Freedom Grants

The ENVSC awards $1,000 Freedom Grants to 1,000 Lodges for qualifying projects. This grant gives Lodges access to grant funds specifically to serve our nation’s veterans and/or active-duty military members in need!

Freedom Grant projects must serve veterans and/or military members in need of support or services. Projects must focus on one of these five areas: employment, homelessness and housing, current military members and their families, health, and educational support. These are broad categories and are intended as a guide for identifying local needs.

Dates and Details:

Applications are available online each year on April 1. Applications are reviewed and approved on a rolling basis. Please take the time to ensure your application is detailed, complete, and follows all guidelines. Applications will be reviewed and approved on a rolling basis. The application will remain open until all grants are awarded. We expect this to take months.

Upon approval of a Lodge's online application, an approval letter and grant check will be sent to the Lodge address.

Here are some great examples of what other Lodges have accomplished with $1,000 Freedom Grants.

  • Clovis, Calif., Lodge No. 2599 continued their homeless veteran outreach program by providing seasonal survival supply kits and necessities for the annual Stand Down.
  • Hamilton, Ohio, Lodge No. 93 combined their Freedom and Spotlight Grants to create welcome backpacks filled with hygiene supplies and snacks for veterans at the Cincinnati VA and Fisher House.
  • Lakeland, Fla., Lodge No. 1291 hosted a picnic with food, music, and karaoke for inpatient veterans at the James A. Haley VA Hospital in Tampa.
  • Peoria, Ill., Lodge No. 20 delivered high quality meat for barbequing to the Wayne Downing Veterans Home.
  • Wolf Point, Mont., Lodge No. 1764 provided gift baskets with clothing, blankets, and hygiene items for veterans at a local nursing home.

Essential Guidelines:

  • Projects must serve at least 4 veterans in need, to maximize outcomes.
  • Think local! General donations to state and national organizations don’t qualify.
  • Monetary donations qualify if made to nonprofit organizations that specifically serve veterans in need.
  • Donations to member organizations like the VFW and the American Legion must be specifically designated for a project that serves veterans in need. Funds can’t go toward general operations.
  • Appreciation dinners open to all veterans, like a community Veterans Day dinner, do not qualify.
  • Memorial projects don't qualify. Grants should be focused on meeting veterans' urgent needs.

Restrictions

Grants should follow IRS-defined charitable categories. Grants may not be used for fundraisers, scholarships, general community events, appreciation meals and/or events, the benefit of Lodge members and their families, Lodge maintenance and/or repairs, or donated to state major projects, Districts, or other Lodges.

For grant budgets, no more than 10% of the budget can be dedicated to administrative or publicity expenses, including t-shirts. Budget cannot include cash prizes. Receipts from meals served at Lodges must reflect they were provided at cost and can’t include alcohol.

Resources

Project Planning Tips:

Research what veterans in your community need. Coordinate with the nearest VA facility. Recruit volunteers. Talk to Veterans Service Officers in your area. Read the guide to connecting with local veterans in need. Consider practical ways for your Lodge to help.

Questions? Email Vets@elks.org or call 773/755-4736.