← Back to US Funders Directory

Martin Andersen - Gracia Andersen Foundation Inc

Annual Giving
$1.8M

Martin Andersen - Gracia Andersen Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $1.8 million (2023)
  • Total Assets: $49.7 million (2024)
  • Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed
  • Geographic Focus: Central Florida (primarily Orlando and Winter Park)
  • Application Process: No public application process - trustee discretion

Contact Details

Address: 244 South Pennsylvania Avenue, Suite 200, Winter Park, FL 32789

Phone: (407) 467-1311

Email: Not publicly available

Website: None

Overview

The Martin Andersen - Gracia Andersen Foundation Inc was established in 1953 by Martin Andersen, the influential owner and publisher of the Orlando Sentinel for over 30 years, and his wife Gracia. The foundation operates as a private charitable foundation with approximately $49.7 million in assets as of 2024. In 2023, the foundation awarded $1,797,087 in grants to support organizations across Central Florida. The foundation focuses its grantmaking on three primary areas: children, the arts, and community development through organizations like the Heart of Florida United Way. Following Gracia Andersen's death in 2000, the foundation significantly expanded its grantmaking activities, emerging as what was described at the time as a "foundation heavyweight" with annual grants expected to total at least $2.5 million per year. The foundation is led by T. Picton Warlow IV, who serves as President and CEO, and received the President's Award from the University of Central Florida in 2014 for its significant philanthropic contributions to the university.

Funding Priorities

Historical Grant Recipients

Based on publicly available information, the foundation has supported:

  • University of Central Florida College of Medicine - Founding donor (specific amount not disclosed)
  • UCF Nursing Building - Study café support
  • Orlando Science Center - $1 million gift (1997)
  • Camp Boggy Creek - Support for chronically ill children
  • Florida Hospital (now AdventHealth)
  • United Arts of Central Florida
  • Edgewood Children's Ranch
  • Hospice programs
  • BETA
  • Boy Scouts
  • Junior Achievement
  • Rollins College

Priority Areas

The foundation's mission focuses on three key areas:

  1. Children's Programs - Including youth development, camps for chronically ill children, and educational initiatives
  2. Arts and Culture - Support for museums, science centers, and cultural organizations in Central Florida
  3. Community Development - Including healthcare, higher education, and community service organizations

The foundation prioritizes grants that demonstrate regional economic impact and benefit the Orlando/Central Florida community.

Geographic Focus

Grants are concentrated in Central Florida, specifically:

  • Orlando
  • Winter Park
  • Surrounding Orange County communities

Governance and Leadership

T. Picton Warlow IV - President & CEO (Compensation: $384,800 in 2024)

  • Represents the foundation at official events and serves as primary spokesperson
  • Quoted on UCF College of Medicine support: "We felt that bringing a medical school to Orlando greatly benefits the community...The College of Medicine is an economic driver for Central Florida."

Jeffry B. Fuqua - Treasurer (Compensation: $122,720 in 2024)

Marina C. Nice - Director (Compensation: $87,360 in 2024)

The foundation operates with a small board focused on continuing the legacy and charitable philosophy of founders Martin and Gracia Andersen.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. Grants are awarded at the discretion of the foundation's board of trustees. The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals.

Recent tax filings indicate the foundation made only 2 grant awards in 2023, suggesting a highly selective, relationship-based approach to grantmaking.

How Grants Are Awarded

The foundation appears to operate through:

  • Board-initiated grants to organizations aligned with the founders' charitable priorities
  • Ongoing relationships with established Central Florida institutions
  • Strategic investments in major community initiatives (such as the UCF College of Medicine)
  • Response to specific community needs identified by trustees

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, traditional success factors do not apply. However, organizations that have received support share common characteristics:

Foundation's Stated Priorities:

  • Regional Economic Impact - The foundation values initiatives that serve as "economic drivers for Central Florida," as evidenced by their support for the UCF College of Medicine
  • Community Benefit - Projects must demonstrate clear benefit to the Orlando/Central Florida community
  • Established Institutions - Historical grants have gone to well-established, reputable Central Florida organizations
  • Alignment with Founders' Values - The foundation honors the interests of Martin and Gracia Andersen, who supported children's welfare, arts and culture, healthcare, and education

Historical Funding Patterns:

  • Major institutional support (universities, hospitals, major cultural institutions)
  • Children's health and welfare programs
  • Arts and cultural organizations
  • Healthcare initiatives
  • Educational institutions and programs

Gracia Andersen's Approach: According to historical accounts, Gracia Andersen "donated millions of dollars to cultural and nonprofit organizations in the Orlando area — often anonymously." She was known to prefer making gifts "without fanfare," suggesting the foundation values substance over publicity.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No Public Application Process - This foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals; grants are made at trustee discretion
  • Relationship-Based Grantmaking - The foundation works with established Central Florida institutions with which it has ongoing relationships
  • Geographic Restriction - Focus is exclusively on Central Florida, particularly Orlando and Winter Park
  • Three Core Areas - Priorities are children's programs, arts and culture, and community development (including United Way support)
  • Economic Impact Matters - The foundation values projects that demonstrate broader community and economic benefit to Central Florida
  • Selective Grantmaking - With only 2 grants awarded in 2023 totaling $1.8 million, this is a highly selective funder making large strategic investments
  • Legacy of the Founders - Grants must align with Martin and Gracia Andersen's values and the foundation's mission to honor their charitable philosophy

References

← Back to US Funders Directory