The Wayne M. Densch Charitable Trust focuses on strengthening Central Florida civic life through sizable, locally directed gifts that support higher education, youth recreation, and performing arts infrastructure. The foundation makes both general operating grants and capital/project awards, frequently backing established regional institutions and recurring grantees rather than one-off national causes. Its giving highlights investment in community facilities and programs that serve young people and enhance cultural and educational capacity in the Orlando area.
A $550,000 general operating grant to Wayne M Densch Charities Inc in Orlando stands out in the Wayne M Densch Charitable Trust’s recent giving, and it captures the trust’s preference for local institutions it already knows well. The trust repeatedly backs Central Florida organizations with flexible support, while also funding facility projects, scholarships, and program expenses tied to youth recreation, higher education, and cultural access. Its largest grants sit alongside a steady set of five- and six-figure awards to recurring recipients. University of Central Florida received $250,000 in 2023 and again in 2024 and 2025 for general operating expense, showing a multi-year relationship with the university. Central Florida YMCA also appears more than once, with grants of $201,500 in 2023 and $200,000 in both 2024 and 2025, again for general operating expense. The trust also supports organizations that build public-facing community assets, including a performing arts center, a soccer club field project, and scholarship-oriented community nonprofits. Across the recent record, the pattern is local, repeat-oriented, and centered on institutions serving Orlando and nearby Central Florida communities.
Higher education is one of the trust’s clearest priorities. University of Central Florida received $250,000 in 2025 for general operating expense, continuing a three-year sequence of support that also included $250,000 in 2024 and $250,000 in 2023. Youth recreation is another major theme. Seminole Soccer Club Inc received $259,000 in 2024 and $135,000 in 2025 for a field lighting project, while Central Florida YMCA was awarded $201,500 in 2023 and $200,000 in both 2024 and 2025 for general operating expense. The trust also funds scholarship-related and student-support work. 100 Black Men of Orlando received $50,000 in 2024 and $50,000 in 2025 for scholarships, and Foundation for Seminole Co Public Schools received $15,000 in 2025 for scholarships.
Typical grant size falls between $5,000 at the 25th percentile and $60,000 at the 75th percentile, with a median grant of $25,000. The recent record shows repeated awards to the same organizations across multiple years, especially in Orlando-area education and youth-serving institutions. The trust gives locally, with 90% of grants going to recipients in Florida. It does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments. The 990 data on file is for 2025, and the pattern visible in the grants list points to operating support as the most common form of giving, alongside project and scholarship grants.
$916K
$30.4M
$3.3M
$1.4M
Most grants fall between $5K and $60K, with a median of $25K.
25th Percentile
$5K
Median
$25K
75th Percentile
$60K
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Concentrated, large grants to a small set of recurring, local institutions — a mix of multi-hundred-thousand-dollar general operating gifts and targeted capital/project funding rather than many small awards.
Notable grantees: Central Florida YMCA, University of Central Florida (Fund/Foundation), Seminole Soccer Club, Wayne Densch Performing Arts Center, Wuerffel Foundation
The trust’s giving is heavily concentrated in Central Florida. Orlando appears frequently, including grants to organizations such as Wayne M Densch Charities Inc, University of Central Florida, Central Florida YMCA, and 100 Black Men of Orlando. Sanford also shows up multiple times through Seminole Soccer Club Inc and Wayne Densch Performing Arts Center. Other Florida recipients include Apopka, Winter Park, Altamonte Springs, Oviedo, Heathrow, and Lake Monroe. Outside Florida, one recent grant went to Atlanta, Georgia, and one to Linville, North Carolina. All recorded grants in the recent list went to U.S. recipients.
The trust supports higher education, youth recreation, performing arts infrastructure, scholarships, and community-serving nonprofits. Recent examples include University of Central Florida for general operating expense, Seminole Soccer Club Inc for a field lighting project, and 100 Black Men of Orlando for scholarships.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including University of Central Florida with $250,000 awards in 2023, 2024, and 2025, and Central Florida YMCA with grants in 2023, 2024, and 2025. Seminole Soccer Club Inc and Chance 2 Dance Inc also received repeated support.
The typical grant size is $25,000 at the median, with a 25th percentile of $5,000 and a 75th percentile of $60,000. Recent awards include both larger operating grants and smaller scholarship or program grants within that range.
