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Waldman Foundation

Annual Giving
$2.5M
Grant Range
$25K - $1.6M
Success Rate
12%

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $2,521,000 (2023)
  • Success Rate: 12% (for new applicants)
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: $25,000 - $1,591,000
  • Geographic Focus: New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Idaho (primarily New York metropolitan area)

Contact Details

Address: Harrison, NY 10528

Note: The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. All grants are made to preselected charitable organizations.

Overview

The Waldman Foundation was established in February 2008 as a private grantmaking foundation. With total assets of approximately $44.7 million and annual giving of $2.5 million, the foundation focuses primarily on supporting performing arts education and organizations, as well as human services. The foundation is closely associated with the New York theater community, particularly through the leadership of Paul Libin, the legendary Broadway producer who served as President of Circle in the Square Theatre for 62 years and received 12 Tony Awards during his distinguished career. The foundation honors the legacy of former Actors Fund trustee Honey Waldman and her sister Gladys Brownstein Waldman, who were dedicated to supporting the performing arts community. In 2018, the foundation's support made possible The Waldman Living Room at The Actors Fund (now Entertainment Community Fund), a center serving entertainment professionals aged 65 and older.

Funding Priorities

Major Grant Recipients

Recent significant grants include:

  • Entertainment Community Fund (formerly The Actors Fund): $1,591,000 - Supporting programs for performing arts professionals
  • Circle in the Square Theatre School: $671,000 - Supporting theater education and training
  • SPCA of Westchester: $50,000 - Animal welfare services
  • Torah Academy Inc (Brookline, MA): $25,000 - Educational institution

Priority Areas

Performing Arts: Strong emphasis on theater education, professional theater training, and support for aging performers and entertainment professionals. The foundation demonstrates particular commitment to institutions and programs that preserve and advance theatrical traditions.

Human Services: Support for organizations serving vulnerable populations, including seniors in the entertainment industry and animal welfare organizations.

Education: Support for educational institutions, particularly those focused on performing arts training and religious education.

Geographic Focus

The foundation primarily supports organizations in:

  • New York (particularly New York City and Westchester County)
  • Massachusetts (Brookline area)
  • New Jersey
  • Idaho (limited)

The majority of funding is concentrated in the New York metropolitan area, reflecting the foundation's strong ties to the New York theater community.

What They Don't Fund

As a private foundation making grants to preselected organizations, the foundation does not fund:

  • Unsolicited grant applications
  • Organizations outside their established areas of interest
  • Organizations without pre-existing relationships to foundation leadership

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors:

  • Paul Libin - Chairman (until his passing in June 2025): Legendary Broadway producer with nearly seven decades in theater, former President of Circle in the Square Theatre and former Executive Vice President of Jujamcyn Theaters. Recipient of 12 Tony Awards including the Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2013.
  • Melinda Hamilton - Director/Secretary
  • Barbara Davis - Director/Vice President
  • Abraham Wolf - Director/Treasurer
  • Michael Salitan - Director/Vice President

The foundation's grantmaking reflects the deep theater expertise and connections of its leadership, particularly the late Paul Libin's 62-year association with Circle in the Square Theatre and his extensive network in the Broadway community.

Legacy Connection: The foundation honors Honey Waldman, a former trustee of The Actors Fund, and her sister Gladys Brownstein Waldman. According to Joe Benincasa, president and CEO of The Actors Fund, "Honey loved our arts and entertainment community," and the foundation continues this legacy of support for aging artists and theater professionals.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation has formally indicated that it "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds."

All grants are made through trustee discretion to organizations with which the foundation has established relationships. The foundation operates as a traditional private family foundation where board members identify and select grantees based on their philanthropic priorities and personal connections to organizations.

Getting on Their Radar

The foundation's grantmaking is concentrated among organizations connected to the New York theater community, particularly those associated with Circle in the Square Theatre and the broader Broadway ecosystem. Given the foundation's closed application process, potential grantees would need to:

  • Theater Community Connections: Organizations connected to Circle in the Square Theatre, Jujamcyn Theaters, or the broader New York theater community may have natural pathways to foundation leadership given Paul Libin's long tenure in these institutions.

  • Entertainment Community Fund Network: The foundation's major support for the Entertainment Community Fund (formerly The Actors Fund) suggests organizations working within this network or serving similar constituencies (aging performers, entertainment professionals) may be of interest.

  • Board Member Affiliations: Understanding the professional backgrounds and affiliations of the foundation's directors may provide insight into which types of organizations are likely to be considered for support.

