Supports veterans, military members and their families through grants, scholarships, emergency assistance and related programs.
A 2025 grant of $157,500 for the National Veterans Creative Arts Festival shows the American Legion Auxiliary Fndn’s mix of program support and targeted veteran services. The foundation funds veterans, military members, and their families through grants, scholarships, emergency assistance, and related programs, with recent awards also reaching youth civic leadership and local veteran facilities. Its recent grant list includes repeated support for the National Veterans Creative Arts Festival in 2023, 2024, and 2025, along with funding for Girls Nation and state-level subgrants that move resources through American Legion Auxiliary units and departments. The foundation also backs practical, one-time needs at the local level. Recent examples include equipment, repairs, and building improvements for veterans homes and veteran-serving sites, plus assistance connected to state and departmental ALA entities. This pattern suggests a funder that uses relatively focused grants to support specific projects rather than broad unrestricted awards. Scholarships are part of the portfolio as well, alongside emergency assistance for members facing qualifying hardship. The result is a grantmaker centered on veterans’ services, family support, and selected educational programs, with a visible preference for named projects and annual activities rather than open-ended funding.
Veterans creative arts programming is one of the clearest themes in the record. The foundation gave $157,500 in 2025 to American Legion Auxiliary for the National Veterans Creative Arts Festival, after giving $45,000 in 2024 and $65,000 in 2023 for the same festival. Youth civic leadership also appears in the grant list. In 2024, American Legion Auxiliary received $20,000 for Girls Nation, and in 2023 it received $14,376 for the same program. Local veteran facilities and projects are another recurring area. The foundation awarded $10,000 to Ala South Carolina Unit 186 for a room addition to a veterans building, $10,000 to Ala Department of Wisconsin for the Chippewa Veterans Home, and $9,317 to Ala Indiana Unit 492 for blanket warmers for the Indiana Veterans Home. Equipment and household-support items show up as well, including a $6,752 grant to Ala James R Hickey Unit #120 for the Canandaigua VAMC cottage e-piano project.
$201K
$3.7M
$738K
$364K
Most grants fall between $8K and $18K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$8K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$18K
TERRI WALLACE
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Typical grants are small and targeted: the p25 is $7,875, the median is $10,000, and the p75 is $18,125. Recent awards cluster around specific projects, annual events, and subgrants routed through ALA units and departments. The same broad program areas appear across multiple years, including the National Veterans Creative Arts Festival, Girls Nation, and Minnesota subgrants, which indicates recurring support rather than isolated one-off giving. The foundation’s grant programs are open to unsolicited requests, including scholarship programs and the Veteran Projects Fund, and the ALA Foundation can also serve as a 501(c)(3) recipient for outside funders that need a charitable intermediary.
Grant recipients are entirely in the United States, with the heaviest concentration in Wisconsin by count. Indiana recipients account for 25% of grants, reflecting a substantial but not majority share in the HQ state. Recent recipient cities include Indianapolis, Eau Claire, Austin, St. Paul, Little River, and Binghamton. The recent list also shows awards to sites in South Carolina, New York, Minnesota, Georgia, Maine, Connecticut, Arizona, Delaware, and Illinois, giving the foundation a regional footprint rather than a single-state focus.
Its grants support veterans, military members, and their families through scholarships, emergency assistance, creative arts programming, youth civic leadership, and local veteran projects. Recent awards include the National Veterans Creative Arts Festival, Girls Nation, veterans home improvements, and equipment for veterans-serving sites.
Recent grant sizes are centered around relatively small awards. The p25 is $7,875, the median is $10,000, and the p75 is $18,125.
Both appear, but recurring programs are visible across multiple years. The National Veterans Creative Arts Festival received grants in 2023, 2024, and 2025, Girls Nation appears in 2023 and 2024, and Minnesota subgrants also recur across years. The foundation also makes one-time project grants for specific needs.
Yes. Several active programs are marked as accepting unsolicited requests, including American Legion Scholarships, ALA Scholarships, Veteran Projects Fund, Auxiliary Emergency Fund, Spirit of Youth Scholarship, Member Loyalty Scholarship, and ALA Foundation Grants.