It gives most often in Florida, which accounts for 90% of grants in the data provided. Recent recipients are concentrated in Orlando, Sanford, Apopka, Winter Park, Altamonte Springs, Oviedo, Heathrow, and Lake Monroe.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA FOUND | ORLANDO, FL | $250,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSE |
| CENTRAL FLORIDA YMCA | ORLANDO, FL | $200,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSE |
| BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA CENTRAL FL COUNCIL | APOPKA, FL | $89,000 | 2026 | SPONSORSHIP EAGLE DINNER/ GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSE |
| UNITED ARTS COLLABORATIVE CAMPAIGN (CHANCE 2 DANCE) | ORLANDO, FL | $55,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSE |
| SUPPORT OUR SCHOLARS | WINTER PARK, FL | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSE |
| 100 BLACK MEN OF ORLANDO | ORLANDO, FL | $50,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| FOUNDATION FOR SEMINOLE STATE COLLE | HEATHROW, FL | $47,000 | 2026 | GALA BEVERAGES/ STAFF & PROGRAMMING |
| CENTRAL FLORIDA ZOO & BOTANICAL GARDEN | LAKE MONROE, FL | $43,940 | 2026 | FREE ADMISSIONS/ DISTANCE LEARNING |
| ORLANDO UNION RESCUE MISSION | ORLANDO, FL | $20,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSE |
| FOUNDATION FOR SEMINOLE CO PUBLIC SCHOOLS | SANFORD, FL | $15,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| HELPFUL HANDS INC | OVIEDO, FL | $15,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSE |
| BETHUNE-COOKMAN UNIVERSITY | DAYTONA BEACH, FL | $15,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSE |
| ALZHEIMER'S ASSN - CNFL | LONGWOOD, FL | $11,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSE |
| RUSSELL HOME FOR ATYPICAL CHILDREN | ORLANDO, FL | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSE |
| WAYNE DENSCH PERFORMING ARTS CENTER | SANFORD, FL | $7,500 | 2026 | GOLF TOURNAMENT SPONSORSHIP |
| CROSSROADS CORRAL INC | LONGWOOD, FL | $6,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSE |
| SEMINOLE CO FIREFIGHTERS BENEVOLENT ASSN | LAKE MARY, FL | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSE |
| ST JOHNS RIVER FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS | SANFORD, FL | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSE |
| ORLANDO SHAKES | ORLANDO, FL | $5,000 | 2026 | GALA SPONSORSHIP |
| ORLANDO SHAKESPEARE THEATER INC | ORLANDO, FL | $5,000 | 2026 | GALA SPONSORSHIP |
| MAJORIE WILLIAMS ACADEMY | CROSSNORE, NC | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSE |
| KIDS HOUSE OF SEMINOLE | SANFORD, FL | $3,000 | 2026 | GALA - BEVERAGE SPONSORSHIP |
| STRENGTHEN ORLANDO INC | ORLANDO, FL | $2,500 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSE |
| BAHIA SHRINE PROJECT | CASSELBERRY, FL | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSE |
| UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA FOUND | ORLANDO, FL | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSE |
| CENTRAL FLORIDA YMCA | ORLANDO, FL | $200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSE |
| SEMINOLE SOCCER CLUB INC | SANFORD, FL | $135,000 | 2025 | FIELD LIGHTING PROJECT |
| BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA CENTRAL FL COUNCIL | APOPKA, FL | $60,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSE |
| SUPPORT OUR SCHOLARS | WINTER PARK, FL | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSE |
| 100 BLACK MEN OF ORLANDO | ORLANDO, FL | $50,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| CHANCE 2 DANCE INC | ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, FL | $45,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSE |
| CENTRAL FLORIDA ZOO & BOTANICAL GAR | LAKE MONROE, FL | $43,940 | 2025 | FREE ADMISSIONS/ DISTANCE LEARNING |
| DARRELL ARMSTRONG FOUNDATION | ORLANDO, FL | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSE |
| FOUNDATION FOR SEMINOLE CO PUBLIC SCHOOLS | SANFORD, FL | $15,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| FOUNDATION FOR SEMINOLE STATE COLLE | HEATHROW, FL | $6,000 | 2025 | GALA BEVERAGES/ STAFF & PROGRAMMING |
| ST JOHNS RIVER FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS | SANFORD, FL | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSE |
| KIDS HOUSE OF SEMINOLE | SANFORD, FL | $3,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSE |
| STRENGTHEN ORLANDO INC | ORLANDO, FL | $2,500 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSE |
| BAHIA SHRINE PROJECT | CASSELBERRY, FL | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSE |
