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Ershel Franklin Charitable Trust at a glance

· Private foundation

Ershel Franklin Charitable Trust

Its FY2024 filing reports that it funds preselected organizations and did not take unsolicited requests; check the foundation's own site before ruling it out.

$464k
Granted FY2024still arriving
22
Grants FY2024still arriving
3
States reached
$103k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
05Through PlinthRead
01What it funds
0197% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2017 to 2024.

Health$1.3MEducation$1.2MInternational$213kArts & Culture$200kHuman Services$161kFood & Nutrition$144kPublic Safety & Disaster$140kReligion$109kOther$0
02FY2024 · 22 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2024

  • Under $10k11 grants · $50k
  • $10k–50k9 grants · $241k
  • $50k–250k2 grants · $173k
$10,000
Median grant
3
States reached
$9.6M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
UMC FOUNDATION$102,500
TEXAS TECH FOUNDATION$70,000
BUCKNER FOUNDATION CO MYNDI EASTER$40,000
OS RANCH FOUNDATION$40,000
POST-GARZA COUNTY EMS$40,000
COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER OF LUBBOCK$25,738
COMMUNITY RECOVERY CENTER$25,500
ST JUDE CHILDRENS RESEARCH HOSPITAL$25,000
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH EDUCATION FUND$20,000
LUBBOCK PUBLIC MEDIA$15,000
GARZA COUNTY TRAILBLAZERS$10,000
POST ALCOHOL RECOVERY CENTER$7,500
CAPROCK CULTURAL ASSOCIATION$6,000
ALCOHOLIC RECOVERY CENTER$5,000
MUSEUM OF TTU ASSOCIATION$5,000
02The need
03

Does the money reach high-need areas?

Each grant placed by the hardship in its grantee’s ZIP, against the area’s typical level.

show:

Its human-services grants (FY17–23, $252k) land where the poverty rate runs at 17%, against an area that typically sits at 13%. 100% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 13%GUIDED DOGS OF TEXAS INC: $3k → 16%GUIDED DOGS OF TEXAS INC: $3k → 16%BUCKNER FOUNDATION: $40k → 17%BUCKNER FOUNDATION: $40k → 17%BUCKNER FOUNDATION: $40k → 17%BUCKNER FOUNDATION: $40k → 17%BUCKNER FOUNDATION: $20k → 17%BUCKNER FOUNDATION: $20k → 17%CATHOLIC FAMILY SERVICE: $21k → 17%CATHOLIC FAMILY SERVICE: $20k → 17%CATHOLIC FAMILY SERVICE: $500 → 17%CATHOLIC FAMILY SERVICE: $500 → 17%CATHOLIC FAMILY SERVICE: $500 → 17%INSIDE OUT FOUNDATION: $2k → 17%INSIDE OUT FOUNDATION: $2k → 17%INSIDE OUT FOUNDATION: $2k → 17%0%20%40%50%more need →
grant to an above-average-need area below average· circle size = grant amount
How this is measured
Matched: human-services grants are those whose grantee’s IRS cause code is Human Services. Placed by people below the poverty line in the grantee’s ZIP, averaged from the tracts in that ZIP.
How this is measured
US grants placed by each grantee’s ZIP, which can differ from where services are delivered. Need from public data (U.S. Census/ACS, CDC PLACES, Eviction Lab, USDA), shown as context about the area, never attributed to the funder’s giving.
03Its grantees
repeat funding

Who it funds again

Organizations funded in more than one year, against those funded once.

91%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$3.3M · 45 repeat orgs$334k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +86% since the first grant, against +33% for those funded once.

45 repeat relationships: 14 still active in FY2024, 31 since wound down; 8 grantees were first funded in FY2024 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

45
15

Total granted

$3.3M
$133k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+86%
+33%

Still filing today

51%
33%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2024, 57% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $201k went to new ones.

50%100%’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24
RenewedFirst-time

Where new relationships form · theme of each grantee’s first grant

’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24
HealthHuman ServicesEducationArts & CultureCommunity ImprovementFood & NutritionOther
How this is measured
First-time means a grantee’s first year in the filing window; renewed means funded in an earlier year too. The renewed share climbs naturally as a portfolio matures, so the signal is a year that bucks it (a wave of new grantees). The earliest year is left-censored: relationships that predate the data read as new. Theme is the grantee’s IRS cause.

