irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $22KThe Club continued its program of publications and operation of its web site. It is distributed to libraries, museums, and approx 700 Club members three issues of The Air Cooled News, a magazine which contains historical articles relating to Franklin automobiles and other early air cooled cars. Quarterly it publishes the Franklin Service Station which contains articles of a technical nature. The Club publishes a second edition of the book The Franklin Automobile Company via print on demand. The book is available worldwide through online book sellers. The Club continued to update and improve its web site www.franklincar.org this year. The web site provides information of a technical, historical, and educational nature for members and the general public. The Club makes available on its web site its digitally preserved collection of over 10,000 engineering drawings prepared by the company between 1902 & 1934. Since they were made available on the web 100,000 drawings have been downloaded. Also available are pdf versions of Club historical publications on the history of the car as well as Franklin Company parts and operations manuals. The club continues to work on its project of digitizing its remaining archive materials for eventual permanent storage in the archive at The Gilmore Car Museum. In addition, the club sells merchandise consisting of owners manual reprints, sales material, and clothing.
- #2 $211As part of it mission of historic preservation, this past fiscal year the Club expanded it program of making available replacement parts for Franklin automobiles, as well as reprints of manuals & reproduction merchandise. Where the need was the greatest for selected models, reproductions of brake drums, steering mechanisms, exhaust systems and lesser parts were made available to Franklin owners at a modest mark up to preserve the road worthiness and safety of the cars for public exhibit.
named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Digital Archive Project
Maintains and provides access to over 10,000 digitized Franklin engineering drawings (1902–1934) and historical publications through its website, with over 100,000 downloads recorded.
Educational Scholarship Program
Provides tuition assistance and educational scholarships to students, as noted in the organization's mission.
Historic Preservation and Parts Reproduction
Produces and supplies reproduction parts for Franklin automobiles including brake drums, steering mechanisms, and exhaust systems to support vehicle preservation and safety.
Publications Program
Produces and distributes three issues annually of The Air Cooled News magazine and quarterly Franklin Service Station technical publications for members and institutional subscribers.
activities · 9 groups
What they do
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Archival Digitization and Preservation 1 activity
- Digitization and archival preservation of historical materialsDigitizes archival materials, including engineering drawings and publications, for permanent storage and access, including collaboration with The Gilmore Car Museum to ensure long-term preservation.
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Enthusiast Vehicle Owner Community Building 1 activity
- Facilitation of member transactions through 'For Sale' listingsProvides a 'For Sale' listing service for members to share information about Franklin automobiles and parts available for purchase, supporting member engagement and vehicle preservation.
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Multi-Institution Scholarship Funding 1 activity
- Funding of student scholarship programs through matching grantsRaises and allocates funds for student scholarship programs through initiatives such as a matching grant challenge that raised $100,000.
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Organization Website and Online Platform Management 1 activity
- Maintenance of digital resources and online community platformsMaintains a website serving as a central repository for technical data, historical documents, photographs, videos, and parts listings. Hosts an internet forum and public technical Q&A platform for members, replacing the earlier 1997–2012 Q&A service that answered hundreds of restoration and repair questions.
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Historic Aviation and Transportation Museums 1 activity
- Operation of a museum and permanent collection of Franklin automobiles and artifactsOperates a museum that houses a permanent collection of Franklin automobiles, display engines, and historical artifacts, including donations such as eleven Franklin cars and a restored 1932 Franklin V-12 sedan. The museum building is a replica of a historic Los Angeles Franklin dealership formerly owned by Ralph Hamlin.
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Organized Vehicle Show Events 1 activity
- Organization of member events including annual treks and regional meetsOrganizes and sponsors recurring events for members such as the annual Franklin Trek, Franklin Westrek, Midwest Fall Meet, Pacific Northwest Mini Meet, Magnolia Meet, and the Annual Air Cooled Gathering, providing opportunities for social engagement, technical education, and antique car tours. Events have been held annually since at least 1998.
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Historic Vessel and Equipment Preservation 1 activity
- Production and distribution of reproduction parts for Franklin automobilesProduces and provides reproduction replacement parts—including brake drums, steering mechanisms, and exhaust systems—for Franklin automobiles to support vehicle preservation, roadworthiness, and public exhibition.
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Organizational Newsletter Production and Distribution 1 activity
- Publication of historical and technical materials for Franklin automobilesDistributes the magazine 'The Air Cooled News' three times per year and the newsletter 'Franklin Service Station' quarterly, containing historical, technical, service, and repair information for members, libraries, and museums. Also publishes a second edition of the book The Franklin Automobile Company via print-on-demand for global availability.
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Uncategorized 2 activities
- Provision of access to historical and technical documents and drawingsProvides members with online access to thousands of digitized Franklin factory engineering drawings (1902–1934), factory service and dealer bulletins, parts and service manuals, sales literature, and other historical publications. Over 10,000 drawings have been made available, resulting in 100,000 downloads since publication.
