This month, the various state Elks associations will receive one of two grants from the Elks National Foundation. Special Project Grants allow the ENF to provide state associations with the resources to support national programs, expand their existing charitable projects and explore new initiatives. Most states use the special project grants for scholarship programs or other projects that best extend the Elks’ charitable and philanthropic outreach.

In addition, the state associations will receive a second charitable grant from the ENF in August, called the State Charities Grant. These grants typically fund state major projects, such as aid for people with disabilities, cancer research, children’s hospitals, youth camps and safe havens for abused families. Portions of these grants also fund state Hoop Shoot, Soccer Shoot and drug awareness programs, as well as other charitable activities.

The amount each state receives through the State Charities Grant program is directly related to the total contributed by donors from that state to the Foundation. Each year, the ENF reserves a lump sum for this program, which is distributed to the states based on a formula. Each state receives a percentage of the total grant based on its percentage of total cumulative giving and total prior-year giving. For most states, this results in the state’s grant award being larger than what the ENF received in donations from that state’s donors the previous year.

Donations to the Elks National Foundation, in addition to funding Elks National programs, also have an impact at the local and state levels. When you give to the ENF, you increase the resources your state has to fund programs in your community. To learn more about how the ENF is helping your state, visit www.elks.org/enf/yourstate.cfm.