Year after year, Elks produce creative solutions for the unique needs of their communities. In the 2022-23 fiscal year, the Elks National Foundation’s Community Investments Program helped Elks implement those solutions with 4,266 Beacon, Gratitude, and Spotlight Grants—the most in the program’s history.
Eighty-three percent of Lodges received at least one grant, on average, receiving 2.8 grants per participating Lodge. Our Eveleth Lodge was able to receive four grants this past Elk year, totaling $10,000.00.
Lodges used CIP grants to aid individuals living in households below the poverty line, provide COVID-19 relief, and support youth. More than 78 percent of Spotlight Grants were used to respond to the impacts of COVID-19, and more than 50 percent of Beacon Grants were used to support youth. The Beacon and Spotlight Grants that the Lodge received were to support our youth and their families in our communities.
The Elks National Foundation allocated nearly $16 million this year to fund the Community Investments Program. Lodges meet local needs through grants that offer Elks opportunities to serve their 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 elks.org/CIP.

George Walters, Lodge ENF Chair