- Provision of membership directory and vehicle register servicesMaintains and provides access to the H.H. Franklin Club Membership Directory and the H.H. Franklin Club Register of Franklins, a searchable digital database containing ownership history and information on all known Franklin automobiles.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$253K
Contributions & grants$72K28%
Program service revenue$113K45%
Investment income$68K27%
Other revenue$823
expenses
Total expenses$114K
Program expenses89%
Admin / overhead11%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineFacilities
balance sheet
Total assets$3.11M
Cash$599K
Investments$2.15M
Liabilities$0
Net assets$3.11M
Liquid reserves289.5 mo
5 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +89.2%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
board members · 15
- Andrew Sullivan — Past President
- Anne Kemp Russell — Director
- Bill Fields — Director
- Carol Norton — Director
- Connie Roth — Director
- Dan Russell — Vice President
- Dave Bowden — Director
- Jim Eby — Director
- John Harris — Director
- Matt Joseph — Director
- Mike McCarthy — President
- Rachael Braverman — Director
- Rick Kellogg — Director
- Ryan LeCompte — Director
- Ryan Nippert — Director
relationships · 26
Who they work with
- 501(c)3 Government — Recognized as a 501(c)3 educational nonprofit organization.
- AACA Partner — Hosts the Franklin Forum on its website for technical discussions among Franklin enthusiasts.
- Alan Gaskill Partner — Club member offering reproduction tools and parts such as drum pullers and wheel pilots for Franklin vehicles.
- Andre Audette Partner — Club member developing reproduction parts such as spark coil water shields and chassis number plates for Franklin vehicles.
- Antique Automobile Club of America Partner — Collaborates with members who participate in regional events under this organization.
- Antique Automobile Club of America Partner — Hosts the Franklin Forum on its website, enabling H.H. Franklin Club members to participate in an online discussion platform.
- Augie Vorndran III Partner — Club member manufacturing reproduction crank hole covers for Franklin vehicles.
- Dana L. Cooke Partner — Gifted a recording to the Franklin Club for sharing with enthusiasts.
- Edward DePouli Partner — Club member manufacturing and selling reproduction door sill escutcheon plates and assist straps for Franklin vehicles.
- Facebook Network — Utilizes Facebook groups and pages to connect members and share information about Franklin automobiles
- Franklin Gilmore Museum Partner — Collaborates on the display and preservation of Franklin automobiles at the Gilmore Car Museum in Hickory Corners
- George Staley Partner — Club member producing reproduction right-hand tail light stanchions for 1929 Franklin vehicles.
- Gilmore Car Museum Partner — Houses The Franklin Automobile Collection on its premises.
- Jeff Hasslen Partner — Club member and contributor of reproduction parts and technical plans for Franklin vehicles.
- McPherson College Partner — Collaborates with the H.H. Franklin Club to connect students with Franklin automobiles and share enjoyment through the Franklin 'Trek'.
- Midwest Region of the Franklin Club Partner — Regional affiliate offering additional membership options within the H.H. Franklin Club network.
- Mike McCarthy Partner — Club member reproducing camshaft and crankshaft gears for Series 9 Franklin vehicles.
- Odyssey Restorations, Inc. Partner — Club member-operated business providing reproduction engine parts and restoration services for Franklin vehicles.
- Paul Fitzpatrick Partner — Club member producing replacement Zenith updraft carburetors for Franklin Series 12 and 13 vehicles.
- Richard M. Gaskill Partner — Club member producing high-quality reproduction decals for Franklin vehicle restoration.
- Ruby Foster Partner — Club member offering original Franklin Lion Hood Ornament from family collection for sale.
- SAE International Partner — Hosts and publishes historical technical papers related to Franklin automobiles, such as the 1910 test of a Franklin air-cooled motor.
- The Gilmore Car Museum Partner — Partner in archival preservation, receiving digitized materials for permanent storage.
- Vintage Motor Car Club of America Partner — Engages with members who participate in the Mid-Atlantic Region of this club.
- William Novalany Partner — Club member offering CAD models and tools for Franklin vehicle repair, including the Part 28296 cotter pin puller.
- YouTube Network — Shares educational and historical videos related to Franklin automobiles through YouTube
strategies · 3
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Education as Historical Preservationmethodology: historical_preservation_through_educationBy disseminating technical and historical knowledge through digital platforms, publications, museum exhibits, and curated archives, the club preserves the legacy of the H.H. Franklin Company, because active education prevents cultural and technological obsolescence.
- Member-Driven Knowledge Preservationmethodology: member_driven_knowledge_sharingBy leveraging collective member expertise through forums, events, and mentoring, the club sustains and transmits technical and historical knowledge about Franklin automobiles, because peer-to-peer exchange fosters deeper engagement and ensures intergenerational continuity of rare mechanical knowledge.
- Preservation Through Active Use and Replicationmethodology: preservation_through_replicationBy fabricating and distributing reproduction parts and technical resources, the club enables the continued operation and restoration of historic Franklin vehicles, because maintaining functional integrity ensures long-term preservation more effectively than static display alone.