Warten Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

• Total Assets: $36.7 million (2025)
• Annual Giving: $2.3 million (2025)
• Grant Range: $5,000 - $1,000,000
• Average Grant: ~$26,500
• Number of Grants: 49 grants in 2024
• Geographic Focus: National (with emphasis on South Florida)

Contact Details

Address: 6751 N Federal Hwy Ste 100, Boca Raton, FL 33487-1647

Phone: 561-338-0028

Tax Status: 501(c)(3) Private Grantmaking Foundation

EIN: 20-1897544

Overview

The Warten Foundation was established to honor the legacy of Fredrick Warten, who passed away in 2021 at age 100. Following Fred's passing, Clifford J. Cideko assumed chairmanship and renamed the foundation to celebrate Fredrick's enduring impact. The foundation has grown significantly in recent years, with total assets reaching $36.7 million in 2025, up from approximately $19.8 million previously. With annual charitable disbursements of $2.3 million in 2025, the foundation has become a cornerstone of philanthropy in South Florida. In 2025, the foundation received the Philanthropist of the Year Award from Our Fund Foundation in recognition of its transformative support for LGBTQ+ organizations and causes. The foundation's strategic approach combines major multi-year commitments to national organizations with substantial support for regional arts and culture initiatives.

Funding Priorities

Mission and Focus Areas

The Warten Foundation supports organizations and projects that:

• Expand social justice for all Americans
• Provide strength, safety, and equal protection and opportunity for LGBTQ+ individuals
• Champion excellence in the arts and education

Priority Areas

LGBTQ+ Rights and Advocacy

• Civil rights litigation and legal defense
• LGBTQ+ elder programs
• Community centers serving LGBTQ+ populations
• HIV/AIDS support services

Arts and Culture

• Theater and performing arts (particularly LGBTQ+ focused)
• Collaborative arts initiatives
• Regional theater projects
• Productions addressing diversity, equity, and inclusion

Health and Social Services

• Organizations serving LGBTQ+ communities
• Facility improvements for nonprofit service providers
• Emergency response for community organizations

Geographic Focus

While classified as having a national scope, the foundation shows strong emphasis on:

• South Florida (Broward and Miami-Dade counties)
• Major urban centers including New York, Chicago, San Francisco, and Los Angeles
• National LGBTQ+ advocacy organizations

Grant Range

• Small Grants: $5,000 - $20,000 (typically through partnership with Our Fund Foundation for arts and culture)
• Mid-Range Grants: $250,000 (collaborative theater projects)
• Major Grants: $300,000 - $1,000,000 (significant institutional support)
• Average Grant: Approximately $26,500 based on 2024 data

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not publicly documented, but grant patterns indicate focus on LGBTQ+ and arts organizations rather than general charitable purposes.

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

Clifford J. Cideko - Chairman and CEO

• Compensation: $88,750
• Hours per week: 10
• Assumed leadership following Fredrick Warten's death in 2021

Randolph H. James - Secretary, Treasurer, and CFO

• Compensation: $88,750
• Hours per week: 10

John S. Hand - Director

• Compensation: $50,000

Leadership Philosophy

Clifford Cideko has articulated the foundation's vision: "This undertaking mirrors the aspirations of Fredrick Warten when he envisioned the creation of his foundation to support social justice, LGBTQ+ programs and organizations, and excellence in the arts and education."

Regarding collaborative funding approaches, Cideko stated the foundation is "pleased to fund this historic collaboration that offers a rare opportunity for three highly lauded theater groups to authentically address their respective missions and use the unique powers of live theater to continue the discussion regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion."

Randy James, Treasurer, emphasized the foundation's commitment in challenging times: "Particularly, in these challenging times, when equality is under a legislative and judicial discriminatory assault from the right, the work of Lambda Legal has never been more vital."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Warten Foundation does not have a public application process. As a private grantmaking foundation, grants are awarded through trustee discretion rather than open calls for proposals. The foundation identifies and approaches organizations that align with its mission rather than accepting unsolicited applications.

