Nonprofit organizations rely heavily on philanthropic support from donors like you, and there’s no shortage of opportunities to give. Individuals have been so inundated with asks for donations that in the late 1990s-early 2000s, the term “donor fatigue” was coined in an effort to name that feeling of being overwhelmed that has since led to a decline in charitable giving.
 
This decline in giving can be due to a myriad of things like the frequency of donation appeals, confusion about where the money is going, or economic strain. 
 
And while we can’t solve all of the problems relating to donor fatigue, we can make sure you understand exactly where your money is going and take the confusion out of ALA National Headquarters and American Legion Auxiliary Foundation funding opportunities. 
 
If you want your money to make a difference right now, you have three options:
 
1. ALA’s Auxiliary Emergency Fund provides grants up to $3,000 for ALA members who are facing financial hardship as a result of a personal crisis or natural disaster. 
 
2. ALA Foundation’s Veteran Projects Fund provides grants up to $10,000 to ALA entities for a wide range of community-based projects that benefit veterans and military families. 
 
3. ALA Foundation’s Veterans Creative Arts Festival Fund provides grants up to $2,500 to ALA entities hosting a local Creative Arts Festival that showcases the artistic achievements of veterans who use creative expression as part of their rehabilitation and healing process.
 
If you want your money to sustain the future, you have three options: 
 
1. ALA’s Spirit of Youth Scholarship Fund, which invests in young women leaders committed to service and civic duty.
 
2. ALA’s Children of Warriors National Presidents’ Scholarship Fund, which helps children of veterans access higher education and build a brighter future.
 
3. ALA Foundation’s Mission Endowment Fund: Designed to generate perpetual income, this fund fosters the longevity and continued impact of the ALA’s work by financially supporting the programs of the Auxiliary, including ALA Girls Nation. 

Donating to ALA National Headquarters or the ALA Foundation is a powerful way to directly impact the lives of veterans, their families, and future generations. If you’re ready to make a difference, there’s just one question you need to ask yourself: Do you want your money to have an impact right now, or do you want your money to sustain the future? To donate to ALA National Headquarters or to the ALA Foundation, visit www.ALAforVeterans.org/donate.
 
 
Did you know?
2024-2025 ALA National President Trish Ward is raising funds for the Veteran Projects Fund as the national fundraising focus for this administrative year. There is still time to contribute! To donate, text “LEAD” to 1-844-940-3450. For more information on VPF grants, visit www.ALAFoundation.org/veteran-projects-fund-grants.