AEF – Emergency Assistance Grants
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. The Auxiliary Emergency Fund (AEF) is a national grant assistance program that provides temporary emergency 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.
Click here for Auxiliary Emergency Fund Assistance Grant Applications
Click here for AEF Frequently Asked Questions as well as the AEF Brochure
You can donate to the AEF by clicking here – Members helping members
Application for Members Affected by Natural Disaster
An Auxiliary Emergency Fund grant may provide immediate emergency assistance to American Legion Auxiliary members in areas devastated by a natural disaster, such as fire, flood, hurricane, tornado, earthquake, or other severe weather. The applicant must have received damage to the primary residence and/or been displaced or evacuated from the residence and had out-of-pocket expenses for food, clothing, and shelter. Grants may be awarded up to $3,000.
Application for Members Needing Temporary Assistance
An Auxiliary Emergency Fund grant may provide temporary assistance to eligible members during a time of financial crisis when no other source of aid is readily available to pay for shelter, food, and utilities. Grants may be awarded up to $3,000 with the intent is to help members who have suffered a financial setback and offer a helping hand until financial stability is reestablished. Assistance will not be granted to pay medical expenses or credit card debt.
Get Involved
Purpose: The purpose of the AEF Committee is to raise funds for and promote knowledge about the Auxiliary Emergency Fund. Standing Rule 6, National Committees – Member/Organizational Support
- The Auxiliary Emergency Fund (AEF) is a national grant assistance program that provides temporary emergency assistance to eligible members of the American Legion Auxiliary up to $3,000 as the result of an act of nature or other personal crisis.
- Share information about AEF grants at meetings, in newsletters, and on social media pages.
- Share application and donation links with department and unit members.
- Members of the American Legion Auxiliary whose dues are current and who have maintained annual membership for three consecutive years (the current year applied and immediate past two years) and have not been awarded an AEF grant in the previous twelve months are eligible to apply for a grant.
- Encourage unit members to pay their annual dues in a timely manner and pay directly to ALA National Headquarters to avoid a lapse in membership and being ineligible for AEF assistance.
- Grant funds may be awarded only for past/overdue expenses related to retaining their primary shelter, basic household utilities and/or loss of income due to medical and/or employment reasons.
- Share the correct AEF hardship application with unit members linked above. No other AEF application type will be accepted.
- AEF funds may be used to provide emergency assistance to eligible Auxiliary members whose primary residence has been devastated by disaster, including flood, hurricane, tornado, earthquake, fire, or another catastrophic event. Reimbursable expenses with receipts will be considered for essential emergency expenditures up to three weeks after incident/disaster.
- Share the correct AEF disaster application with unit members linked above. No other AEF application will be accepted..
- ALA department and unit annual awards:
- Unit Award: Awarded to unit contributing the largest amount (per capita) between October 1 – June 1.
- Department Award: Awarded to department contributing the largest amount between October 1 – June 1
- Department Award: Awarded to department contributing the largest amount (per capita) between October 1 – June 1
Deadlines/Important Dates
- Unit Report due to Department Chair: April 15.
- Department Chairman Report due to National Committee: May 15
- Department and Unit Awards are based on donations received from June 1 – May 31