Backed again, and grew

  • UM
    University Medical Center Foundation of El Paso
    7× · 2017–2023 · $283k · revenue +225%
  • BF
    BUCKNER FOUNDATION INC
    6× · 2017–2023 · $200k · revenue +120%
  • ST JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL INC
    8× · 2017–2024 · $200k · revenue +145%

Funded once

  • LJ
    LAKE JACKSON CHURCH OF CHRIST
    one grant, 2017 · $25k
  • LE
    LUBBOCK ENTERTAINMENT & PERFORMING ARTS
    one grant, 2017 · $25k
  • RH
    Ranching Heritage Associationgraduated
    one grant, 2023 · $23k · revenue +59%
How this is measured

Repeat means funded in two or more distinct years. Growth and survival are read from each grantee’s own subsequent IRS filings.

04Its field

Closest unfunded matches

The nonprofits that most resemble its grantees but are not funded by it, scored along the direction from the rest of the field toward the portfolio. A resemblance in what they say they do, not a recommendation.

1
North Central Texas Medical Foundation
Health
2
Texas Trust Gives
Philanthropy
3
Center for 20TH Century Texas Studies
—
4
Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame Inc
Arts & Culture
5
Greater Texas Foundation
Education
6
Texas Prairieland Foundation
Philanthropy
7
Big Horn County Memorial Hospital Auxiliary
Health
8
Texas Rescue Inc
Animals
9
Credit Union of Texas Charitable Foundation
Philanthropy
10
The Robert Burns Society of West Texas
Public Safety & Disaster
11
Heart of Texas Historical Muse

To provide the general public with the rich heart of texas heritage

—
12
Genetic Resource Association of Texas
Health
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is University Medical Center Foundation of El Paso; the most unlike its peers is Sondras Song. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.
04the grantee network

35 grantees tracked through their own filings, 2017–2026.

Each grant beside the grantee’s revenue from every source, year by year.

How this is measured

Counted here: distinct organizations funded across 2017 to 2026, not grant rows in a single year, so this will not match the grant count on the cover. 35 of the 68 grantees resolved in that span have returns of their own we could reconcile.

Each grantee is resolved to its own IRS returns. Association, dated; never a causal claim.

3
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
12
Early backer (in before they grew)
31/35
Grantees still filing
26/35
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH EDUCATION FUND: $415,000 · OtherPRESBYTERIAN CHURCH EDUCATION FUNDCOMMUNITY RECOVERY CENTER: $195,250 · OtherCOMMUNITY RECOVERY CENTERCOMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER: $166,000 · OtherCOMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERUTMD ANDERSON: $150,000 · OtherUTMD ANDERSON+43 more: $742,075 · Other+43 moreUniversity Medical Center Foundation of El Paso: $282,500 · HealthUniversity Medical Center Fo…ST JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL INC: $200,000 · HealthST JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH …COVENANT HEALTH SYSTEM FOUNDATION: $176,500 · HealthCOVENANT HEALTH SYSTEM FOUND…POST-GARZA COUNTY EMS: $140,000 · HealthPOST-GARZA COUNTY EMSUMC FOUNDATION: $102,500 · HealthUMC FOUNDATION+2 more: $25,838 · HealthTEXAS TECH FOUNDATION INC: $528,000 · EducationTEXAS TECH FOUNDA…UNIVERSITY OF THE OZARKS: $24,000 · Education+1 more: $12,500 · EducationBUCKNER FOUNDATION INC: $200,000 · Human ServicesCATHOLIC CHARITIES OF THE TEXAS PANHANDLE: $42,000 · Human Services+5 more: $22,000 · Human ServicesSOUTH PLAINS FOOD BANK INC: $92,300 · Food & NutritionGARZA COUNTY TRAILBLAZERS INC: $50,000 · Community ImprovementPOST CITY FESTIVALS INC: $41,000 · Community ImprovementRONALD McDONALD HOUSE CHARITIES OF GREATER NORTH TEXAS INC: $70,000 · Philanthropy
Other$1,668,325Health$927,338Education$564,500Human Services$264,000Food & Nutrition$92,300Community Improvement$91,000Philanthropy$70,000

