The Alta and John Franks Foundation
The Alta and John Franks Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in 1978 and based in Shreveport, Louisiana. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization classified under the NTEE code T20 (Private Grantmaking Foundations).
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$220.4M
+175.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$8.7M
+269.0% YoY
Grant Count
70
+37.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$124K
+168.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Alta and John Franks Foundation reported a distributable amount of $10.2M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's giving priorities include:
- Baptist and United Methodist churches
- Science centers
- Health associations
- The arts
- Education
- Human services
- Philanthropy and voluntarism
Grantmaking
The foundation makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations only.
Grant Range
$11,000
Average Grant
$29,000 to $35,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in:
- Louisiana
- Virginia
- District of Columbia
These three states account for approximately 91% of all grants. Grantmaking reaches organizations across 12 states total.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue:
- Total assets: $220.4M (as of 2024)
- Assets have grown from $9.4M in 2011 to $220.4M in 2024
- Annual income: $153.6M (2024)
- Total giving: $8.6M to $8.7M
Historical Asset Growth:
- 2022: $49.6M in assets
- 2024: $220.4M in assets
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $220,433,211 | $80,031,833 | $30,461,295 |
| Revenue | $150,104,700 | $52,431,190 | $6,839,310 |
| Expenses | $9,679,485 | $2,860,652 | $1,854,356 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $8,858,009 | $2,426,166 | $1,556,449 |
| Net Investment Income | $4,849,928 | $1,714,874 | $647,192 |
| Distributable Amount | $10,183,189 | $2,907,718 | $2,137,480 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation ($1,000,000), American Enterprise Institute ($500,000), Manhattan Institute for Policy Research ($500,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ALZHEIMER'S DRUG DISCOVERY FOUNDATION NEW YORK, NY | UNRESTRICTED GIFT TO 501(C)(3) ORG | $1,000,000 |
| AMERICAN ALLIANCE FOR EQUAL RIGHTS AUSTIN, TX | UNRESTRICTED GIFT TO 501(C)(3) ORG | $50,000 |
| AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE WASHINGTON, DC | UNRESTRICTED GIFT TO 501(C)(3) ORG | $500,000 |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS SHREVEPORT, LA | UNRESTRICTED GIFT TO 501(C)(3) ORG | $25,000 |
| AMERICAN ROSE SOCIETY SHREVEPORT, LA | UNRESTRICTED GIFT TO 501(C)(3) ORG | $100,000 |
| CADDO LAKE INSTITUTE SHREVEPORT, LA | UNRESTRICTED GIFT TO 501(C)(3) ORG | $50,000 |
| CATO INSTITUTE WASHINGTON, DC | UNRESTRICTED GIFT TO 501(C)(3) ORG | $100,000 |
| COHABITAT FOUNDATION SHREVEPORT, LA | UNRESTRICTED GIFT TO 501(C)(3) ORG | $25,000 |
| CRIME STOPPERS OF SHREVEPORT SHREVEPORT, LA | UNRESTRICTED GIFT TO 501(C)(3) ORG | $45,000 |
| DOWNTOWN SHREVEPORT DEVEL CORP SHREVEPORT, LA | UNRESTRICTED GIFT TO 501(C)(3) ORG | $71,800 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| BOBBY E JELKS | PRESIDENT/ DIRECTOR | 30 | $260,000 |
| FAITH N GILBERT | SECRETARY/ DIRECTOR | 25 | $130,000 |
| DIANE F MARLOWE | ASSISTANT SECRETARY/ DIRECTOR | 30 | $80,000 |
Contact Information
- Address: PO Box 7625, Shreveport, LA 71137-7625
- Phone: (318) 221-2688
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Alta and John Franks Foundation fund?
The foundation's giving priorities include: • Baptist and United Methodist churches • Science centers • Health associations • The arts • Education • Human services • Philanthropy and voluntarism
How do I apply for a grant from The Alta and John Franks Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Total grants awarded: $8.1M to $8.6M (based on available records) • Median grant size: $11,000 • Average grant size: $29,000 to $35,000 • Grant range: Up to $280,000 • Number of grants: 112 to 284 grants across available years • Supported organizations: 94 unique organizations **Recent Grantmaking Trends:** • 2020: $1.4M distributed • 2022: $3.1M distributed across 112 grants (highest activity year) • 2023: $2.3M distributed **Application Process:** The foundation makes co…
Where does The Alta and John Franks Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in: • Louisiana • Virginia • District of Columbia These three states account for approximately 91% of all grants. Grantmaking reaches organizations across 12 states total.
What size grants does The Alta and John Franks Foundation award?
In 2024, The Alta and John Franks Foundation awarded 70 grants totaling $8.7M — an average of about $124K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Alta and John Franks Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Alta and John Franks Foundation reported a distributable amount of $10.2M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Alta and John Franks Foundation's EIN?
The Alta and John Franks Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-7422163. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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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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