A J Frank Family Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: Information not publicly available
• Success Rate: Information not publicly available
• Decision Time: 1 month (August deadline - September notification; December deadline - January notification)
• Grant Range: $5,000 - $20,000 (based on documented grants)
• Geographic Focus: Oregon (primarily), with some national Catholic organizations

Contact Details

• Website: Not available
• Phone: (503) 897-2371
• Contact Person: Ryan Banning
• Address: PO Box 79, Mill City, OR 97360

Overview

The A J Frank Family Foundation is a private non-operating foundation established in 1959 and incorporated in Oregon. Founded by Amandus J. Frank, who started Frank Lumber Company in 1936, the foundation maintains strong ties to the lumber industry through ongoing support from Frank Lumber Co., Inc., Frank Timber Products, Inc., and members of the Frank family. With total assets of approximately $6.8 million and annual income of $4.7 million, the foundation primarily supports Roman Catholic organizations, schools, and human services agencies, with a geographic focus on Oregon-based organizations.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Based on documented grants:

• Human Services Support: $20,000 (Canyon Crisis Center)
• Catholic Organizations: $5,000 - $15,000 (Catholic Near East Welfare Association, St Vincent De Paul)

Priority Areas

• Roman Catholic organizations and schools
• Human services organizations
• Oregon-based charitable organizations

What They Don't Fund

• Individual grant requests
• Organizations outside their focus areas

Governance and Leadership

Contact Person: Ryan Banning Foundation Donors: A.J. Frank, L.D. Frank, Frank Lumber Co., Inc., Frank Timber Products, Inc., and members of the Frank family

The foundation maintains its connection to the Frank family's lumber business legacy, with Frank Lumber Company continuing operations in Mill City under the leadership of Jim and Dennis Frank, sons of founder A.J. Frank.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

• Initial Approach: By letter
• Application Form: Not required
• Required Materials:
  • Descriptive literature about the organization
  • Copy of IRS Determination Letter
  • Current year's organizational budget and/or project budget
  • Detailed description of project and amount of funding requested

Decision Timeline

• Application Deadlines: August 15 and December 15
• Notification Dates: September 15 and January 15
• Processing Time: Approximately 1 month from deadline to notification

Success Rates

Information not publicly available

Reapplication Policy

Information not publicly available

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's documented giving patterns and requirements:

• Strong alignment with Catholic organizations or human services mission
• Clear Oregon connection or presence
• Well-documented organizational credentials (IRS determination letter required)
• Detailed project descriptions with specific budget information
• Organizations rather than individuals (individual requests explicitly not accepted)

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• The foundation operates on a twice-yearly grant cycle with fixed deadlines
• No formal application form required - letter of request is sufficient
• Strong preference for Oregon-based organizations, particularly those serving the Mill City/Santiam Canyon region
• Catholic organizations and schools receive priority consideration
• Human services organizations are also within scope
• Keep initial approach concise but include all required documentation
• Relatively quick turnaround time of one month from deadline to notification

References

• A J Frank Family Foundation profile, Here-4-You Consulting NPFunds Directory, accessed March 2024
• A J Frank Family Foundation, ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, tax filings December 2023 and November 2024
• A J Frank Family Foundation, City Vision University Library, accessed March 2024
• A J Frank Family Foundation, Candid Foundation Directory, accessed March 2024
• Frank Lumber Company history, Wagner Meters Forest Products Industry Info, accessed March 2024
• A J Frank Family Foundation, BIG Online US Foundation Database, accessed March 2024