NEF audio PowerPoint details grant application procedures

Financial grant assistance through the American Legion National Emergency Fund (NEF) is available for American Legion posts, and American Legion and Sons of The American Legion members, who have been impacted by declared natural disasters, like the current Hurricanes Laura and Sally, and West Coast wildfires.

As American Legion posts and departments assist those eligible with an NEF grant application, National Headquarters created an audio PowerPoint that shares what the NEF is, what it does and does not cover, the correct way to fill out an application, and eligibility.

Access the "National Emergency Fund Grant Application Procedures" PowerPoint here. A few highlights from the PowerPoint are below.

NEF individual member grant application. When filling out the application, it is important that Legionnaires and Sons answer the required questions that ask them to:

• Describe damage to permanent residence. It is important to attach all supporting documents, such as photos, repair estimates, insurance paperwork and/or FEMA statements.

• List dates and location while displaced from home (e.g., hotel, shelter, or stay with relatives).

• Provide address from which displaced.

• Mark if residence is a rental or owned.

• List emergency expenses with amounts and receipts (e.g., food, lodging, clothing, fuel). Without receipts the grant application will not be considered.

• List other reimbursements expected from FEMA, home owners/renters insurance, etc.

• Share how many people live in the home and ages for possible eligibility of an American Legion Temporary Financial Assistance grant.

NEF post grant application. Similar to the individual grant application, posts affected by a natural disaster must:

• Provide damage to property with photos, repair estimates, etc.

• Share if the post owned, rented or leased the post home and if its programs have to meet temporarily in a different location to continue.

• Provide emergency expenses related to damages and unexpected expenses related to programs, such has having to cease honor guard activity or Oratorical Contest at the post, and what you expect those total expenses to be. Also provide other possible aid you may receive from insurance, local or federal grants, etc.

• List everything with how the post will be impacted and the best way to do that is by including your Consolidated Post Report (CPR) with the application. The CPR speaks to how The American Legion post will cease to perform the four pillars and activities in the community due to losses sustained. "The CPR provides the best picture of how we are going to be able to help you out," said Michele Steinmetz, NEF coordinator. She also added that Legion posts that submit documentation due to losses in the canteen will not be considered as this does not support The American Legion's four pillars.

Application requirements.

• Application must be received within 90 days of disaster.

• Disaster must be a “declared” natural disaster by county, state or federal.

• Supporting data is required (photos, receipts, repair estimates, insurance information, FEMA denial or approval letters, etc.)

• Statements from post, district or department officers attesting to damages is helpful, for both members and post applicants.

• Only one grant application per household.

NEF grant applications and payments. Steinmetz said that oftentimes National Headquarters receives applications directly from applicants. It is important to note that National Headquarters cannot do anything with the NEF application until the department commander or adjutant signs off on the application and recommends an amount based on out-of-pocket expenses due to displacement because of a declared natural disaster.

• Upon approval by National Headquarters, checks are sent to department headquarters for distribution.

NEF assistance. American Legion NEF grants for 2020 currently stands at $106,833. The NEF provides up to $3,000 for American Legion and Sons members with an active membership who have been displaced due to damages to their primary residence, and up to $10,000 for posts that have been damaged by a natural disaster and whose programs and activities within the community are impacted.

To request assistance, a fillable NEF individual and post application is online at legion.org/emergency/apply.