Elks National Foundation Blog

By ENF Programs Assistant Jocelyn Moya
Happy New Year! Well, sort of. The ENF closed the 2014-15 fiscal year on March 31, but lucky for you there’s still time left in the grant year. In fact, there are plenty of Gratitude Grants available, to Lodges that reached the per capita goal, to apply for by May 31.

I’ve had many Lodge members tell me they’d like to apply for a grant but due to the time of year and project deadlines they have difficulty thinking of a project. As you know, the Community Investments Program is all about using the resources and relationships that already exist to benefit the community so what better resource to maximize than that of the four seasons.

One simple project your Lodge can easily start is a community garden. Community gardens are a fantastic way to meet the needs of the surrounding community and teach youth about the benefits of local food and healthy eating. The best part of starting a community garden is that it is versatile. Your Lodge can choose wha…

By ENF Development Coordinator Billy Donnelly
I started working at the Elks National Foundation in June of 2014. I spent all of my time here at the ENF hearing about our major milestones. I only could read about the Hoop Shoot National Finals, or the MVS Leadership Weekend. People could only tell me what the Elks National Convention or the end of a fiscal year is like. Recently, that has started to change. I have had a small part in the legwork for some of our major events, and it has been quite the experience.

I recently made it through the end of my first fiscal year with the ENF. It was almost as if time sped up. If I blinked, I would have missed two weeks. Everything that I had learned from the past year with the ENF was put to the test. Although it was very busy, it was busy in a good way! I had the opportunity to talk to countless ENF Fundraising Chairs, Secretaries, Treasures and Exalted Rulers from all across the country. Being able to talk to so many people and hearing their…

By Elks National Foundation Director Jim O'Kelley
A long time ago, a speaker at a workshop I attended hit us with a quote that left a lasting impression:

“Change is inevitable, but progress is optional.”

April 1 marked the 18th turning of a fiscal year for me as director of the Elks National Foundation, and I still get excited when we flip the calendar.  Each fiscal year ushered in at least one interesting and significant change. Most of them have moved us forward. We’re making progress, and that’s what keeps me and the staff going.

Every single one of our major programs has at least one big change coming, from the latest expansion to the Community Investments Program to the new Elks Scholar Service Trips. It’s going to be a great year for our programs and the people who count on our services.

But even on the fundraising side—on both the front and back ends—we’re making changes that you may not even notice but that will move our organization forward. New solicitation and stewards…

By Elks Scholar Advisory Board Member Macy Warburton
As I write this, I am at a student affairs conference in New Orleans, or as I like to refer to it, “Nawlins.”  I have a bit of a break today before attending more workshops, so I am taking some time to reflect on all my adventures over this past month. Naturally my thoughts have wandered to the Elks since my previous time in New Orleans was spent at the 2014 Elks Grand Lodge Convention going on haunted ghost tours, sharing my experiences as an Elks scholar, eating substantial amounts of gumbo and jambalaya, and doing my favorite Convention activity—challenging people to free throw competitions at the Hoop Shoot booth.  

The Elks Hoop Shoot competition has held a special place in my heart over these past few years, and this past month has been no different. I have had the opportunity to be involved with various activities centered around the Hoop Shoot during March. It started off with my interview for episode 7 of the Midday with th…