Elks National Veterans Service
The Elks National Veterans Service Commission is a nonprofit philanthropic organization headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. Founded in 1946, it operates as the veterans service arm of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks (BPOE), which has served communities since 1868. The organization traces its veterans work back to World War I, when the Elks formed the Elks War Relief Commission. Today, the Commission provides direct services to veterans and military members across the United States through a network of volunteers and grants distributed to local Elks lodges.
Key facts about Elks National Veterans Service
- EIN
- 13-1548228
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $2,477,679
- Grants made (2025)
- 158
- Average grant
- $15,682
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $708,223
- Primary geography
- California (11% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated June 2026.
Who Elks National Veterans Service funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Elks National Veterans Service's 158 itemized 2025 grants were California (11%), Florida (11%) and Texas (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Lynnwood, WA (2 grants), Cocoa Beach, FL (2 grants), Elgin, IL (2 grants) and Miami, FL (2 grants). None of its 158 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Welcome Home" (75 grants), "Voluntary Service Program" (42 grants) and "Focus" (38 grants).
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$708K
+23.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.5M
+18.8% YoY
Grant Count
158
+13.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$16K
+4.5% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The Commission's stated mission is: "Through the work of Elks members, we serve thousands of veterans and military members through programs that help hospitalized veterans recover and thrive, provide veterans with resources to exit or prevent homelessness, support military families, and meet the needs of veterans and military members in need in Elks communities throughout the nation."
Primary focus areas include:
- Hospitalized Veteran Support: Direct volunteer service in veterans facilities
- Homelessness Prevention and Exit: The "Welcome Home" initiative targeting vulnerable veterans experiencing homelessness
- Adaptive Sports Programs: Rehabilitation and therapeutic services for veterans
- Military Family Support: Resources for military families
- Community-Based Services: Programs delivered through local Elks lodges
Grantmaking
The Commission awards grants to Elks lodges to support local veterans services. These grants enable lodges to implement projects and programs addressing unmet needs in their communities.
Grant Types
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Commission operates nationally across the United States. Volunteers provide direct service to veterans in more than 330 facilities each month, including VA Medical Centers, State Veterans Facilities, and Vets Centers.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $708,223 | $573,639 | $5,694,904 |
| Revenue | $5,790,365 | $167,544 | $5,181,799 |
| Expenses | $5,630,025 | $5,183,074 | $4,716,044 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $86,942 | $50,545 | $-4,470 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
Grant Size Distribution
630 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest recipients include Hopkins Mn No 2221 ($82,088), Eureka-pacific Mo No 2644 ($67,607), Lynnwood Wa No 2171 ($58,671 across 2 grants).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| HOPKINS MN NO 2221 HOPKINS, MN | WELCOME HOME | $82,088 |
| EUREKA-PACIFIC MO NO 2644 EUREKA, MO | WELCOME HOME | $67,607 |
| LYNNWOOD WA NO 2171 LYNNWOOD, WA | WELCOME HOME | $48,671 |
| COLORADO ELKS ASSOCIATION CENTENNIAL, CO | VOLUNTARY SERVICE PROGRAM | $48,575 |
| EL PASO TX NM NO 187 EL PASO, TX | WELCOME HOME | $48,573 |
| CALIFORNIA-HAWAII ELKS ASSOCIATION FRESNO, CA | VOLUNTARY SERVICE PROGRAM | $47,590 |
| RALEIGH NC NO 735 RALEIGH, NC | WELCOME HOME | $45,509 |
| COCOA BEACH FL NO 2387 COCOA BEACH, FL | WELCOME HOME | $44,866 |
| OSSINING NY NO 1486 OSSINING, NY | WELCOME HOME | $43,087 |
| GAINESVILLE FL NO 990 GAINESVILLE, FL | WELCOME HOME | $42,310 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Director: Mary Katherine Morgan
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| PAUL RYAN | CHAIRMAN | 1 | — |
| BRUCE HIDLEY | VICE-CHAIRMAN | 1 | — |
| RANDY SHOOK | MEMBER | 1 | — |
| JOHN AMEN | PAST CHAIR | 1 | — |
| ROBERT DUITSMAN | PAST CHAIR | 1 | — |
| BRYAN KLATT | GRAND SECRETARY | 1 | — |
Recent Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Commission has been active in addressing veteran homelessness through its Welcome Home initiative, which specifically targets vulnerable veterans experiencing housing instability. The organization continues to expand its volunteer presence and grant distribution to support veterans in their local communities.
Veterans Assistance Commission announces leadership updates - CNHISubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Elks National Veterans Service fund?
The Commission's stated mission is: "Through the work of Elks members, we serve thousands of veterans and military members through programs that help hospitalized veterans recover and thrive, provide veterans with resources to exit or prevent homelessness, support military families, and meet the needs of veterans and military members in need in Elks communities throughout the nation." Primary focus areas include: • **Hospitalized Veteran Support**: Direct volunteer service in veterans facilities
How do I apply for a grant from Elks National Veterans Service?
The Commission awards grants to Elks lodges to support local veterans services. These grants enable lodges to implement projects and programs addressing unmet needs in their communities. **Grant Types:** • **Freedom Grants**: Community service grants for veterans-focused initiatives • **Community Investments Grants**: Ranging up to $10,000 to help Elks lodges implement veterans programs and projects The Commission distributes grants through its network of approximately 1,800 lodges in the Unite…
Where does Elks National Veterans Service make grants?
The Commission operates nationally across the United States. Volunteers provide direct service to veterans in more than 330 facilities each month, including VA Medical Centers, State Veterans Facilities, and Vets Centers.
What size grants does Elks National Veterans Service award?
In 2025, Elks National Veterans Service awarded 158 grants totaling $2.5M — an average of about $16K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Elks National Veterans Service's EIN?
Elks National Veterans Service's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-1548228. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Elks National Veterans Service's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.