Members helping members – that’s the American Legion Auxiliary’s mission of Service Not Self in action. Hard times can fall upon us at any moment. That’s when the American Legion Auxiliary is committed to help. AEF is a national grant assistance program that provides financial assistance to eligible members of the American Legion Auxiliary who have endured a significant financial setback as the result of an act of nature or other personal crisis.
Established in 1969, the AEF was created with a bequest from the estate of Auxiliary member Helen Colby Small of Burlington, Wisconsin. Five decades later, the AEF is still helping fellow Auxiliary members get back on their feet. To carry on the AEF for members in need of assistance, we need your generous support. You can donate to the AEF by clicking here.
An Auxiliary Emergency Fund grant may provide immediate emergency assistance to eligible American Legion Auxiliary members in areas devastated by a natural disaster, such as fire, flood, hurricane, tornado, earthquake, and/or other severe weather. The applicant must have either received damage to their primary residence, been displaced/evacuated from their residence or experienced basic out-of-pocket emergency expenses as a result of the disaster. Grants may be awarded up to $3,000.
BASIC CRITERIA FOR QUALIFICATION
The applicant must be a current American Legion Auxiliary (ALA) member. Junior members are not eligible to apply. Applicant must have maintained annual ALA membership for three consecutive years (the current year and immediate past two years). Disaster application must be received within 6 months of disaster. Applicant must be able to provide documentation such as photos of damage to the primary residence (exterior/interior/contents), itemized receipt(s) for emergency expenses, damage repair estimates, FEMA/insurance documents, current driver’s license, and other information as requested. Only one AEF grant (disaster or hardship) per grantee will be awarded in a 12-month period.
An Auxiliary Emergency Fund grant may provide temporary assistance to eligible American Legion Auxiliary members during a time of financial crisis when no other source of aid is readily available to pay for past due expenses related to their primary residence and/or for basic household utilities. Grants may be awarded up to $3,000 with the intent to help members who have suffered a financial setback and offer a helping hand to help reestablish financial stability. Assistance will not be granted to pay medical expenses, credit card debt or any other expenses not related to shelter or basic household utilities.
BASIC CRITERIA FOR QUALIFICATION
The applicant must be a current American Legion Auxiliary (ALA) member. Junior members are not eligible to apply. Applicant must have maintained annual ALA membership for three consecutive years (the current year and immediate past two years). Applicant must be able to provide copies of past due bills for shelter (mortgage statement or landlord letter), basic household utilities (electric, gas, water, sewer, trash), documentation for loss of income, and other information as requested. Only one AEF grant (hardship or disaster) per grantee will be awarded in a 12-month period.
Since the Auxiliary Emergency Fund was established, more than $6 million has been awarded to more than 6,500 members. To continue providing this assistance, we need your generous support. Please donate today or text AEF to 1-844-940-3450 and know that you are helping make a better tomorrow for your fellow Auxiliary members.
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