The Wanek Family Foundation concentrates its giving into a small number of large, local awards that blend faith-based community support with biomedical research and community service organizations. Recent grants show a willingness to provide unrestricted/general operating dollars (notably to a Catholic parish and HeartWorks) alongside targeted, high-dollar funding for advanced cancer research (CAR-T projects at Moffitt). The foundation appears focused on Tampa-area institutions and makes repeat or multi-grant commitments to select organizations.
The Todd & Karen Wanek Family Foundation Ltd. made its largest recent grant to H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute for the Gamma Delta 2.0 CAR-T Project and PGC1A CAR-T Project, underscoring a strong interest in translational cancer research and cell-based immunotherapy. The foundation’s recent giving also includes large general-purpose awards to HeartWorks Inc and Holy Family Catholic Church, showing that it supports both biomedical research and community-based institutions. Across the recent grants list, the pattern is a mix of high-dollar project funding and unrestricted support, with awards that reach Tampa-area nonprofits as well as organizations outside Florida. The grants touch advanced oncology research, parish ministry, family and child services, and local civic support. That combination suggests a funder that moves between highly technical medical research and practical operating support for local organizations. The foundation’s largest documented award is more than $1 million, and several other grants are in the mid- to high-six-figure range, indicating a preference for concentrated commitments rather than broad, low-dollar distribution.
In cancer research, the foundation backed two CAR-T efforts at H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, including work tied to Gamma Delta 2.0 and PGC1A. Those projects place it in the area of cell engineering and oncology therapeutics. Outside biomedical research, it gave a general-purpose grant to Sentinel Foundation, showing support for flexible organizational needs. The foundation also funded Holy Family Catholic Church with a general fund award, which points to operating support for parish ministry. Community service is another visible thread: HeartWorks Inc received a general fund grant, and local public-safety or civic organizations in St. Petersburg and Tampa also appeared among recent recipients. Taken together, the named grants show a portfolio that combines research, faith-based support, and local social-service funding.
The grant-size distribution is highly concentrated: the 25th percentile is $28,125, the median is $203,125, and the 75th percentile is $612,500. That spread matches a strategy built around fewer, larger awards rather than many small ones. The recent record also shows repeat support to Holy Family Catholic Church in two different years, with awards in 2023 and 2024, suggesting selective follow-on funding for some recipients. The foundation gives through institutional grants rather than to individuals, and it does not make program-related investments. The recent awards include both project-specific research funding and general-purpose or general-fund support.
$1.2M
$1.1M
$61K
$1.2M
Most grants fall between $28K and $613K, with a median of $203K.
25th Percentile
$28K
Median
$203K
75th Percentile
$613K
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Concentrated giving: a very small number of large grants per year, including repeat funding to select grantees; mix of unrestricted operating support and targeted, high-cost scientific initiatives.
Notable grantees: Holy Family Catholic Church, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, HeartWorks Inc, Sentinel Foundation
Grant recipients are entirely in the United States, and Florida is the top giving state by count, with 50% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state. Recent awards cluster around Tampa and St. Petersburg, including H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute in Tampa, Heroes of St Pete Police and Fire Inc in St. Petersburg, Police Athletic League of St Petersburg Inc in St. Petersburg, and Tampa Bay Area Chiefs of Police Foundation in Tampa. The foundation also granted to recipients in Wisconsin, New Jersey, and Ohio, showing some out-of-state reach despite a Florida-heavy pattern.
Recent grants show support for a cancer research institute, a Catholic parish, a family-service nonprofit, and local civic or public-safety organizations. The mix includes project-based biomedical research and general-purpose operating support.
Yes. Its largest recent grant was $1,011,747 to H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute for the Gamma Delta 2.0 CAR-T Project and PGC1A CAR-T Project, placing oncology therapeutics and cell-based immunotherapy at the center of its recent grantmaking.
The typical award size is substantial: the 25th percentile is $28,125, the median is $203,125, and the 75th percentile is $612,500. Recent grants include both six-figure operating awards and a seven-figure research grant.
Yes. Holy Family Catholic Church received grants in both 2023 and 2024, including $700,000 and $350,000. That pattern suggests selective repeat support rather than one-time-only giving.
Florida is the top state by grant count, and 50% of grants go to recipients in the foundation’s HQ state. Recent Florida recipients include organizations in Tampa and St. Petersburg, alongside grants to recipients in Wisconsin, New Jersey, and Ohio.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| H Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute | Tampa, FL | $1,011,747 | 2025 | Gamma Delta 2.0 CAR-T Project and PGC1A CAR-T Project |
| Sentinel Foundation | Chagrin Falls, OH | $150,000 | 2025 | General Purpose |
| Tampa Bay Area Chiefs of Police Foundation | TAMPA, FL | $15,000 | 2025 | General Purpose |
| HEARTWORKS INC | BASKING RIDGE, NJ | $900,000 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
| HOLY FAMILY CATHOLIC CHURCH | ARCADIA, WI | $350,000 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
| THE JAMES MUSEUM OF WESTERN & WILDLIFE ART | ST PETERSBURG, FL | $13,000 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
| HOLY FAMILY CATHOLIC CHURCH | ARCADIA, WI | $700,000 | 2023 | GENERAL FUND |
| HEROES OF ST PETE POLICE AND FIRE INC | ST PETERSBURG, FL | $56,250 | 2023 | GENERAL FUND |
| POLICE ATHLETIC LEAGUE OF ST PETERSBURG INC | ST PETERSBURG, FL | $18,750 | 2023 | GENERAL FUND |
Gamma Delta 2.0 CAR-T Project and PGC1A CAR-T Project
Tampa Bay Area Chiefs of Police Foundation
$15,000General Purpose
HOLY FAMILY CATHOLIC CHURCH
$350,000GENERAL FUND
THE JAMES MUSEUM OF WESTERN & WILDLIFE ART
GENERAL FUND
HOLY FAMILY CATHOLIC CHURCH
$700,000GENERAL FUND
HEROES OF ST PETE POLICE AND FIRE INC
$56,250GENERAL FUND
POLICE ATHLETIC LEAGUE OF ST PETERSBURG INC
$18,750GENERAL FUND