By recipient count, Wisconsin is the top state. Indiana recipients make up 25% of grants, but that is the HQ-state share, not the top giving state.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $157,500 | 2025 | NATIONAL VETERANS CREATIVE ARTS FESTIVAL |
| ALA DEPARTMENT OF MINNESOTA | ST PAUL, MN | $16,900 | 2025 | SUBGRANT - MN PROGRAMS AND GIRLS STATE |
| ALA GOLDEN VALLEY UNIT 22 | GOLDEN VALLEY, AZ | $10,000 | 2025 | JAVC OPERATION 6 ROOF REPAIR |
| ALA SHERBURNE UNIT 876 | SHERBURNE, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | VETERAN PROJECTS GRANT- NY STATE OXFORD VETERANS BLANKET WARMER |
| ALA JAMES R HICKEY UNIT #120 | PALMYRA, NY | $6,752 | 2025 | CANANDAIGUA VAMC COTTAGE E-PIANO PROJECT |
| AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $45,000 | 2024 | NATIONAL VETERANS CREATIVE ARTS FESTIVAL |
| ALA DEPARTMENT OF MINNESOTA | EAU CLAIRE, WI | $43,590 | 2024 | SUBGRANT - MN PROGRAMS |
| AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $20,000 | 2024 | GIRLS NATION |
| ALA SOUTH CAROLINA UNIT 186 | LITTLE RIVER, SC | $10,000 | 2024 | VETERAN PROJECTS GRANT - ROOM ADDITION TO VETERANS BUILDING |
| ALA DEPARTMENT OF WISCONSIN | PORTAGE, WI | $10,000 | 2024 | VETERAN PROJECTS GRANT - CHIPPEWA VETERANS HOME |
| ALA INDIANA UNIT 492 | WEST LAFAYETTE, IN | $9,317 | 2024 | VETERAN PROJECTS GRANT - BLANKET WARMERS FOR INDIANA VETERANS HOME |
| ALA MAINE UNIT 132 | RICHMOND, ME | $9,274 | 2024 | VETERAN PROJECTS GRANT - MAINE VETERANS HOME AUGUSTA |
| ALA MINNESOTA UNIT 37 | CHASKA, MN | $9,180 | 2024 | VETERAN PROJECTS GRANT - BEDS FOR HAVEN FOR HEROES |
| ALA GEORGIA UNIT 137 | DARIEN, GA | $8,180 | 2024 | VETERAN PROJECTS GRANT - GOLDEN ISLES VETERANS VILLAGE |
| ALA DISTRICT 6 NEW YORK | BINGHAMTON, NY | $5,880 | 2024 | VETERAN PROJECTS GRANT - WHEELCHAIR BICYCLE FOR NYS VETERANS HOME |
| AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $65,000 | 2023 | NATIONAL VETERANSCREATIVE ARTS FESTIVAL |
| AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $25,000 | 2023 | SUBGRANT- FIRST NATIONGROUP (TO NVCAF) |
| ALA DEPARTMENT OF MINNESOTA | EAU CLAIRE, WI | $21,002 | 2023 | SUBGRANT - MN PROGRAMS |
| ALA DEPARTMENT OF TEXAS | AUSTIN, TX | $17,500 | 2023 | SUBGRANT - TEXAS GIRLSSTATE |
| AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $14,376 | 2023 | GIRLS NATION |
| ALA UNIT 37 ILLINOIS | EWING, MO | $10,000 | 2023 | VETERAN PROJECTS -AMVVETS CHERISH THE |
| ALA UNIT 28 DELAWARE | MILLSBORO, DE | $10,000 | 2023 | VETERAN PROJECTS - HOMEOF THE BRAVE SIDING |
| ALA DEPARTMENT OF MINNESOTA | ST PAUL, MN | $9,400 | 2023 | SUBGRANT - MN PROGRAMS |
| ALA DISTRICT 10 | ROGERS, MN | $6,960 | 2023 | VETERAN PROJECTS - MAGNUS VETERANSFOUNDATION |
| ALA DEPARTMENT OF MINNESOTA | EAU CLAIRE, WI | $6,600 | 2023 | SUBGRANT - MN PROGRAMS |
| ALA UNIT 53 WISCONSIN | EAU CLAIRE, WI | $6,000 | 2023 | SUBGRANT - BINGOUPGRADE (MELVIN S |
| ALA UNIT 53 WISCONSIN | EAU CLAIRE, WI | $6,000 | 2023 | SUBGRANT - BINGOUPGRADE (PRESTO FND) |
| ALA UNIT 72 CONNECTICUT | SOUTHINGTON, CT | $6,000 | 2023 | VETERAN PROJECTS - HOUSETHE HORSE |
AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY
$157,500NATIONAL VETERANS CREATIVE ARTS FESTIVAL
ALA DEPARTMENT OF MINNESOTA