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly disclosed. As a private foundation making grants to preselected organizations, the foundation does not follow a formal application cycle or published decision schedule.

Success Rates

According to available data, the foundation has a 12% success rate for new applicants. However, given that the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, this figure likely reflects organizations that successfully established relationships with foundation leadership through networking and personal connections rather than formal application processes.

In 2023, the foundation made 24 grants totaling $2,521,000.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - no public application process exists.

Application Success Factors

Given the foundation's closed grantmaking approach, the following factors appear important based on actual grants awarded:

1. Theater Community Credentials: The foundation's largest grants consistently support organizations central to the New York theater world. Circle in the Square Theatre School received $671,000, reflecting Chairman Paul Libin's 62-year leadership of the Circle in the Square Theatre. Organizations with strong reputations in theater education and professional training align with the foundation's demonstrated priorities.

2. Support for Aging Artists: The foundation's creation of The Waldman Living Room demonstrates commitment to supporting older professionals in entertainment. As Joe Benincasa noted about Honey Waldman: "Honey loved our arts and entertainment community... Thanks to her legacy, we're giving back much-needed support to these aging artists." Organizations serving seniors in the performing arts appear to be a priority.

3. Established Organizations with Track Records: Major grants go to well-established institutions like the Entertainment Community Fund ($1,591,000) and Circle in the Square Theatre School ($671,000), both with decades-long histories of serving the theater community.

4. Personal Connection to Leadership: As a private foundation, grants reflect the personal philanthropic interests and professional networks of board members, particularly the late Paul Libin's extensive connections throughout the Broadway community.

5. Mission Alignment with Founders' Values: The foundation honors Honey Waldman and Gladys Brownstein Waldman's commitment to the performing arts. Organizations that embody similar values of supporting and preserving theatrical traditions appear favored.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No Public Application Process: This foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications. All grants are made to preselected organizations through trustee discretion.

  • Theater Community Focus: The foundation's primary interest is supporting the New York theater ecosystem, particularly organizations connected to Circle in the Square Theatre and the broader Broadway community through the late Paul Libin's extensive network.

  • Significant Support Levels: When the foundation commits to an organization, grants can be substantial - ranging from $25,000 to over $1.5 million, with an average grant of $105,042.

  • Legacy-Driven Mission: The foundation continues Honey Waldman's commitment to the entertainment community, with particular emphasis on supporting aging performers and preserving theatrical traditions.

  • Long-Term Relationships: The foundation's major grantees (Entertainment Community Fund, Circle in the Square Theatre School) receive consistent, substantial support, suggesting preference for ongoing partnerships rather than one-time grants.

  • Relationship-Based Grantmaking: Success depends entirely on establishing personal connections with foundation leadership rather than submitting compelling proposals. Organizations without existing ties to the board or the theater community are unlikely to receive consideration.

  • Geographic Concentration: Despite listing several states, the vast majority of funding supports New York metropolitan area organizations, particularly those in Manhattan and Westchester County.

References

  1. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Waldman Foundation (EIN: 26-1495686), https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/261495686, accessed January 7, 2026

  2. Grantable.co - Waldman Foundation Profile, https://www.grantable.co/search/funders/profile/waldman-foundation-us-foundation-261495686, accessed January 7, 2026

  3. Entertainment Community Fund - "The Actors Fund Dedicates The Waldman Living Room," https://entertainmentcommunity.org/about-us/news/actors-fund-dedicates-waldman-living-room-new-center-nyc-seniors-performing-arts-and, accessed January 7, 2026

  4. TheaterMania - "The Actors Fund Opens the Waldman Living Room for Seniors in Entertainment," https://www.theatermania.com/news/the-actors-fund-opens-the-waldman-living-room-for-seniors-in-entertainment_85324/, accessed January 7, 2026

  5. Playbill - "Paul Libin, Prolific Artistic Producer and Pioneering Philanthropist of the Theatre, Passes Away at 94," https://playbill.com/article/paul-libin-prolific-artistic-producer-and-pioneering-philanthropist-of-the-theatre-passes-away-at-94, accessed January 7, 2026

  6. Circle in the Square Theatre School - Paul Libin Biography, https://www.circlesquare.org/paul-libin, accessed January 7, 2026

  7. Instrumentl - Waldman Foundation 990 Report, https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/waldman-foundation, accessed January 7, 2026

  8. Cause IQ - Waldman Foundation Profile, https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/waldman-foundation,261495686/, accessed January 7, 2026

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