UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

     Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934


        Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): March 15, 2005



                            FRANKLIN RESOURCES, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



          Delaware                       1-9318                  13-2670991
(State or other jurisdiction    (Commission File Number)        (IRS Employer 
      of incorporation)                                      Identification No.)


One Franklin Parkway, San Mateo, California                             94403
 (Address of principal executive offices)                             (Zip Code)


       Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (650) 312-3000

                                 Not Applicable
                 ----------------------------------------------
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check  the  appropriate  box  below  if the  Form  8-K  filing  is  intended  to
simultaneously  satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions (See General Instruction A.2. below):

[ ]  Written communications  pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17
     CFR 230.425)
[ ]  Soliciting  material  pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17
     CFR 240.14a-12)
[ ]  Pre-commencement  communications  pursuant  to Rule  14d-2(b)  under the
     Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
[ ]  Pre-commencement  communications  pursuant  to Rule  13e-4(c)  under the
     Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))



ITEM 8.01  OTHER EVENTS.

On March 15, 2005,  Franklin  Resources,  Inc.  (the  "Company")  issued a press
release announcing the approval by its Board of Directors of a regular quarterly
cash dividend of $0.10 per share and a special cash dividend of $2.00 per share,
each  payable on April 15,  2005 to  stockholders  of record  holding  shares of
common  stock,  par value $0.10 per share,  of the Company on March 31,  2005. A
copy  of  that  press  release  is  attached  hereto  as  Exhibit  99.1  and  is
incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 9.01   FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.

            (c)   Exhibits.

            EXHIBIT NO.    DESCRIPTION
            -----------    -----------

            99.1           Press Release dated March 15, 2005 issued by Franklin
                           Resources, Inc.







                                   SIGNATURES

Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of  1934,  the
registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


                                    FRANKLIN RESOURCES, INC.


Date: March 15, 2005                /s/ Barbara J. Green
                                    --------------------
                                    Barbara J. Green
                                    Vice President, Deputy General Counsel 
                                    and Secretary







                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

            EXHIBIT NO.    DESCRIPTION
            -----------    -----------

            99.1           Press Release dated March 15, 2005 issued by Franklin
                           Resources, Inc.