Gerald & Roberta Franklin Charitable Foundation
GERALD & ROBERTA FRANKLIN is a private foundation based in San Geronimo, California. Its 2025 filing reports charitable grants to organizations including wildlife, health, social-service, education, and animal-welfare organizations.
Key facts about Gerald & Roberta Franklin Charitable Foundation
In short: Gerald & Roberta Franklin Charitable Foundation gave $410K across 18 grants in 2025 (avg $23K), top state California. 28% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 41-2255597
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $410,000
- Grants made (2025)
- 18
- Average grant
- $22,778
- Median grant
- $17,500
- New grantees (estimate)
- 28% first-time grantees (5 of 18, 2025; small sample)
- Total assets
- $4,521,352
- Primary geography
- California (21% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$4.5M
+1.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$410K
+57.7% YoY
Grant Count
18
+50.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$23K
+5.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Gerald & Roberta Franklin Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $372K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is Gerald & Roberta Franklin Charitable Foundation open to new grantees?
28%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 5 of 18 grantees (28%) were first-time recipients. With only 18 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $21K; repeat grants $23K. How we count
Medians: $20K first-time, $15K repeat.
- 28% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 97% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 119% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
No foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for organizations working in several areas. For example, WildCare says it supports people in living well with wildlife through wildlife advocacy, nature education, and medical care for wild animals. The Macular Degeneration Association says its mission is to find a cure for macular degeneration and share research and educational programs. Family Support Network describes providing resources and advocacy for families and children with varied needs. These are the grantees’ descriptions of their own work, not statements of the foundation’s mission.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 18 grants totaling $410,000. Grants ranged from $10,000 to $55,000, with a median of $17,500. Among the reported recipients were WildCare ($55,000), MD Anderson Cancer Center ($50,000), Rainbow Shelter for Homeless Women ($45,000), Macular Degeneration Association ($30,000), and United Way of Jackson County ($30,000). Other recipients included Brandeis College ($25,000), African Wildlife Foundation ($20,000), Family Support Network ($20,000), and Wounded Warriors Project ($20,000). The listed grants were described as charitable donations.
How to Apply
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
Ready to take the next step with Gerald & Roberta Franklin Charitable Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, California accounted for 21% of grant dollars, New York 20%, Texas 12%, Maryland 11%, and Massachusetts 10%. The foundation also reported grants to organizations in other states, including Florida, Oregon, Georgia, and North Carolina.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 18 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $157K (2021) to $410K (2025). In 2025 it made 18 grants totaling $410K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Wildcare ($55K). Together the top 10 received $310K.
Grant Size Distribution
88 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 83 grants of 88 (94%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Wildcare San Rafael, CA | Charitable Donation | $55,000 |
| MD Anderson Cancer Center Houston, TX | Charitable Donation | $50,000 |
| Rainbow Shelter for Homeless Women Rockville, MD | Charitable Donation | $45,000 |
| Macular Degeneration Association Sarasota, FL | Charitable Donation | $30,000 |
| United Way of Jackson County Medford, OR | Charitable Donation | $30,000 |
| Brandeis College Waltham, MA | Charitable Donation | $25,000 |
| African Wildlife Foundation Washington, DC | Charitable Donation | $20,000 |
| Family Support Network Orange, CA | Charitable Donation | $20,000 |
| Wounded Warriors Project New York, NY | Charitable Donation | $20,000 |
| Arthritis Foundation Atlanta, GA | Charitable Donation | $15,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Grant total | Number of grants |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $410,000 | 18 |
| 2024 | $260,000 | 12 |
| 2023 | $390,150 | 24 |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $4,521,352 | $4,444,885 | $4,635,958 |
| Revenue | $598,422 | $174,004 | $5,408,309 |
| Expenses | $528,522 | $375,077 | $436,722 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $443,939 | $289,392 | $392,689 |
| Net Investment Income | $513,839 | $92,667 | $416,734 |
| Distributable Amount | $372,447 | $346,353 | $319,423 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS July 14, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS June 27, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS July 13, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS July 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 15, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Leslie Franklin as president and David Franklin as vice president and treasurer.
Gerald & Roberta Franklin Charitable Foundation is led by Leslie Franklin, President on every filing since 2021; all 2 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Leslie Franklin
President
On filings since 2021
10 hrs/week
$24K (2024) → $26K (2025)
David Franklin
Vice President & Treasurer
On filings since 2021
10 hrs/week
$24K (2024) → $26K (2025)
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "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 $26K, to Leslie Franklin (President). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Contact
Mailing address: 465 Meadow Way, San Geronimo, CA 94963
Phone: (415) 235-6288
Frequently asked questions about Gerald & Roberta Franklin Charitable Foundation
How much does Gerald & Roberta Franklin Charitable Foundation give each year?
Gerald & Roberta Franklin Charitable Foundation gave $410K across 18 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $260K across 12 grants.
What is Gerald & Roberta Franklin Charitable Foundation's typical grant size?
Gerald & Roberta Franklin Charitable Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $17,500, and its average grant was $22,778, across 18 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Gerald & Roberta Franklin Charitable Foundation that year got $21K on average.
Where does Gerald & Roberta Franklin Charitable Foundation give grants?
Gerald & Roberta Franklin Charitable Foundation's top state is California, with 21% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were New York (20%) and Texas (12%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (5 grants).
Does Gerald & Roberta Franklin Charitable Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 18 grants with a stated purpose on Gerald & Roberta Franklin Charitable Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charitable Donation" (18 grants).
Who are Gerald & Roberta Franklin Charitable Foundation's largest grantees?
Gerald & Roberta Franklin Charitable Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Wildcare ($55,000), MD Anderson Cancer Center ($50,000) and Rainbow Shelter for Homeless Women ($45,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 37% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Gerald & Roberta Franklin Charitable Foundation?
Gerald & Roberta Franklin Charitable Foundation reported $4.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $444K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $372K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Gerald & Roberta Franklin Charitable Foundation fund?
No foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for organizations working in several areas. For example, WildCare says it supports people in living well with wildlife through wildlife advocacy, nature education, and medical care for wild animals. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Gerald & Roberta Franklin Charitable Foundation?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Gerald & Roberta Franklin Charitable Foundation's EIN?
Gerald & Roberta Franklin Charitable Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 41-2255597. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Does Gerald & Roberta Franklin Charitable Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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