$16,900SUBGRANT - MN PROGRAMS AND GIRLS STATE
ALA GOLDEN VALLEY UNIT 22
$10,000JAVC OPERATION 6 ROOF REPAIR
ALA SHERBURNE UNIT 876
$10,000VETERAN PROJECTS GRANT- NY STATE OXFORD VETERANS BLANKET WARMER
ALA JAMES R HICKEY UNIT #120
$6,752CANANDAIGUA VAMC COTTAGE E-PIANO PROJECT
AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY
$45,000NATIONAL VETERANS CREATIVE ARTS FESTIVAL
ALA DEPARTMENT OF MINNESOTA
$43,590SUBGRANT - MN PROGRAMS
AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY
$20,000GIRLS NATION
ALA SOUTH CAROLINA UNIT 186
$10,000VETERAN PROJECTS GRANT - ROOM ADDITION TO VETERANS BUILDING
ALA DEPARTMENT OF WISCONSIN
$10,000VETERAN PROJECTS GRANT - CHIPPEWA VETERANS HOME
ALA INDIANA UNIT 492
$9,317VETERAN PROJECTS GRANT - BLANKET WARMERS FOR INDIANA VETERANS HOME
ALA MAINE UNIT 132
$9,274VETERAN PROJECTS GRANT - MAINE VETERANS HOME AUGUSTA
ALA MINNESOTA UNIT 37
$9,180VETERAN PROJECTS GRANT - BEDS FOR HAVEN FOR HEROES
ALA GEORGIA UNIT 137
$8,180VETERAN PROJECTS GRANT - GOLDEN ISLES VETERANS VILLAGE
ALA DISTRICT 6 NEW YORK
$5,880VETERAN PROJECTS GRANT - WHEELCHAIR BICYCLE FOR NYS VETERANS HOME
AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY
$65,000NATIONAL VETERANSCREATIVE ARTS FESTIVAL
AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY
$25,000SUBGRANT- FIRST NATIONGROUP (TO NVCAF)
ALA DEPARTMENT OF MINNESOTA
$21,002SUBGRANT - MN PROGRAMS
ALA DEPARTMENT OF TEXAS
$17,500SUBGRANT - TEXAS GIRLSSTATE
AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY
$14,376GIRLS NATION
ALA UNIT 37 ILLINOIS
$10,000VETERAN PROJECTS -AMVVETS CHERISH THE
ALA UNIT 28 DELAWARE
$10,000VETERAN PROJECTS - HOMEOF THE BRAVE SIDING
ALA DEPARTMENT OF MINNESOTA
$9,400SUBGRANT - MN PROGRAMS
ALA DISTRICT 10
$6,960VETERAN PROJECTS - MAGNUS VETERANSFOUNDATION
ALA DEPARTMENT OF MINNESOTA
$6,600SUBGRANT - MN PROGRAMS
ALA UNIT 53 WISCONSIN
$6,000SUBGRANT - BINGOUPGRADE (MELVIN S
ALA UNIT 53 WISCONSIN
$6,000SUBGRANT - BINGOUPGRADE (PRESTO FND)
ALA UNIT 72 CONNECTICUT
$6,000VETERAN PROJECTS - HOUSETHE HORSE
Current and upcoming funding from American Legion Auxiliary Fndn that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: ALA units, districts/counties, and departments may apply for grants supporting local veterans, military, and their families. Subgrant support is available when a funding source requires a 501(c)(3) recipient. Mission in Action funding has been depleted and is not being renewed.
Deadline: Quarterly review for most grants; subgrant applications processed as received.
Who can apply: For Auxiliary units, districts/counties, or departments supporting local Veterans Creative Arts Festival programming or related art therapy courses.
Deadline: Quarterly review
Who can apply: Designed for ALA units, districts/counties, and departments. Subgrant support is available when a grantmaker requires the recipient to be a 501(c)(3).
Deadline: Quarterly review for foundation grants; subgrant applications processed in order received.
Who can apply: For American Legion Auxiliary units, districts/counties, or departments that have identified an external grant source requiring a 501(c)(3) recipient.
Deadline: Processed in order received
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