Each grantee by its size and the funder’s share of it; top left is load-bearing

25%50%75%100%$100k$1.0M$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetTEXAS TECH FOUNDATION INC: $528,000 over 8y, 0.2% of budgetUniversity Medical Center Foundation of El Paso: $282,500 over 7y, 20% of budgetBUCKNER FOUNDATION INC: $200,000 over 6y, 0.1% of budgetST JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL INC: $200,000 over 8y, 0.0% of budgetCOMMUNITY RECOVERY CENTER: $195,250 over 8y, 63% of budgetCOVENANT HEALTH SYSTEM FOUNDATION: $176,500 over 5y, 1.2% of budgetPOST-GARZA COUNTY EMS: $140,000 over 2y, 20% of budgetUMC FOUNDATION: $102,500 over 1y, 1.5% of budgetSOUTH PLAINS FOOD BANK INC: $92,300 over 6y, 0.1% of budgetRONALD McDONALD HOUSE CHARITIES OF GREATER NORTH TEXAS INC: $70,000 over 7y, 1.1% of budgetPOST ANIMAL REFUGE CENTER: $54,000 over 7y, 16% of budgetTHE OS RANCH FOUNDATION: $50,500 over 2y, 100% of budgetGARZA COUNTY TRAILBLAZERS INC: $50,000 over 6y, 5.3% of budgetCATHOLIC CHARITIES OF THE TEXAS PANHANDLE: $42,000 over 5y, 0.8% of budgetPOST CITY FESTIVALS INC: $41,000 over 8y, 99% of budgetAlcoholic Recovery Center Inc: $35,000 over 7y, 1.1% of budgetCOMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER OF LUBBOCK INC: $25,738 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetUNIVERSITY OF THE OZARKS: $24,000 over 7y, 0.0% of budgetRanching Heritage Association: $22,500 over 1y, 0.9% of budgetCAPROCK CULTURAL ASSOCIATION INC: $16,250 over 4y, 11% of budgetLUBBOCK PUBLIC MEDIA: $15,000 over 1y, 9.8% of budgetLUBBOCK HABITAT FOR HUMANITY INC: $15,000 over 3y, 1.3% of budgetSAMARITAN'S PURSE: $12,500 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetPOST STAMPEDE INC: $12,500 over 1y, 5.3% of budgetLUBBOCK SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA INC: $9,000 over 2y, 0.4% of budgetCITY OF MIDLAND AQUATICS INC: $8,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetGARZA COUNTY LIVESTOCK ASSOCIATION: $8,000 over 4y, 6.1% of budgetSONDRAS SONG: $7,500 over 2y, 4.3% of budgetTEXAS GIRLS AND BOYS RANCH: $7,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetOUTSIDE THE WALLS MINISTRIES: $5,000 over 1y, 2.7% of budgetGuide Dogs of Texas Inc: $5,000 over 2y, 0.3% of budgetINSIDE OUT FOUNDATION: $4,500 over 3y, 0.7% of budgetWEST TEXAS BOYS RANCH: $3,050 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetWOMEN'S PROTECTIVE SERVICES: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetAmerican Heart Association Inc: $100 over 1y, 0.0% of budget
Grantee by grantee: a decade per organization, before and after funding

A decade per grantee: revenue shaded, grants as bars, all rows on one timeline.

  • Who funds TEXAS TECH FOUNDATION INC ↗
  • Who funds University Medical Center Foundation of El Paso ↗
  • Who funds BUCKNER FOUNDATION INC ↗
  • Who funds ST JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL INC ↗
  • Who funds COMMUNITY RECOVERY CENTER ↗
  • Who funds COVENANT HEALTH SYSTEM FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds POST-GARZA COUNTY EMS ↗
  • Who funds UMC FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds SOUTH PLAINS FOOD BANK INC ↗
  • Who funds RONALD McDONALD HOUSE CHARITIES OF GREATER NORTH TEXAS INC ↗
  • Who funds POST ANIMAL REFUGE CENTER ↗
  • Who funds THE OS RANCH FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds GARZA COUNTY TRAILBLAZERS INC ↗
  • Who funds CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF THE TEXAS PANHANDLE ↗
  • Who funds POST CITY FESTIVALS INC ↗
  • Who funds Alcoholic Recovery Center Inc ↗
  • Who funds COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER OF LUBBOCK INC ↗
  • Who funds UNIVERSITY OF THE OZARKS ↗
  • Who funds Ranching Heritage Association ↗
  • Who funds CAPROCK CULTURAL ASSOCIATION INC ↗
  • Who funds LUBBOCK PUBLIC MEDIA ↗
  • Who funds LUBBOCK HABITAT FOR HUMANITY INC ↗
  • Who funds SAMARITAN'S PURSE ↗

Co-funders

Grantmakers whose grantees overlap with this funder’s far more than size alone predicts. Closer means stronger alignment; arcs show where they also fund each other. Here they form a tightly interlocked group: most of these funders back each other's grantees too.

