Elks National Foundation
Our Mission: Helping Elks Build Stronger Communities
The mission of the Elks National Foundation is to help Elks build stronger communities. We fulfill this pledge by investing in communities where Elks live and work. We help youth develop lifelong skills, send students to college, meet the needs of today's veterans, support the charitable work of the state Elks associations, and fund projects that improve the quality of life in local Elks communities.
Like all Elks, the Foundation values the belief that charity is the greatest of all virtues and that by sharing and giving, we have the power to replace sorrow and despair with hope and confidence. Donations to the Foundation help us fund programs that match our cornerstone values of knowledge, integrity and community.
The playlist below features films that highlight our work and is an excellent way to learn more about us.
youtu.be/tyFHF5QwgXQ?list=PLn4iWPwLYep4pAW17hQq05WEKhkDi-JPi
September/October Update
ENF allocates $41 mil. to help veterans, scholars, and more
By Patrick Roelofs, ENF Communications Coordinator
The Elks National Foundation has been helping Elks build stronger communities since 1928, when founder and Past Grand Exalted Ruler John F. Malley set out to build a “temple of philanthropy” that would “unite the forces of the Order into a mighty army for the service of humankind.”
But how does the ENF do this?
By investing in the communities where Elks live and work.
In the 2024-25 fiscal year, the ENF is allocating $41.6 million to programs that improve the quality of life in local Elks communities, help the State Associations accomplish their charitable objectives, meet the needs of today’s veterans, and provide our youth with lifelong skills.
The largest of these programs is the Community Investments Program. With the opportunity for every Lodge to receive up to $10,000 in small grants, it is safe to say the CIP realized Malley’s vision.
CIP grants require Elks to identify the unique needs of their communities, form a plan, and address the needs through Elks-led, volunteer-based projects. Similarly, Elks State Association Programs tackle the needs of the community. The ENF will contribute $11.2 million to state grants this year, making it the second-largest appropriation in the budget.
The Elks National Veterans Service Commission provides aid and comfort to America’s veterans in need. To ensure the sacrifices of these veterans are never forgotten, the ENF allocation to the ENVSC will increase by 11.4% this year, to $5.7 million, the largest increase for any ENF appropriation this fiscal year. The allocation includes more than $3 million for the Welcome Home initiative to end veteran homelessness.
Through scholarships, the ENF also builds relationships with the leaders of tomorrow. More than $5 million will be awarded to some of the brightest young minds in the country as they pursue their academic dreams and build connections with the Elks in their communities.
Scholarships aren’t the only way the ENF provides for the next generation. Through the Hoop Shoot, the ENF is unleashing gritty kids who understand the importance of hard work, determination, and perseverance. This year, $1.5 million will be allocated to this national free throw contest. The ENF also allocated more than $900,000 for the Drug Awareness Program.
The Foundation’s work would not be possible without its donors, that mighty army that Malley envisioned. From the beginning, hundreds of thousands of people have donated their time and treasure to help grow the Elks National Foundation.
That is why the Foundation dedicates the entire month of October to its donors. During ENF Month, the Foundation celebrates Elks and the work they have accomplished. Follow the ENF on social media to learn why supporting their Foundation is just another way #ElksAlwaysCare.
Celebrate ENF Month! Learn more about how the ENF gives back to your state at secure.elks.org/YourState.
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