Community Foundation of Broward Awards $200,000 Grants to 27 Arts Organizations Through WLW Catalyst Program

The Community Foundation of Broward has announced 27 recipients of the WLW Catalyst Grants, providing significant funding to arts and cultural organizations across Broward County. The grants, made possible by Wayne and Lucretia Weiner's Donor-Advised Fund at the Foundation, will support new concerts, theatrical performances, exhibitions, youth programs and other cultural initiatives that strengthen existing programs and implement bold new projects.

More than 100 local nonprofits submitted letters of intent for the WLW Catalyst Grants, which provide up to $200,000 over two years to each recipient. The selected organizations represent diverse cultural offerings, including the Stranahan House, which will use its grant to create a realistic virtual version of the historic attraction within the Metaverse, expanding online accessibility. Slow Burn Theatre Company plans to bolster costume and set production while launching a costume and prop rental service that generates income to support its mission.

Mad Arts will expand its hands-on art and technology training program for students and young adults in underserved communities while providing additional support for emerging South Florida artists. Other recipients include the African American Research Library and Cultural Center, Black Violin Foundation, Museum of Discovery and Science, and numerous theater companies and arts organizations serving diverse communities throughout Broward.

Wayne and Lucretia Weiner expressed gratitude to the Community Foundation for introducing them to unfamiliar organizations, stating they were delighted to discover new opportunities to enliven the community and enable more people to experience art and culture. The WLW Catalyst Grants represent an extension of the Community Foundation's longtime commitment to art and culture, one of its six leadership and grantmaking focus areas. In 2024 alone, the Foundation provided nearly $4 million in grants for art and culture in Broward through partnerships with philanthropists who create charitable funds.

Community Foundation President Jennifer O'Flannery Anderson emphasized that supporting art and culture is vital to community growth, noting that the WLW Catalyst Grants demonstrate how the Foundation partners with philanthropists to support charitable passions and transform the community. The Community Foundation shepherds more than 590 charitable funds and has provided $215 million in support over 40 years for various causes including student achievement, career readiness, environmental resilience, and social justice initiatives. For more information about the Foundation's work, visit https://www.cfbroward.org/.