Diekemper Family Foun…Community Foundation …The Maxine Durrett Ea…Ch Foundation IncKuykendall FoundationTexas Instruments Fou…South Plains Foundati…Helen Jones Foundatio…James a Buddy Davidso…The Evelyn M Davies F…Mary L Livermore Foun…The Cash Family Found…
Diekemper Family Foundation IncTX28.4× affinity11 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Diekemper Family Foundation Inc · Community Foundation of West Texas · The Maxine Durrett Earl Charitable Foundation Inc · Ch Foundation Inc · Kuykendall Foundation · Texas Instruments Foundation · South Plains Foundation · Helen Jones Foundation Inc · James a Buddy Davidson Charitable Foundation · The Evelyn M Davies Foundation Trust · Mary L Livermore Foundation · The Cash Family Foundation

How this is measured
Affinity is a Gamma-Poisson posterior co-funding rate, re-centered on the typical rate, so thin evidence shrinks toward no signal. Overlap is association, not proof of shared intent.

How much its grantees rely on government

Each dot is one organization Ershel Franklin Charitable Trust funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Ershel Franklin Charitable Trust. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 00%6%25%56%100%funder's share of their income ↑0%19%38%56%75%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    0get no government money at all
    8report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
    0rely on government for over half their income
    ⤢ axis zoomed · 0–75%
    typical government reliance, FY20–25
    How this is measured
    Government income is each org’s traced federal awards (USASpending grants and contracts) plus state payments (open checkbooks) as a share of its total revenue (IRS Form 990); the self-reported government-grant line (990 line 1e) is carried for cross-check: a grantee that reports government grants we could not trace to a source is left off the chart rather than shown as receiving none. An association, not a claim that a grant caused the public funding. Coverage is precision-first, a floor rather than a census; state records exist for 9 states, so a grantee outside them shows no state figure (dimmed) rather than a false zero. Federal award amounts are obligations, which can span years, so a single-year share is indicative. 990 filings lag 12 to 24 months.
    05Through Plinth

    Warm introductions · Powered by PlinthPlus

    How do I get to Ershel Franklin Charitable Trust?

    Find your warmest path to Ershel Franklin Charitable Trust through trustees and officers whose names appear on both boards. Search for your organization and Plinth traces the shortest route it can evidence.

    Each link is a name appearing on two organizations’ public IRS 990 filings, matched on that name and, where the filings support it, on location. A same-state match has geographic support, which is a second matching feature rather than confirmation that the two are one person; a cross-state one is the likeliest to be two people who share a name. Every hop shows its tier, low-confidence and distant paths are held back rather than guessed, and it is worth confirming the person before you use the introduction.

    On method. Every financial figure here is read from IRS e-file XML, the funder’s own 990/990-PF, and from the multi-year returns of the 68 grantees we resolved, each linked to its source. Grantee outcomes are each organization’s own program-service reporting (Form 990, Part III), read as association with funding, never as caused by it. Low-confidence name matches are suppressed rather than guessed. How we build these →

    How this is measured
    Each figure carries one of six labels. Filed is what the funder reported on its return. Official is another government record about an organization, such as a federal award or a charity register, joined by name where no shared identifier exists. Resolved is an identity we worked out where the filing named a recipient without an EIN, kept only above a measured confidence threshold. Computed is arithmetic over those, like themes, portfolio clusters and co-funder strength. Context is a statistic about a place rather than about an organization, which is what the need overlay is: it describes the area a grantee’s address sits in, not where its work lands. Inferred is drawn by a model from text, like the partnerships read out of public news and organization websites. Each is labeled where it appears.

    Generated from the IRS Form 990-PF e-file return for fiscal year 2024, released 2024. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

    Source object · view filing

    Play a game based on Ershel Franklin’s filings →

    More from the funding graph

    The unnamed billions
    grants reported with no recipient in the public record
    The regranting layer
    51% of grant dollars land in the regranting layer
    The DAF merry-go-round
    $9.7B circulates between donor-advised funds
    The endowment market
    who holds foundation money, and what just moved
    The camps
    funders cluster by geography, not ideology
    By state
    where grant money is based, and what stays home