Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks 1246 logo

Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks 1246

Public charity · Grantmaker Summit, NJ EIN: 22-0888275 Website

The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks is a public charity based in Summit, New Jersey, formed in 1911. Its Summit Lodge describes itself as a fraternal organization that serves the community through benevolent programs and activities.

Key facts about Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks 1246

In short: Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks 1246 gave $203K across 19 grants in 2026 (avg $11K), mostly in New Jersey. Source: 2026 IRS Form 990.

EIN
22-0888275
Latest 990 filing
Form 990, 2026
Annual giving (2026)
$203,058
Grants made (2026)
19
Average grant
$10,687
Median grant
$9,000
Total assets
$4,355,137
Primary geography
New Jersey (90% of itemized 2026 grant dollars)
How to apply
The organization’s filing says grants to exempt organizations are approved by its Board of Trustees and documented in board minutes. Full details ↓

Data from IRS Form 990, 2026; updated September 2026. Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Financial Overview

From 2026 IRS Form 990 · View filing

Total Assets

$4.4M

-0.7% YoY

Annual Giving

$203K

+15.1% YoY

Grant Count

19

+58.3% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$11K

-27.3% YoY

How Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks 1246 gives

  • 42% of 2026 grantees were also funded in 2025. Method
  • Giving grew 592% from 2023 to 2026. Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2026). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The organization’s mission emphasizes the Elks’ four cardinal virtues—Charity, Justice, Brotherly Love, and Fidelity—and aims to enhance members’ welfare, promote American patriotism, and foster good fellowship in the greater Summit community. Its 2025 filing describes its programs as providing aid to children with disabilities and veterans in need and supporting community charities.

Its 2026 grants included support for organizations serving people with developmental and intellectual disabilities, veterans, older adults, people experiencing homelessness, and children and families experiencing grief. For example, Our House Foundation describes its mission as supporting people with developmental and intellectual disabilities through residential living, employment, day services, and recreation programs. Rebuilding Warriors says it provides trained service companion dogs to veterans diagnosed with amputations, PTSD, or TBI. Bridges Outreach says it works to end homelessness through outreach and case management. Good Grief describes its work as providing grief and resilience support to children, families, schools, and the wider community.

Grantmaking

In 2026, the organization reported 19 grants totaling $203,058. Grants ranged from $5,250 to $25,000, with a median of $9,000. Among the largest were $25,000 to Nourish NJ for general support; $18,000 to the City of Summit for D.A.R.E. and Summit Trading Card programs and playground equipment; and $15,000 each to Our House Foundation, Rebuilding Warriors, and Reeves-Reed Arboretum for general support. Other grants included $14,000 to Summit Area YMCA, including for a youth food program; $12,500 to Sage Eldercare; $10,778 to Help Hope Live for the Mid-Atlantic Catastrophic Injury Fund; $10,000 to the University of Scranton; and $7,500 each to Bridges Outreach and Good Grief.

Open Grants

2 open opportunities from Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks 1246

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2026, 90% of grant dollars went to recipients in New Jersey and 10% to recipients in Pennsylvania. The organization’s mission refers to serving the greater Summit community.

Grant Distribution by State

4states

Share of 2026 grant dollars across all 19 itemized grants.

Cities

SummitMorristownWoodbridgeHackensackMurray HillArlingtonBedminsterChicagoDoverFordsLexingtonNew BrunswickNew ProvidencePiscatawyRadnorScrantonSpringfieldToms RiverTotowaWhippany

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$100K$200K$300KTotal only2020 Total only2021 7 grants2022 3 grants2023 8 grants2024 12 grants2025 19 grants2026

From 2020 to 2026, annual grant giving ranged from $16K (2020) to $203K (2026). In 2026 it made 19 grants totaling $203K.

Hatched bars: grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2026

Nourish NJ: $25KNourish NJ$25KCity of Summit: $18KCity of Summit$18KOur House Foundation: $15KOur House Foundation$15KRebuilding Warriors: $15KRebuilding Warriors$15KReeves-Reed Arboretum: $15KReeves-Reed Arboretum$15KSummit Area YMCA: $14KSummit Area YMCA$14KSage Eldercare Inc: $13KSage Eldercare Inc$13KHelp Hope Live: $11KHelp Hope Live$11KUniversity of Scranton: $10KUniversity of Scranton$10KChrist Child Society of Summit: $9KChrist Child Society of Summit$9K

The largest 2026 recipient was Nourish NJ ($25K). Together the top 10 received $144K.

Grant Size Distribution

49 grants across all recorded years

48<$50K1$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 48 grants of 49 (98%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Nourish NJ Dover, NJGeneral Support of Their Mission.$25,000
City of Summit Summit, NJD.A.R.E. and Summit Trading Card Programs, Playground Equipment$18,000
Our House Foundation Murray Hill, NJGeneral Support of Their Mission.$15,000
Rebuilding Warriors Fords, NJGeneral Support of Their Mission.$15,000
Reeves-Reed Arboretum Summit, NJGeneral Support of Their Mission.$15,000
Summit Area YMCA Summit, NJGeneral Support of Their Mission, Youth Food Program.$14,000
Sage Eldercare Inc Summit, NJGeneral Support of Their Mission.$12,500
Help Hope Live Radnor, PAMid-Atlantic Catastrophic Injury Fund$10,778
University of Scranton Scranton, PAGeneral Support of Their Mission.$10,000
Christ Child Society of Summit Summit, NJGeneral Support of Their Mission.$9,000

