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).
Key facts about The Alta and John Franks Foundation
- EIN
- 23-7422163
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $8,651,460
- Grants made (2024)
- 70
- Average grant
- $123,592
- Median grant
- $50,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 29% first-time grantees (20 of 70, 2024)
- Total assets
- $220,433,211
- Primary geography
- Louisiana (44% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- The foundation makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations only. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 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.
Who The Alta and John Franks Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for The Alta and John Franks Foundation's 70 itemized 2024 grants were Louisiana (44%), New York (17%) and District of Columbia (16%). The most frequent recipient cities were Shreveport, LA (35 grants), Washington, DC (7 grants), Arlington, VA (4 grants) and Baton Rouge, LA (4 grants). 100% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
Is The Alta and John Franks Foundation open to new grantees?
29%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 20 of 70 grantees (29%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $110K; repeat grants $129K. How we count
Medians: $43K first-time, $50K repeat.
- 66% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 579% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 87% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with The Alta and John Franks Foundation
- How to evaluate The Alta and John Franks Foundation as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
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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
Grant Range
$11,000
Average Grant
$29,000 to $35,000
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with The Alta and John Franks Foundation?
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
Share of all 70 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
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 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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
298 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation ($1,000,000), The National World War II Museum ($525,000), American Enterprise Institute ($500,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ALZHEIMER'S DRUG DISCOVERY FOUNDATION New York, NY | UNRESTRICTED GIFT TO 501(C)(3) ORG | $1,000,000 |
| THE NATIONAL WORLD WAR II MUSEUM New Orleans, LA | UNRESTRICTED GIFT TO 501(C)(3) ORG | $525,000 |
| AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE Washington, DC | UNRESTRICTED GIFT TO 501(C)(3) ORG | $500,000 |
| MANHATTAN INSTITUTE FOR POLICY RESEARCH New York, NY | UNRESTRICTED GIFT TO 501(C)(3) ORG | $500,000 |
| NORTH LOUISIANA ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP Shreveport, LA | UNRESTRICTED GIFT TO 501(C)(3) ORG | $500,000 |
| PUBLIC INTEREST LEGAL FOUNDATION Alexandria, VA | UNRESTRICTED GIFT TO 501(C)(3) ORG | $500,000 |
| STATE POLICY NETWORK Arlington, VA | UNRESTRICTED GIFT TO 501(C)(3) ORG | $500,000 |
| THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION Washington, DC | UNRESTRICTED GIFT TO 501(C)(3) ORG | $500,000 |
| FRANKLIN NEWS FOUNDATION Chicago, IL | UNRESTRICTED GIFT TO 501(C)(3) ORG | $362,700 |
| GREATER SHREVEPORT CHAMBER FOUNDATION Shreveport, LA | UNRESTRICTED GIFT TO 501(C)(3) ORG | $257,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 IRS 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?
The foundation makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations only. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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 September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.