The Alta and John Franks Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The Alta and John Franks Foundation does not accept unsolicited requests and makes grants only to preselected charitable organisations by invitation, so nonprofits should not send in unsolicited applications.
- Its funding is broad, covering arts and cultural bodies, educational and youth organisations, churches, environmental groups, social-service and health organisations, and civic and public-policy organisations, so a wide range of charitable work could in principle fit if the foundation already knows of you.
- A realistic request is modest: about 8 in 10 of its grants fall between $1,000 and $190,000, the median grant is $25,000, and half of all its grants are $25,000 or less, though the largest grant recorded is $1,000,000.
- No geographic focus is stated, though its filings show grants mainly in Louisiana, Virginia, the District of Columbia and New York.
- With 72% of its grant dollars going to organisations it had also funded in the previous two filings, this looks like a relationship-led funder favouring continuing support, so building a connection matters more than timing a cold approach, which this foundation will not consider.
Overview
The Alta and John Franks Foundation is a US private foundation based in Shreveport, LA.
What they fund
Profile based on the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) only: no website or other web source for the foundation was found. Every statement is checked against the filings. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The filings show grants to a wide range of charitable organisations rather than a single named field. Recipients include arts and cultural bodies, educational and youth organisations, churches, environmental groups, social-service and health organisations, and civic and public-policy organisations. Most grants are recorded as unrestricted gifts to 501(c)(3) organisations, so the filing does not state a project-specific funding focus. The recorded giving is concentrated in Louisiana, while substantial support also went to organisations in Virginia, the District of Columbia and New York. The filing states that contributions are made only to preselected charitable organisations.
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in Louisiana, Virginia, District of Columbia and New York.
How to apply
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 72% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 177 grants to organisations were $25,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
1 other state: <1%
- The largest single recipient received 8% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 72% of grant dollars went to organisations The Alta and John Franks Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- <1% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 70 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $50,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation · Unrestricted gift to 501(c)(3) org$1,000,0002024 tax year
- National World War II Museum · Unrestricted gift to 501(c)(3) org$525,0002024 tax year
- American Enterprise Institute · Unrestricted gift to 501(c)(3) org$500,0002024 tax year
- Public Interest Legal Foundation · Unrestricted gift to 501(c)(3) org$500,0002024 tax year
- State Policy Network · Unrestricted gift to 501(c)(3) org$500,0002024 tax year
- Manhattan Institute for Policy Research · Unrestricted gift to 501(c)(3) org$500,0002024 tax year
- North Louisiana Economic Partnership · Unrestricted gift to 501(c)(3) org$500,0002024 tax year
- Heritage Foundation · Unrestricted gift to 501(c)(3) org$500,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Diane F Marlowe — Assistant Secretary / Director
- Faith N Gilbert — Secretary / Director
- Bobby E Jelks — President / Director
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $1,854,356 | $1,545,048 | $49,604,250 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $2,860,652 | $2,344,690 | $101,721,809 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $9,679,485 | $8,651,460 | $282,433,197 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
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At a glance
Applying to The Alta and John Franks Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Shreveport, LA
Applying to The Alta and John Franks Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Shreveport, LA