nationwide.

Schmalzle says the charitable component of the business was designed intentionally from the beginning.

“Many churches encourage legacy giving through wills or estate planning programs,” he said. “But once probate starts, families often leave that environment and enter a completely different system. We wanted to create something that kept stewardship connected throughout the administration process.”

According to Giving USA, Americans donated an estimated $557 billion to charitable causes in 2023, including significant contributions through planned giving and estate gifts. Faith-based organizations remain among the largest recipients of charitable donations nationwide.

At the same time, probate administration costs can reduce the overall value passed to heirs and charitable organizations if estates become delayed or inefficiently managed.

Spirit of Service says its structure is intended to help preserve more estate value while also supporting charitable causes selected by clients.

“To us, stewardship includes how efficiently the estate is administered,” Schmalzle said. “The longer things drag out, the more stress and expense families often experience.”

The organization works as a professional fiduciary resource for estates requiring third-party executor or trustee support. Responsibilities may include probate coordination, asset management oversight, communication with beneficiaries, and trust administration.

Schmalzle believes the model also changes how some families think about executor services.

“In traditional probate situations, families often feel like money is simply disappearing into administrative costs,” he said. “We wanted to create a structure where part of that process could continue benefiting churches, ministries, or charitable organizations that mattered to the client.”

Spirit of Service continues expanding through church referral relationships and community partnerships nationwide.

Schmalzle says churches are increasingly looking for practical ways to support members beyond funeral services and emotional care.

“Many families need operational help after a loss,” he said. “Somebody still has to manage deadlines, paperwork, court filings, and distributions. That responsibility doesn’t disappear because people are grieving.”

For Schmalzle, the broader goal is to encourage families to think about estate administration as part of their overall legacy planning process.

“A will is important,” he said. “But stewardship does not end once the document is signed. Somebody still has to carry out the process responsibly.”

Families and organizations interested in learning more about Spirit of Service and its estate administration model can visit the organization online.

About Jacob Schmalzle

Jacob Schmalzle is the founder of Spirit of Service (SOS), a faith-based estate executor and trustee organization that helps families navigate probate and trust administration. Inspired by his personal experience managing family estates after the loss of his father and grandmother, Schmalzle founded SOS in 2025 to provide compassionate, service-oriented fiduciary support for families and church communities. Spirit of Service works nationwide with churches and families seeking trusted estate administration guidance and executor support.

About Spirit of Service

Spirit of Service (SOS) is a Christian Fiduciary Estate Management organization founded in 2025 by Jacob Schmalzle. The organization provides estate executor services, trustee support, probate coordination, and estate administration guidance for families navigating loss and transition. Spirit of Service was established to bridge the gap between churches and estate administration while promoting stewardship, compassionate service, and charitable giving. The organization donates a portion of its earned fees to churches and charitable organizations selected by clients. Learn more at www.mySOS.care.