Each community is different. Community Investments Program grants offer Lodges opportunities to reach local youth and address their unique needs. This list of organizations offers a few examples of youth organizations that could make good Elks partners. There may be similar groups in your community.

YMCA is an association of men, women, and children that are focused on positive youth development, social responsibility, and healthy living. They are committed to ensuring that every child and teen is imprinted with lasting personal and social change. They aim primarily towards the health and well-being of the individual and providing opportunities to give back and feel confident and secure while doing so.

In the U.S., the Y is comprised of YMCA of the USA, a national resource office, and more than 2,700 YMCAs with approximately 19,000 fulltime staff and 600,000 volunteers in 10,000 communities across the country. Find a YMCA near you.

Boys and Girls Club of America’s mission is “to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens”. It provides a safe place for troubled youth to learn, grow, and become a successful and active person in society.

There are about 1,140 different organizations in America. Find one near your Lodge.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (BBS) is an organization that pairs mentors and troubled youth to help them for a positive relationship/bond with a successful older member of society. It aims towards helping children succeed in school, be a respectable and non-violent citizen, stay away from alcohol and drugs, and to avoid forming negative habits.

There are around 370 Big Brother Big Sister agencies across the country. Search for one near your Lodge. (At the top of the page there is a box where you can put your zip code to find a local agency.)

Youth Build’s mission is “to unleash the intelligence and positive energy of low-income youth to rebuild their communities and their lives.” They want to provide the nation’s troubled youth with the chance to learn life skills through programs started by different corporations.

There are over 250 different programs and locations throughout the United States. Search for a program in your community.

Stand Up For Kids’ mission is to end the cycle of youth homelessness throughout the United States. This is done by volunteers who venture out into the streets to find youth who need assistance in stabilizing and improving their lives.

There are about 60 locations throughout the United States. Search for one near your Lodge.

The National Guard Youth Foundation (NGYF), which offers students who have dropped out a second chance. They offer troubled youth with the opportunity to improve their life skills, education and employability, creating the next generation skilled workforce in America.

Reach out to these youth in your community. Visit the webpage to get started.

Visit our Serving Youth webpage for more information about grant guidelines, and then head to the Community Investments Program homepage to get started on your Lodge's grant application.