Ershel Franklin Charitable Trust

POST, TX EIN: 75-6305761

The Ershel Franklin Charitable Trust is a private foundation established in 1986 and based in Post, Texas. The organization operates as a 501(c)(3) grantmaking foundation with no employees, functioning as a vehicle for philanthropic giving across multiple sectors.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$9.6M

+1.2% YoY

Annual Giving

$464K

+11.7% YoY

Grant Count

-8.3% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$21K

+21.9% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Ershel Franklin Charitable Trust reported a distributable amount of $572K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The trust primarily funds scholarships, educational initiatives, research, and cultural programming. Specific funding areas include:

Scholarships
Educational research and programs
Book purchases
Arts exhibitions and cultural events
Health and medical research
Operational and general charitable support

Grantmaking

The trust demonstrates active grantmaking with 32 grants awarded in 2023. Recent grants include:

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The trust maintains a primary focus on Texas, with particular connections to the Post area and the broader state region, though it also supports national organizations.

Grant Distribution by State

Texas $1.8M (92%)

Tennessee $125K (6%)

Arkansas $14K (1%)

North Carolina $10K (1%)

Kentucky $3K (0%)

States

Arkansas Kentucky North Carolina Tennessee Texas

Cities

BooneBoxClarksvilleDallasDickensHoustonLouisvilleLubbockMemphisMidlandPostSan AngeloSan Antonio

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

As of December 2023:

Total assets: $9,526,254
Total revenues: $180,323
Total expenses: $574,333
Number of employees: 0

Revenue

Expenses

Qualifying Distributions

Net Investment Income

Metric	2024	2023	2022
Total Assets	$9,638,397	$9,526,254	$9,920,264
Revenue	$798,967	$180,323	$122,259
Expenses	$686,824	$574,333	$591,166
Qualifying Distributions	$534,830	$467,399	$486,261
Net Investment Income	$363,251	$217,779	$200,147
Distributable Amount	$571,830	$515,344	$496,356

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Grant Size Distribution

133 grants across all recorded years

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Umc Foundation ($102,500), Texas Tech Foundation ($70,000), Buckner Foundation Co Myndi Easter ($40,000).

Recipient	Purpose	Amount
ALCOHOLIC RECOVERY CENTER LUBBOCK, TX	GENERAL OPERATIONS	$5,000
BUCKNER FOUNDATION CO MYNDI EASTER LUBBOCK, TX	FAMILY PATHWAYS PROJECT $20,000; FAMILY HOPE CENTER $20,000	$40,000
COMMUNITY RECOVERY CENTER POST, TX	GENERAL OPERATIONS	$25,500
GARZA COUNTY POST, TX	SUMMER RECREATION PROGRAMS	$3,000
COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER OF LUBBOCK LUBBOCK, TX	DENTAL EQUIPMENT	$25,738
GARZA COUNTY TRAILBLAZERS POST, TX	GENERAL OPERATIONS	$10,000
POST CITY FESTIVALS POST, TX	RECIPIENT DISCRETION	$5,000
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH EDUCATION FUND POST, TX	SCHOLARSHIPS	$20,000
MUSEUM OF TTU ASSOCIATION LUBBOCK, TX	ART OF LLANO ESTACADO EXHIBIT	$5,000
TEXAS TECH FOUNDATION BOX, TX	KTTZ - CHANNEL 5 PUBLIC BROADCASTING SYSTEM $20,000; SCHOLARSHIPS $30,000; MUSEUM-TEACHING ARTISTS PROGRAM $20,000	$70,000

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

From 2024 filing

Name	Title	Hours	Compensation
MARY L MCCRARY	Trustee	5	$7,200

Contact Information

Mailing Address: PO Box 790 Post, TX 79356-0790

EIN: 75-6305761

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Ershel Franklin Charitable Trust fund?

The trust primarily funds scholarships, educational initiatives, research, and cultural programming. Specific funding areas include: • Scholarships • Educational research and programs • Book purchases • Arts exhibitions and cultural events • Health and medical research • Operational and general charitable support

How do I apply for a grant from Ershel Franklin Charitable Trust?

The trust demonstrates active grantmaking with 32 grants awarded in 2023. Recent grants include: • University Medical Center Foundation of El Paso: $102,500 (including COVID-19 relief and gala support) • Texas Tech Foundation: $68,000 (for KTTZ-Channel 5 Public Broadcasting System) • St Jude Children's Research Hospital: $25,000 The foundation has supported organizations including the Presbyterian Church Education Fund and other regional and national nonprofits.

Where does Ershel Franklin Charitable Trust make grants?

The trust maintains a primary focus on Texas, with particular connections to the Post area and the broader state region, though it also supports national organizations.

What size grants does Ershel Franklin Charitable Trust award?

In 2024, Ershel Franklin Charitable Trust awarded 22 grants totaling $464K — an average of about $21K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is Ershel Franklin Charitable Trust required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Ershel Franklin Charitable Trust reported a distributable amount of $572K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

What is Ershel Franklin Charitable Trust's EIN?

Ershel Franklin Charitable Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 75-6305761. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.