Grants and Appropriations

Page Header with photos of ENF Programs

The Elks National Foundation Board of Trustees has approved appropriations and distributions for the 2024-25 fiscal year totaling $45.3 million.

Program-Related Grants and Appropriations

Local Philanthropy

  • Community Investments Program

    Appropriated $16.3 million to invest directly in Lodge communities. Community Investments Program grant projects improve the quality of life in places where Elks live and work.

  • State Grants

    Granted nearly $11.2 million to the state Elks associations through State Charities Grants, Special Project Grants and Bonus Grants, which help fund each state’s charitable activities.

College Scholarships

Today’s Elks scholars can be tomorrow’s Elks, but we have to make that happen by engaging them and welcoming them to the #ElksFamily. To foster their relationship with the Elks, we will again fund three Elks Scholar Service Trips.

  • Most Valuable Student Scholarship Competition

    Designated $2.9 million to fund the Most Valuable Student scholarship program, which includes 502 four-year scholarships of at least $4,000. The contest features 20 top awards—10 for men, 10 for women—of at least $20,000. These 20 finalists will attend the MVS Leadership Weekend in April 2023 where they will interview for the six top scholarships of $30,000, $40,000 and $50,000.

  • ENF Legacy Awards

    Designated $1.6 million for the Legacy Awards scholarship program, which includes 350 four-year, $4,000 scholarships for children and grandchildren of Elks.

  • Emergency Educational Fund Grants

    Reserved $131,000 for the Emergency Educational Grants program. Emergency Educational Grants are one-year educational grants to the children of deceased or totally disabled Elks.

Youth Activities

  • Elks National Hoop Shoot Free Throw Program

    Allocated more than $1.5 million to fund the Hoop Shoot, which has helped young people develop grit for more than 50 years. Click here to watch our Griteos, short films featuring past contestants and their families.

  • Elks Drug Awareness Program

    Allocated $905,920 to fund the Elks Drug Awareness Program, which promotes constructive and collaborative solutions to youth substance abuse.

Veterans Service and Remembrance

  • Elks National Veterans Service Commission

    Granted nearly $5.7 million to the Order’s Veterans Service Program, which provides aid and comfort for America’s veterans in need. Visit elks.org/vets to learn more about the ENVSC's initiatives to help end veterans homelenessness.

  • Elks Veterans Memorial Maintenance

    Granted $1 million to maintain the Elks Veterans Memorial in Chicago. Take a virtual tour of the Elks Veterans Memorial here.

Miscellaneous Grants

  • Reserved $250,000 for miscellaneous grants, including the Gunther & Lee Weigel Medical School Scholarship.

Supporting Services

  • Fundamental Appropriations

    Appropriated about $3.7 million to fund the Foundation’s administrative and fundraising expenses. At 8 percent, our fundamental expenses are far below the Better Business Bureau’s standard for charities of no more than 35 percent of total spending.