Ershel Franklin Charitable Trust
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
22
-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.
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
Cities
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
| 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.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Ershel Franklin Charitable Trust's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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