Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks of the USA
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO INCULCATE THE PRINCIPLES OF CHARITY, JUSTICE, BROTHERLY LOVE AND FIDELITY; TO RECOGNIZE A BELIEF IN GOD; TO PROMOTE THE WELFARE AND ENHANCE THE HAPPINESS OF ITS MEMBERS; TO QUICKEN THE SPIRIT OF AMERICAN PATRIOTISM; TO CULTIVATE GOOD FELLOWSHIP; TO PERPETUATE ITSELF AS A FRATERNAL ORGANIZATION, AND TO PROVIDE FOR ITS GOVERNMENT, THE BENEVOLENT AND PROTECTIVE ORDER OF ELKS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WILL SERVE THE PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES THROUGH BENEVOLENT PROGRAMS, DEMONSTRATING THAT ELKS CARE AND ELKS SHARE.
- Income
- $100,646
- Spending
- $106,360
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate
Financial health
We do not score finances when yearly spending is very small or the return has too little detail. The ratios stop meaning much at that size.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate
Governance
This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. 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 (1)
- PUBLIC SERVICE IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF BEING AN ELK. IN KEEPING WITH THIS TRADITION, ELKS CREATE AND PARTICIPATE IN MANY PROGRAMS TO BETTER THEIR COMMUNITIES AND DEMONSTRATE THAT ELKS CARE - ELKS SHARE SCHOLARSHIPS - EACH YEAR THE ELKS NATIONAL FOUNDATION PROVIDES MORE THAN 3.65 MILLION IN COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS TO GRADUATING SENIORS. HOOP SHOOT - THE YEARLY ELKS HOOP SHOOT FREE THROW PROGRAM IS OPEN TO ALL BOYS AND GIRLS AGES 8 THROUGH 13. THE CONTEST STARTS AT THE LODGE LEVEL AND ADVANCES THROUGH DISTRICT, STATE AND REGIONAL CONTESTS BEFORE THE NATIONAL FINALS IN THE SPRING. DRUG AWARENESS - THE ELKS DRUG AWARENESS PROGRAM DISTRIBUTES LITERATURE AND ORGANIZES EVENTS TO MAKE KIDS AND THEIR PARENTS AWARE OF THE DANGERS POSED BY ALCOHOL, TOBACCO AND ILLEGAL DRUGS. TRY THE PROGRAM'S DRUG AWARENESS QUIZ AND TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE YOUTH ACTIVITIES - OTHER YOUTH-ORIENTED ACTIVITIES SPONSORED BY THE ELKS INCLUDE THE SOCCER SHOOT, THE ANTLERS PROGRAM, THE YEARLY AMERICANISM ESSAY CONTEST AND MORE. VETERANS PROGRAMS - SINCE THE EARLY DAYS OF ELKDOM, THE VETERANS SERVICE COMMISSION HAS PATRIOTICALLY SERVED THOSE ELKS WHO HAVE FOUGHT FOR OUR GREAT NATION.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(8) fraternal beneficiary society.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
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 September 30, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Worth knowing.
Not individually listed by the IRS as eligible, which is usual for local chapters covered by a parent organization's exemption. The master file records contributions to it as deductible.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending March 2026.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since October 1951.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
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 October 7, 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.