Ben Franklin Trust Fund

Ben Franklin, Pennsylvania’s most famous son, dedicated his life to helping humanity and wanted his caring to live on forever. When he established the Ben Franklin Trust with a bequest of 1,000 pounds sterling, he directed that the trust be terminated in 200 years and the proceeds distributed to benefit the City of Philadelphia and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. By action of Pennsylvania lawmakers, the Commonwealth’s portion established Ben Franklin Trust Funds in community foundations across the state in 1993.