One of Franchi's largest fund-raising benefit was a political event in 1982, where he helped raise over $600,000 during a three-day concert tour of Massachusetts on behalf of the re-election campaign of Governor King. In later life, Franchi donated prints of some of his watercolors for charitable sales. Franchi was a longtime supporter of the Muscular Dystrophy Association and performed frequently on the annual "Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon". When in 1988 he was asked about his upcoming performance at Ninigret Park to benefit the Rhode Island chapter of the MDA, Franchi stated: "When you've been as fortunate as I have, you have to do something for other people." Franchi cancelled a paid performance to assist the charity, and the show was expected to net over $100,000 for the MDA.