Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Elks National Veterans Service Commission

EIN 13-1548228 · Chicago, IL

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood71 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THOUSANDS OF ELKS VOLUNTEERS, THE COMMISSION'S PROGRAMS OFFER DIRECT SERVICE TO VETERANS AND MILITARY MEMBERS IN NEED THROUGHOUT THE NATION. OUR PROGRAMS HELP HOSPITALIZED VETERANS RECOVER AND THRIVE, SUPPORT VETERANS AS THEY EXIT OR PREVENT HOMELESSNESS, SERVE AGING VETERANS AND VETERANS IN FACILITIES, ASSIST VETERANS IN NEED AND CONNECT VETERANS WITH RESOURCES AND THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE.

Income
$5.8 million
Spending
$5.6 million
Spent on programs
94%
Reserves
1.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 98%
Employees
0
Volunteers
160,794
Highest pay
$244,119, grand secretary

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 19% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 3356% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    94% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 5 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (4)
  1. $914,034 spent. THE COMMISSION PARTNERS WITH HUNDREDS OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS (VA) AND OTHER VETERANS' FACILITIES ACROSS THE NATION TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF VETERANS. OUR VOLUNTEERS PROVIDE DIRECT MONTHLY SUPPORT TO AGING VETERANS, RECOVERING VETERANS AND VETERANS WITH DISABILITIES IN THE FORM OF SOCIAL ACTIVITIES, NEEDED SUPPLIES, THERAPEUTIC RECREATION, OUTREACH EVENTS AND MORE.
  2. $3.1 million spent. THE COMMISSION PARTNERED WITH THE US DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS AND OTHER SOCIAL SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE HOMELESS VETERANS AND VETERANS AT RISK OF BEING HOMELESS WITH THE EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE THEY NEEDED TO BECOME OR REMAIN HOUSED, AND TO PROVIDE WELCOME HOME KITS THAT INCLUDE SUPPLIES AND OTHER MATERIAL SUPPORT TO NEWLY HOUSED VETERANS. THE WELCOME HOME PROGRAM OFFERS FOCUS GRANTS UP TO $10,000 TO QUALIFYING LODGES TO BE USED TO PREVENT HOMELESSNESS, ASSIST PREVIOUSLY HOMELESS VETERANS TO ADJUST, AND HELP VETERANS EXIT HOMELESSNESS.
  3. $1.0 million spent. THE COMMISSION PROVIDED GRANTS TO 1,000 LODGES TO FACILITATE PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT VETERANS, ACTIVE-DUTY MILITARY MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES. ELKS USED THESE GRANTS TO PROVIDE FOOD AND CLOTHING FOR HOMELESS AND HOSPITALIZED VETERANS, HOLD ADAPTIVE SPORTS EVENTS FOR VETERANS WITH DISABILITIES, REPAIR THE HOMES OF MILITARY FAMILIES AND VETERANS IN NEED, SUPPORT STUDENT VETERANS AND MORE.
  4. $311,110 spent. THE COMMISSION PROVIDED GRANTS TO VETERANS ADAPTIVE SPORTS EVENTS RUN BY THE US DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS, IN CONJUNCTION WITH OTHER NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS. THESE EVENTS HELP VETERANS TO RECOVER, REHABILITATE AND THRIVE. ELKS VOLUNTEERS ASSISTED AT THESE EVENTS, ASWELL AS DISTRIBUTED THOUSANDS OF PAIRS OF FREE WHEELCHAIR GLOVES TO VETERANS IN ATTENDANCE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending March 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since October 1998.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.