IDignity assists US citizens and legal residents in obtaining Florida ID cards and licenses, US birth certificates, Social Security cards and other documents.

VOICES IN LOCAL PHILANTHROPY:
Tamra Boone

Development Officer, iDignity

By the time you finish a conversation with Tamra Boone, you understand that her work is not just about fundraising, board service, or civic leadership. It is about people. It is about dignity. And it is about the quiet but powerful belief that when access is expanded, lives change.

As Development Officer for IDignity Orlando, Boone builds relationships that fuel mission-driven impact. She describes her work through a personal motto: Helping individuals show their kindness through giving. It is a philosophy that guides her approach to philanthropy, strategic partnerships, and community engagement, connecting individuals, corporations, and institutions to the life-changing work of restoring legal identification to those who face barriers to employment, housing, healthcare, education, and civic participation.

“At its core, my role is about opening doors,” Boone says. “For our clients, and for community members who want to turn compassion into meaningful change.”

That emphasis on doors—who gets access to them, who feels welcome walking through them, and who has been historically shut out—has shaped her leadership across Central Florida.

A Leader Rooted in Representation

Boone’s civic engagement is expansive, but always intentional. She is a graduate of Leadership Orlando (Class 102) and a current participant in LifeWork Leadership Orlando (Class of 2026), working alongside cross-sector leaders to address regional challenges through a values-based lens. She serves on the Board of the Women’s Executive Council of Orlando, advancing women’s leadership and scholarship access, and on the Women United Advisory Board with Heart of Florida United Way, where she supports initiatives aimed at strengthening women-led households and promoting economic stability.

Her governance work reflects a deep commitment to representation and preparation. As a member of the Orlando Economic Partnership’s Black Boardroom Leadership Institute Advisory Board, Boone helps prepare Black professionals for board and executive roles. She also serves on the Leonard & Marjorie Williams Family YMCA Board, supporting youth development and healthy living, and on the Drop The Mic Coaching Board, where she helps nonprofit and civic leaders strengthen their communication skills.

“I believe leadership pipelines should be inclusive and sustainable,” Boone says. “When decision-making spaces reflect the communities they serve, the outcomes are better for everyone.”

She also serves as Program Architect and Advisor for Young Professionals for IDignity (YP4ID), a program designed to cultivate emerging leaders who are committed to philanthropy and community impact. In 2024, Boone was selected for Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings’ Citizens Academy, an experience that deepened her understanding of public systems and civic responsibility.

Across every role, her approach is the same: collaborative, community-centered, and deeply relational.

Tamra Boone is a bridge builder and a space maker. She helps others rise.

Where Service Meets Strategy

Boone describes her professional calling as living at the intersection of service, strategy, and storytelling. Throughout her career, she has helped organizations articulate their mission, expand their reach, and build sustainable funding models rooted in trust.

One of her proudest achievements has been helping grow IDignity’s fundraising initiatives while cultivating new partnerships and elevating awareness around the importance of legal identification. Without proper documentation, people are often locked out of the systems meant to support them. Boone sees this not just as a bureaucratic issue, but as a moral one.

“Access changes outcomes,” she says. “When we remove systemic barriers, individuals and families can thrive.”

Her work is motivated by faith, lived experience, and a profound respect for human resilience. She speaks often about showing up with empathy, excellence, and hope—values that shape how she engages with donors, partners, and clients alike.

Advocacy That Is Generational

For Boone, impact is not transactional. It is generational.

“My work is rooted in advocacy, representation, and intentional relationship-building,” she says. “Especially within the Black community, where so many families are navigating systems that were not designed with them in mind.”

She is passionate about ensuring that Black Central Floridians have access to leadership opportunities, resources, and spaces where their voices are valued. Her work uplifts Black leaders, supports families, and honors a legacy of faith, resilience, and excellence.

To Boone, true impact means building something that lasts beyond one person, one program, or one funding cycle. It means creating pathways others can walk long after you are gone.

A Vision for What’s Possible

When asked what she hopes to see in the future, Boone doesn’t hesitate.

“I want a world where access is not a privilege, but a promise,” she says.

She envisions deeper collaboration across sectors, greater investment in prevention and dignity-centered services, and leadership that reflects the beautiful diversity of Central Florida. It’s a future where opportunity is not determined by zip code, income, or background—but by shared humanity.

That same vision informs the legacy she hopes to leave behind.

“I want to be remembered as someone who built bridges, opened doors, and made space for others to rise,” she says. “If people say that my work helped them feel seen, supported, and empowered, that would be the greatest honor.”

Inspiring Across Generations

Boone believes strongly in the power of intergenerational community. To inspire young Central Floridians, she emphasizes belief, investment, and representation.

“When young people see leaders who look like them and care about them, it expands what they believe is possible,” she says. “Their voice matters now—not someday.”

For older residents, her message is rooted in respect and dignity. She advocates for listening, honoring lived experiences, and ensuring elders have the resources and connections they need to thrive.

“Our elders carry wisdom and history,” she says. “Supporting them means making sure they’re not navigating systems alone.”

And for everyone else?

“Lead with compassion,” Boone says simply. “Get involved. Volunteer. Support local organizations. Extend grace.”

Because in Boone’s worldview, community is not a concept. It is a responsibility.

And it is built one relationship at a time.