Overview

Resources

Here are some resources that will help your Lodge navigate CIP grants.

Final Reporting. Find information on how to complete Final Reports.

CIP Participation Report. The CIP Participation Report shows the status of each Lodge's grants.

CIP Grant History. Review grant applications and Final Reports from Lodges around the country.

CIP Central. Read the latest news from the CIP!

Gratitude Grants ranging from $2,000 to $3,500 are the ENF's way of saying thank you to every Lodge that meets the National President's per-member goal for giving to the ENF.

Gratitude Grant eligibility is based on whether the Lodge has reached the GER's per-member-giving goal in the prior fiscal year. If the Lodge meets the 2022-23 goal, the Lodge will be able to apply for a 2023-24 Gratitude Grant on April 1.

Gratitude Grants must be used to support local, charitable activities such as hosting a community clean-up day, purchasing supplies for a homeless shelter, or organizing a school literacy fair.

Basic CIP Grant Guidelines

Click here for a succinct, printable version of our general CIP grant guidelines.

Charitable: CIP Grants should always be used for charitable purposes. Keep the following six broad categories (defined as charitable by the IRS) in mind when planning a grant project; relieve the poor, distressed or underprivileged; advance education or science, but not through scholarships; lessen the burdens of government; lessen neighborhood tensions; eliminate prejudice and discrimination; combat juvenile delinquency.

Restrictions: CIP Grant guidelines state that Lodges may not use grants to support State Major Projects, national Elks programs, fund scholarships, Hoop Shoot/Soccer Shoot events, youth awards nights, poster and/or essay contests, appreciation dinners, fundraisers or general community events. Grants may not be used for Lodge maintenance and/or repairs, or to only benefit Lodge members and their families.

Resources

Click on the image above to view the Gratitude Grant Toolkit in fullscreen. Inside you'll find FAQs, Resources and more.

Applying

2023-24 Dates: Applications for 2023-24 Gratitude Grants open on April 1, 2022 and will close on January 17, 2024. Funds must be spent by March 31, 2024.

Please Note: if at the close of the fiscal year on March 31 a Lodge reaches the goals to qualify for one or more of the Gratitude Grant bonuses, the bonus amount may not be reflected when applications open on April 1. If the Lodge anticipates it will qualify for one or more of the Gratitude Grant bonuses, please wait to apply until the 2021-22 fiscal year has officially closed.

Membership Support Bonus: Every Lodge that met the GER's per-member-giving goal in the prior fiscal year is eligible for a $2,000 grant. Lodges in which more than 15 percent of its members donated at least $10 to the ENF in the prior fiscal year (per the ENF Membership Support Report) will be eligible for a bonus of $500. This bonus will be automatically added to your Lodge's Gratitude Grant application.

Fidelity Club Bonus: Every Lodge that met the GER's per-member-giving goal in the prior fiscal year is eligible for a $2,000 grant. Lodges now have a goal for Fidelity Club membership. Reach the goal, which is based on 5 percent of the prior year's donors, and the Lodge will be eligible for a $500 bonus on its Gratitude Grant. Check out the Fidelity Club Goal Progress Report to track progress toward the goal and the Fidelity Club honor roll to see who is a member of the club.

NEW! Chair Challenge Bonus: We're happy to add a third bonus opportunity to the Gratitude Grant in FY2023. This opportunity specifically recognizes Lodges that have strong, broad-based fundraising programs. Lodges can earn an additional $500 for their Gratitude Grant by attaining a score of 550 points or better in the prior year’s Chair Challenge. (For example, achieve 550 or better in FY2022 to be eligible for the $500 bonus in FY2023.) Visit the Chair Challenge Guidelines to learn more and to check your Lodge's current score.

Donate to the Elks National Foundation: Elks may donate to the Elks National Foundation online here. The ENF Fidelity Club is an individual giving and recognition program. We are unable to accept enrollments from groups or Lodges. We encourage Lodges to submit donations via the Online Remittance form and credit individual donors.

How to apply: The Lodge Secretary or ENF Grants Coordinator is able to access, complete and submit the online application.

Process: Upon approval of a Lodge's online application, the ENF will mail an approval letter and a grant check to the Lodge mailing address. A Lodge can use its Gratitude Grant in conjunction with a Beacon Grant, and/or a Spotlight Grant. If Lodges intend to use its Gratitude Grant in conjunction with either the Beacon or Spotlight Grant, they will need to wait until the grant applications for each grant are open.

Final Reporting: Final Reports are now online. After the grant has been used, complete the Final Report and upload all grant-related receipts and photos. Final Reports will be due 30 days after the anticipated grant completion date provided by your Lodge. The Lodge will be locked out of applying for grants 60 days from that date until the report is submitted.

Special Circumstances

Lodge Mergers: Gratitude Grant applications that are submitted prior to a Lodge merger will be treated as separate projects. Otherwise, if one of the Lodges has submitted an application and the other hasn't, the latter opportunity will be lost to the merge.

In addition, be aware that merges change the April 1 membership total for the surviving Lodge. That can affect per-member-giving goal achievement for the current year, which, in turn, can affect Gratitude Grant eligibility the following year.

Dispensation of New Lodges: To be eligible for a Gratitude Grant in the next fiscal year, a newly formed Lodge must meet or exceed the per-member-giving goal during the fiscal year in which it is instituted, based on the Lodge's membership at the time of institution. For example, the Chicago Lodge No. 9005 is established June 1, 2021. The Lodge meets or exceeds the per-member-goal for giving to the Foundation by March 31, 2022, and will be eligible for a Gratitude Grant in FY2023. Note that per-member giving will be calculated by the ENF office after the fiscal year closes.

Questions? Email LodgeGrants@elks.org or call 773/755-4730.

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