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Filing year Assets Revenue Expenses Grants reported
2026 $4,355,137 $1,188,076 $1,212,667 $203,058 (19 grants)
2025 $4,387,359 $1,341,924 $1,079,752 $176,353 (12 grants)
2024 $4,231,687 $1,280,839 $849,506 $83,310 (8 grants)
Revenue
Expenses
Net Investment Income
$0$500K$1M$1.5M2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026
Metric202620252024
Total Assets$4,355,137$4,387,359$4,231,687
Revenue$1,188,076$1,341,924$1,280,839
Expenses$1,212,667$1,079,752$849,506
Net Investment Income$14,777$8,435$6,226

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS July 27, 2022)
  2. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS August 2, 2023)
  3. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS July 30, 2024)
  4. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 30, 2025)
  5. Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2026 (received by the IRS July 30, 2026)
  6. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS August 6, 2020)
  7. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS August 5, 2021)
  8. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2026 filing lists Antonietta LaVecchia as Secretary, Andrea Cerza as Treasurer, and Henrik Patel as Exalted Ruler. It lists Adam Parnes, Richard Callaghan, Mike Helmer, Steve Matthews, and Richard Wolffe as trustees; Samantha Vezzosi as Loyal Knight; and Bryan Davis as Leading Knight.

Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks 1246's 2026 filing lists 11 officers; 3 of 11 officers listed in 2026 are compensated.

Officers on the 2026 filing

  • Adam Parnes

    Trustee

    Secretary → Trustee, 2026

    On filings since 2020

    20 hrs/week

    $2K (2020) → $4K (2026)

  • Mike Helmer

    Trustee

    Trustee & Exalted Ruler → Exalted Ruler, 2024

    Exalted Ruler → Trustee, 2025

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Richard Callaghan

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Steve Matthews

    Trustee

    On filings since 2022

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Richard Wolffe

    Trustee

    On filings since 2025

    20 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Andrea Cerza

    Treasurer

    On filings since 2022

    6 hrs/week

    $2K (2023) → $5K (2026)

  • Antonietta Lavecchia

    Secretary

    New on the 2026 filing

    20 hrs/week

    $6K (2026)

  • Bryan Davis

    Leading Knight

    New on the 2026 filing

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Chris Zotti

    Lecturing Knight

    New on the 2026 filing

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Henrik Patel

    Exalted Ruler

    New on the 2026 filing

    10 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Samantha Vezzosi

    Loyal Knight

    New on the 2026 filing

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (20)
  • Former: Lauren Cook (2021–2025) — Secretary
  • Former: Mary Twill (2023–2025) — Loyal Knight
  • Former: Rocco Dipiano (2023–2025) — Leading Knight
  • Former: Apollo Hrehorovich (2025) — Lecturing Knight
  • Former: Fredrick Honold (2025) — Exalted Ruler
  • Former: Kenneth Gerard (2025) — Trustee Chairman
  • Former: Ken Gerard (2020–2024) — Trustee
  • Former: Rick Wolffe (2020–2024) — Trustee
  • Former: Denise Anderson (2022–2024) — Trustee
  • Former: Kathy Preacher (2022–2024) — Leading Knight
  • Former: Mike Williams (2020–2023) — Trustee
  • Former: Amy Matthews (2021–2023) — Leading Knight
  • Former: Luke Beshar (2020–2021) — Trustee
  • Former: Carolyn Cherry (2021) — Treasurer
  • Former: Steve Johnson (2021) — Trustee
  • Former: Ted Scallon (2021) — Lecturing Knight
  • Former: Fred Honold (2020) — Treasurer
  • Former: Keith Langworthy (2020) — Leading Knight
  • Former: Louis Desocio (2020) — Trustee
  • Former: Robert Whitney (2020) — Leading Knight

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2026. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Compensation Overview

From 2026 IRS filing

Antonietta Lavecchia — Secretary: $6KAntonietta LavecchiaSecretary$6KAndrea Cerza — Treasurer: $5KAndrea CerzaTreasurer$5KAdam Parnes — Trustee: $4KAdam ParnesTrustee$4K

The highest reported compensation on the 2026 filing was $6K, to Antonietta Lavecchia (Secretary). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.

Contact

Mailing address: 40 Maple Street, Summit, NJ 07901
Phone: (908) 522-9640
Website: https://summitelks1246.org

Frequently asked questions about Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks 1246

How much does Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks 1246 give each year?

Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks 1246 gave $203K across 19 grants in 2026, according to its 2026 IRS Form 990. In 2025 it gave $176K across 12 grants.

What is Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks 1246's typical grant size?

Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks 1246's median grant in 2026 was $9,000, and its average grant was $10,687, across 19 grants on its 2026 IRS Form 990.

Where does Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks 1246 give grants?

Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks 1246 gives mostly in New Jersey: 90% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2026 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest state was Pennsylvania (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were Summit, NJ (9 grants), Morristown, NJ (2 grants) and Woodbridge, NJ (2 grants).

Does Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks 1246 give general operating support?

Yes: 89% of Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks 1246's 2026 grants with a stated purpose (17 of 19) were for general or operating support, per its 2026 IRS Form 990.

Who are Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks 1246's largest grantees?

Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks 1246's largest 2026 grantees include Nourish NJ ($25,000), City of Summit ($18,000) and Our House Foundation ($15,000), according to its 2026 IRS Form 990. Together they received 29% of its itemized 2026 grant dollars.

How large is Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks 1246?

Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks 1246 reported $4.4M in total assets on its 2026 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $1.2M.

What does Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks 1246 fund?

The organization’s mission emphasizes the Elks’ four cardinal virtues—Charity, Justice, Brotherly Love, and Fidelity—and aims to enhance members’ welfare, promote American patriotism, and foster good fellowship in the greater Summit community. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks 1246?

The organization’s filing says grants to exempt organizations are approved by its Board of Trustees and documented in board minutes. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks 1246's EIN?

Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks 1246's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 22-0888275. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2026.

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.

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