Can I email the Final Report Form?

Unfortunately, no. Due to the volume of forms we receive (nearly 3,000 a year), our printers kindly appreciate you mailing the form to the ENF Grants Office.

Do I need the original receipt for each expense or can I send copies?

Copies are great! Please keep the originals for your records. Just be sure the copied receipts are itemized and legible.

What type of receipts are acceptable?

All receipts should be itemized listings of products purchased. Credit card statements and checks made out to Lodge members do not qualify. However, for Gratitude Grants used as donations, a dated acknowledgement letter or check copy is acceptable.

What is the best way to send photos?

Digital photos are best. Please email photos to LodgeGrants@elks.org or copy images to a CD and mail it with the Final Report Form.

Who should be listed as the primary and secondary contacts?

Both should be the people who are best able to answer questions regarding the project and related expenses. This does not have to be the Grants Coordinator or Secretary but should be the people who are most familiar with the project’s outcomes and expenditures.

Our Lodge’s Exalted Ruler is out of town and cannot sign the Final Report Form. What should I do?

Have the Secretary or Secondary Project Manager sign it instead. Please keep in mind that by signing it, this person is responsible for verifying the content of the report is accurate.

I prefer to type the report. Can I type my responses in a Word document and attach it to the form?

Yes. Feel free to type your response and note “see attached” on the Final Report Form. You can also download a fillable copy of the Final Report Form on each of the grant’s respective webpages, www.elks.org/enf/community.

I’m having trouble with the online fillable form. It won’t let me save my work, what should I do?

The fillable Final Report Form is a PDF and works in Adobe Reader. You need to have an updated version of Adobe Reader to use the fillable function. If you are having any trouble with the online form, be sure you are saving the form to your computer and check that your version of Adobe Reader is up to date. Follow this link for more tips on viewing and using fillable forms:http://www.hws.edu/itservices/pdf_tips.aspx.

What information should I include on the Final Report Form? Can I skip a question?

All questions are meant to give the CIP team insight and a better understanding of how the project went. Remember, we’ve already reviewed your application, so no need to restate it. Don’t preoccupy yourself with the perfect wording. Focus on the project’s successes and outcomes. Thank you notes, direct quotes, and statistics from the population you served are exemplary ways to illustrate success.

If the form is received after the deadline, am I locked out of grants forever?

No. If we receive the Final Report Form after the deadline, your Lodge will only be unable to access new grant applications until the form is processed. However, please try your best to turn it in as soon as possible!

The Elks National Foundation allocated $9.77 million this year to fund the Community Investments Program. Lodges meet local needs in Elks communities through Beacon, Gratitude, Promise and Impact Grants. These grants offer Lodges opportunities to serve the community in ways that will raise the Lodge’s profile, energize the membership, encourage former members to return to the fold, and gain the notice of people who want to be part of an organization that’s doing great things. To learn more about the Community Investments Program, please visit www.elks.org/enf/community.