American Legion Child Well-being Foundation awards 23 grants worth $1 million to youth-serving nonprofits
The foundation announced its grants for 2027 on Oct. 14: $675,000 for The American Legion's own national youth programs and 22 grants of $500 to $50,000 to nonprofits that run camps, scholarships and care for seriously ill children.
Indianapolis. The American Legion Child Well-being Foundation has awarded 23 grants totaling $1,040,181 to youth-serving nonprofits, The American Legion said on Oct. 14. The grants are for 2027 and pay for projects meant to help children physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.
The largest, $675,000, went to The American Legion National Headquarters for its national youth programs, which the announcement describes as leadership, civic education and citizenship programs along with educational and athletic competitions. The other 22 grants range from $500 to $50,000.
Camps, scholarships and care packages
Our Military Kids of Oakton, Va., received the largest of the outside grants, $50,000, for scholarships that let military-connected children take part in sports, arts, music and other activities. Scouting America of Irving, Texas, received $25,000 to help pay for military-connected youth to join its program.
Several grants pay for camps for children with serious illness. The American Kidney Fund of Rockville, Md., received $35,000 for themed virtual camps for young people with kidney disease; Little Red Door Cancer Agency of Indianapolis, $25,000 for a camp for children diagnosed with cancer; and the National Bleeding Disorders Foundation of New York, $15,000 for a medically supervised summer camp for youth with bleeding disorders.
Other grants range from $7,500 for Make-A-Wish Foundation of Idaho, in Boise, for a trip to Walt Disney World for children with cancer and their families, to $500 for The RecoverED Project of Lancaster, Calif., whose volunteers write cards of encouragement for children and teens in treatment for eating disorders. Some of the grants are supported by the American Legion Auxiliary, the Sons of The American Legion or the Eight & Forty, the announcement says.
How the foundation gives
The foundation was established in 1954 to receive money from people who wanted to help children in the United States, according to its website. It gives grants only to tax-exempt nonprofits, for projects completed within one calendar year, and only to those with the potential to help children nationally or across a large region.
It does not pay for day-to-day operating costs such as salaries, office space and utilities, for construction, or to match government funds. Its application form says applications are accepted from May 1 and must reach the foundation in Indianapolis by July 15.
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