| SEMINOLE SOCCER CLUB INC | SANFORD, FL | $259,000 | 2024 | FIELD LIGHTING PROJECT |
| UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA FOUND | ORLANDO, FL | $250,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSE |
| CENTRAL FLORIDA YMCA | ORLANDO, FL | $200,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSE |
| WUERFFEL FOUNDATION | ATLANTA, GA | $100,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSE |
| BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA CENTRAL FL COUNCIL | APOPKA, FL | $61,500 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSE |
| 100 BLACK MEN OF ORLANDO | ORLANDO, FL | $50,000 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| SUPPORT OUR SCHOLARS | WINTER PARK, FL | $50,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSE |
| FOUNDATION FOR SEMINOLE STATE COLLE | HEATHROW, FL | $47,000 | 2024 | GALA BEVERAGES/ STAFF & PROGRAMMING |
| CHANCE 2 DANCE INC | ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, FL | $45,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSE |
| CENTRAL FLORIDA ZOO & BOTANICAL GAR | LAKE MONROE, FL | $37,075 | 2024 | FREE ADMISSIONS/ DISTANCE LEARNING |
| DARRELL ARMSTRONG FOUNDATION | ORLANDO, FL | $25,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSE |
CENTRAL FLORIDA YMCA
$200,000GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSE
BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA CENTRAL FL COUNCIL
$89,000SPONSORSHIP EAGLE DINNER/ GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSE
100 BLACK MEN OF ORLANDO
$50,000SCHOLARSHIPS
FOUNDATION FOR SEMINOLE STATE COLLE
$47,000GALA BEVERAGES/ STAFF & PROGRAMMING
CENTRAL FLORIDA ZOO & BOTANICAL GARDEN
$43,940FREE ADMISSIONS/ DISTANCE LEARNING
FOUNDATION FOR SEMINOLE CO PUBLIC SCHOOLS
$15,000SCHOLARSHIPS
HELPFUL HANDS INC
$15,000GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSE
ALZHEIMER'S ASSN - CNFL
$11,000GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSE
WAYNE DENSCH PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
$7,500GOLF TOURNAMENT SPONSORSHIP
CROSSROADS CORRAL INC
$6,000GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSE
SEMINOLE CO FIREFIGHTERS BENEVOLENT ASSN
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSE
ST JOHNS RIVER FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSE
MAJORIE WILLIAMS ACADEMY
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSE
KIDS HOUSE OF SEMINOLE
$3,000GALA - BEVERAGE SPONSORSHIP
STRENGTHEN ORLANDO INC
$2,500GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSE
BAHIA SHRINE PROJECT
$1,000GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSE
CENTRAL FLORIDA YMCA
$200,000GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSE
SEMINOLE SOCCER CLUB INC
$135,000FIELD LIGHTING PROJECT
BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA CENTRAL FL COUNCIL
$60,000GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSE
100 BLACK MEN OF ORLANDO
$50,000SCHOLARSHIPS
CHANCE 2 DANCE INC
$45,000GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSE
CENTRAL FLORIDA ZOO & BOTANICAL GAR
$43,940FREE ADMISSIONS/ DISTANCE LEARNING
DARRELL ARMSTRONG FOUNDATION
$25,000GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSE
FOUNDATION FOR SEMINOLE CO PUBLIC SCHOOLS
$15,000SCHOLARSHIPS
FOUNDATION FOR SEMINOLE STATE COLLE
$6,000GALA BEVERAGES/ STAFF & PROGRAMMING
ST JOHNS RIVER FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSE
KIDS HOUSE OF SEMINOLE
$3,000GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSE
STRENGTHEN ORLANDO INC
$2,500GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSE
BAHIA SHRINE PROJECT
$1,000GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSE
SEMINOLE SOCCER CLUB INC
$259,000FIELD LIGHTING PROJECT
CENTRAL FLORIDA YMCA
$200,000GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSE
WUERFFEL FOUNDATION
$100,000GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSE
BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA CENTRAL FL COUNCIL
$61,500GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSE
100 BLACK MEN OF ORLANDO
$50,000SCHOLARSHIPS
SUPPORT OUR SCHOLARS
$50,000GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSE
FOUNDATION FOR SEMINOLE STATE COLLE
$47,000GALA BEVERAGES/ STAFF & PROGRAMMING
CHANCE 2 DANCE INC
$45,000GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSE
CENTRAL FLORIDA ZOO & BOTANICAL GAR
$37,075FREE ADMISSIONS/ DISTANCE LEARNING
DARRELL ARMSTRONG FOUNDATION
$25,000GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSE