Ben Franklin Fund
About this Fund
In his will, Franklin bequeathed 1,000 pounds sterling, roughly $4,000, to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He instructed that this be invested for two hundred years and at the end of that period, the money should be used to do good. Franklin died in 1790. In 1990, his gift had grown to over $2 million. The Pennsylvania legislature used a portion of this $2 million to create Ben Franklin Funds at community foundations throughout the Commonwealth. The Fund supports the discretionary grantmaking of the Foundation by supporting charitable projects in Washington County in the areas of animal welfare, arts & humanities, community improvement & economic development, conservation & environment, education, health & fitness, human needs and religion & faith.
In his will, Franklin bequeathed 1,000 pounds sterling, roughly $4,000, to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He instructed that this be invested for two hundred years and at the end of that period, the money should be used to do good. Franklin died in 1790. In 1990, his gift had grown to over $2 million. The Pennsylvania legislature used a portion of this $2 million to create Ben Franklin Funds at community foundations throughout the Commonwealth. The Fund supports the discretionary grantmaking of the Foundation by supporting charitable projects in Washington County in the areas of animal welfare, arts & humanities, community improvement & economic development, conservation & environment, education, health & fitness, human needs and religion & faith.