Friends of Franklin
The Friends of Franklin foundation's primary program is to fundraise for the benefit and support of advocate for academic excellence in education, inc. (AAEE), which operates benjamin franklin high school.
Friends of Franklin at a glance
In short: Friends of Franklin gave $400K across 1 grant in 2025 (avg $400K), mostly in Louisiana. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $400,084
- +1726.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 1
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $400,084
- +1726.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $400,084
- Total assets
- $2,095,815
- +48.1% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Louisiana (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Friends of Franklin funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Advocates for Academic Excellence in Education Inc ($400K).
Grant Size Distribution
4 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $250–500K range: 2 grants of 4 (50%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of the 2025 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.
States
Cities
How Friends of Franklin gives
- Giving fell 35% from 2022 to 2025. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2022 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $22K (2024) to $616K (2022). In 2025 it made 1 grant totaling $400K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Advocates for Academic Excellence in Education Inc New Orleans, LA | Benjamin Franklin High School Is a Supported Organization | $400,084 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $2,095,815 | $1,318,181 | $967,509 | $400,084 | 1 | $46,748 |
| 2024 | $1,414,802 | $1,081,526 | $408,807 | $21,905 | 1 | $10,323 |
| 2023 | $888,064 | $551,035 | $331,440 | $317,337 | 1 | — |
| 2022 | $668,469 | $959,269 | $618,215 | $615,512 | 1 | — |
| 2021 | $327,415 | $327,430 | $15 | — | — | — |
About Friends of Franklin
Based on IRS filings
Friends of Franklin is a public charity focused on Education, based in New Orleans, LA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $2.1M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 1 grant totaling $400K. Net investment income was $47K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Friends of Franklin is led by Alexander Jarrell, CEO on the 2025 filing; 3 of 11 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Alexander Jarrell
CEO
New on the 2025 filing
10 hrs/week
$41K (2025)
Alea M. Cot
President
Secretary → President, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Andrea Perkins
CFO
On filings since 2023
6 hrs/week
$16K (2024) → $16K (2025)
John Parauka
Coord. of Student & Alumni Services
New on the 2025 filing
34 hrs/week
$89K (2025)
Charmaine Cooper Hussain
Member
Board Member → Member, 2025
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sean A. Blondell
Member
President → Member, 2025
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jonathan L. Levy
Treasurer
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mitchell W. Turnbough
Member
Board Member → Member, 2025
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Richard Chen
Member
Board Member → Member, 2025
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Saundra Levy
Member
Board Member → Member, 2025
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Debroah Thurber
Secretary
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (8)
- Former: Deborah Thurber (2020–2024) — Secretary
- Former: Alex Jarrell (2024) — CEO
- Former: Patrick Widhalm (2022–2023) — Head of School
- Former: Min Yang (2020–2021) — Treasurer
- Former: Allison Bent (2020) — Chief Financial Officer
- Former: Carlos Zervignon (2020) — President
- Former: Jennifer G. Mann (2020) — Treasurer
- Former: Lester F. Alexander III (2020) — President
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $89K, to John Parauka (Coord. of Student & Alumni Services). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Friends of Franklin
How much does Friends of Franklin give each year?
Friends of Franklin gave $400K across 1 grant in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $22K across 1 grant.
How large is Friends of Franklin?
Friends of Franklin reported $2.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $1.3M.
What is Friends of Franklin?
Friends of Franklin is a public charity focused on Education, based in New Orleans, LA. It holds $2.1M in total assets as of 2025.
Where does Friends of Franklin operate?
Friends of Franklin has awarded grants in Louisiana.
What is Friends of Franklin's EIN?
Friends of Franklin's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 83-2479067. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(4)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 8, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)
Live grants for the work Friends of Franklin funds
Education Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
- Creative Impact Grants $500 - $2,500 · Due October 19, 2026
- Community and School Grants $28,000 total pool; 10-15 grants expected · Due October 19, 2026
- Mary Pinola/Crescenta Valley Chamber Education Fund $500 - $5,000 for ongoing programs; up to $15,000 for Strategic Initiative Grants · Due October 19, 2026
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Friends of Franklin's focus areas in our free grants database
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Friends of Franklin down — hundreds of funders to go?