How Grants Are Awarded

Based on publicly available information, the foundation appears to make grants through several mechanisms:

1. Direct Trustee Initiatives: The board identifies organizations and causes that align with founder Fredrick Warten's vision
2. Strategic Partnerships: Works with intermediary organizations like Our Fund Foundation to support multiple smaller organizations
3. Response to Community Needs: Has demonstrated capacity for emergency response (such as flood recovery support)
4. Multi-Year Commitments: Makes substantial pledges to major advocacy organizations

Application Success Factors

Understanding Their Funding Patterns

While there is no public application process, examining the foundation's grant history reveals clear priorities and patterns that could inform relationship-building strategies:

Major Recent Grants Demonstrate Priorities:

• $1,000,000 to Lambda Legal Defense Fund (2023 pledge, $1 million gift announced December 2024) - Supports the Unstoppable Future Campaign for LGBTQ+ rights litigation
• $300,000 to ARC Broward (2023) - Refurbishment of great room
• $300,000 to SAGE (2023) - LGBTQ+ Elder Program support
• $250,000 to Island City Stage, GableStage, and Brévo Theatre (2024) - Historic collaboration to produce Pulitzer Prize-winning play "Fat Ham"

Partnership Model Success:

The foundation's generous funding of Our Fund Foundation's grant programs demonstrates willingness to support intermediary organizations that can distribute funds to multiple smaller nonprofits. Arts and culture beneficiaries through this partnership received grants ranging from $5,000 - $20,000.

Values Alignment:

Organizations funded consistently demonstrate:

• Clear LGBTQ+ focus or impact
• Commitment to social justice and equality
• Excellence in their field (Pulitzer Prize-winning productions, national legal advocacy)
• Community impact in South Florida or national reach
• Attention to diversity, equity, and inclusion

Emergency Response Capacity:

The foundation has shown ability to respond swiftly to urgent community needs, as demonstrated by their emergency grant support following devastating flood damage at Broward House in 2023.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No public application process exists - This is a trustee-discretion foundation that identifies and approaches potential grantees rather than accepting unsolicited proposals
• LGBTQ+ focus is central - All publicly documented grants align with supporting LGBTQ+ individuals, whether through direct services, advocacy, arts, or community infrastructure
• Wide grant range - The foundation makes both small grants ($5,000-$20,000) through partnerships and major institutional gifts ($300,000-$1,000,000)
• Strong South Florida connection - While national in scope, significant emphasis on Broward and Miami-Dade county organizations
• Arts and culture valued - Substantial support for theater and performing arts that advance LGBTQ+ visibility and social justice themes
• Multi-year vision - Willing to make major pledges and support long-term strategic initiatives (e.g., Lambda Legal's Unstoppable Future Campaign)
• Partnership approach - Works through intermediary organizations like Our Fund Foundation to reach smaller nonprofits
• Values over application - Success appears driven by mission alignment with Fredrick Warten's vision rather than proposal quality

References

• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Warten Foundation Inc. (EIN 20-1897544). Form 990 filings. Accessed January 21, 2026. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/201897544

• Lambda Legal. "Lambda Legal Announces $1 Million Gift From the Warten Foundation." December 5, 2024. https://lambdalegal.org/newsroom/us_20241205_ll-announces-million-gift-from-the-warten-foundation/

• Our Fund Foundation. "Past Awardees - South Florida LGBTQ Philanthropy Awards." 2025. https://our-fund.org/our-impact/philanthropy-awards/past-awardees/

• Broadway World Miami. "Island City Stage, Gablestage And Brévo Theatre Receive $250,000 Warten Foundation Grant To Produce FAT HAM." March 11, 2024. https://www.broadwayworld.com/miami/article/Island-City-Stage-Gablestage-And-Brvo-Theatre-Receive-250000-Warten-Foundation-Grant-To-Produce-FAT-HAM-20240311

• OutSFL. "Our Fund Awards $300K in Grants Supporting 16 Local LGBTQ Nonprofit Orgs." 2024. https://outsfl.com/a-e/our-fund-awards-300k-in-grants-supporting-16-local-lgbtq-nonprofit-orgs

• Florida Division of Corporations - Sunbiz. "Warten Foundation, Inc." Corporate registration details. Accessed January 21, 2026. https://search.sunbiz.org/

• Instrumentl. "Warten Foundation Inc | Boca Raton, FL | 990 Report." Accessed January 21, 2026.

• Candid/Foundation Center. "Warten Foundation Inc | Foundation Directory." Accessed January 21, 2026.