The Unit
The Unit
The American Legion Auxiliary unit is where grassroots work of the Auxiliary takes place. There are more than 7,400 ALA units nationwide. At the local level, The American Legion is called a post, and the Auxiliary is called a unit.
All ALA units are attached to a Legion post, taking its name, location, and number (e.g., John P. Hand American Legion Auxiliary Unit 250), but units are not obligated to meet at the Legion post. If the post is no longer active, a unit may continue to function as what’s called a widow unit. Sons of The American Legion groups within Legion posts at the community level are referred to as squadrons.
How to Organize a New Unit
The first step in the organization of an American Legion Auxiliary unit is to create interest among those in the community who are eligible for Auxiliary membership and to secure authorization for the creation of an Auxiliary unit from the post. Charter application forms, individual membership applications, suggested Constitution & Bylaws and any other needed supplies or information may be obtained from department headquarters. Department officers are always ready to assist in installations and in providing expertise when needed.
eUnits
Electronic units (eUnits) allow members to communicate and hold meetings via teleconferencing, email, an online group or other e-meeting software. Designed for working members and students attending college, the eUnit format also provides a great opportunity for those unable to leave their home to remain involved in the American Legion Auxiliary. In addition to electronic communication, eUnit members do meet in person occasionally as required by their unit’s Constitution & Bylaws.
Child Well-being Foundation Grant Application Opens
May 01, 2026
The American Legion Child Well-being Foundation (CWF) accepts funding proposals from nonprofits for projects that contribute to the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual welfare of children. Grants are only given to entities that help U.S. children in a large geographic area; they are not awarded for day-to-day or special operating expenses. Learn more at the CWF website.
ALA Foundation
The American Legion Auxiliary Foundation positively impacts the lives of our veterans, military, and their families by funding programs of the American Legion Auxiliary today and for future generations.
More details available here: www.ALAFoundation.org
About
Founded in 2007, the American Legion Auxiliary Foundation assists in carrying out the educational, charitable, and other exempt purposes of the Auxiliary by raising funds for, assisting in conduct of, and providing support to Auxiliary programs. As a 501(c)(3) public benefit corporation, the ALA Foundation provides a resource to engage additional investors interested in supporting our mission. It is a way to secure our legacy and heritage of Service Not Self, ultimately enhancing the quality of life for future generations of veterans, military, and their families.
Grants to help mission outreach grow | Learn more
To assist ALA units, districts/counties, and departments in their efforts to support local veterans, military, and their families, the ALA Foundation offers three different grants.
- Veteran Projects Fund: For any Auxiliary unit, district/county, or department that identifies a new, one-time need for your local veterans or active military.
- Veterans Creative Arts Festival: To aid in the well-being of veterans by introducing them to art therapy through a local Veterans Creative Arts Festival or offers art therapy courses that feed into the National Veterans Creative Arts Festival
- Mission in Action: As of April 26, 2023, the funds for this granting initiative have been depleted. The Mission in Action grant initiative will not be renewed in future fiscal years as the ALA Foundation will focus on funding ALA programs and veteran support initiatives. If you have any questions, please contact Development Director, Carley Schutz at cschutz@alaforveterans.org.
- Subgrant: American Legion Auxiliary units, districts/counties, or departments that have identified a source for grant funding from a foundation or corporation that requires the recipient to be a 501(c)(3) can have the ALA Foundation serve as the recipient. The ALA Foundation will then, in turn, sub-grant the full amount to the unit, district/county, or department according to the terms and conditions of the grantor
American Legion Family Day
The National Executive Committee passed Resolution No. 7, American Legion Family Day at its Fall Meeting in October 2022. The resolution established an American Legion Family Day to be observed annually on the last Saturday of April.
This year for Legion Family Day on April 25, posts are encouraged to open their doors to members of their community for the day to recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of Legionnaires, Sons of The American Legion members, Legion Riders and American Legion Auxiliary, and to bring awareness to the organization’s “Be the One” initiative to reduce the rate of veteran suicide.
Consider the money you raise going back to ALA mission
American Legion Auxiliary members are passionate about supporting worthwhile causes. After all, in the ALA, they’re part of an organization that last year provided more than $227 million in volunteer and financial assistance to efforts ranging from help for veterans to scholarships for students.
But what types of community programs and organizations are appropriate for members to support through their ALA units? The answer is simple, according to Carley Schutz, Development Division director at ALA National Headquarters.
ALA units should consider targeting their financial support to causes that assist veterans, military, and their families.
A broad range of charitable organizations — funding causes from cancer research to animal shelters — can be good choices for ALA members to support on their own. But when it comes to the assistance they offer through their ALA units, Schutz said that sticking to the Auxiliary mission is best.
That means units are encouraged to target their efforts to align with the following American Legion Auxiliary areas in support of veterans, military, and their families:
• Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation
• National Security
• Americanism
• Children & Youth
“In the capacity of an ALA member, our number one priority is serving veterans and military families,” Schutz said. “Why join a membership organization that is solely focused on bettering the lives of veterans, military, and their families if that’s not what you’re passionate about?”
Questions to Ask
Before lending support to a cause, ALA units should make sure they can answer “yes” to the following four questions:
1. Does the service, fund, or program benefit veterans, military, or military families?
2. Does the organization’s focus align with the ALA’s mission to enhance the lives of veterans, military, and their families?
3. Is the organization in good standing with the IRS?
4. Would a prospective ALA member understand — without explanation — why the group is supporting this other organization as part of an effort to help veterans?
With that last question in mind, Schutz cautioned that when ALA units give to other veterans service organizations, it can be confusing for those who are thinking about becoming members of the Auxiliary. These prospective members sometimes are unclear about which group they’re joining.
None of this is to say there aren’t occasions when it’s OK to deviate a bit from these guidelines. During times of crisis — such as a natural disaster affecting an ALA unit’s community — there could be relief causes that are appropriate to support. The first choice for ALA units to support disaster recovery, however, is the ALA and its Auxiliary Emergency Fund.
Ideas for Giving
A variety of efforts qualifies as appropriate for ALA support. Schutz offered the following ideas that help veterans, military, and military families:
• Contribute to a fund to enhance the quality of life for items such as wheelchair bicycles, beach wheelchairs, and accessible vans and other vehicles for families.
• Furnishing a housing facility for veterans and their families, supplying items such as beds, dressers, and kitchen appliances.
• Purchasing creative art therapy supplies — like paint, easels, pottery, leatherwork, kilns, and instruments — for a local U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs facility.
• Sponsoring any ALA Girls State initiative, such as participant attendance, travel, insurance, and housing.
This targeted support on behalf of the ALA shouldn’t diminish members’ support for other organizations or their willingness to offer those groups their own time and money.
“Having other passions is wonderful, and our members are so caring that I’m sure they have a variety of causes they would like to support,” Schutz said. “However, take your ALA hat off and put your other servant hat on. Let the two passions be separate.”
Should you give them your money?
Great Idea To:
• Provide ALA support to causes that benefit veterans, military, and their families.
• Ensure the answer is “yes” to four key questions about the cause’s mission and IRS status.
•Continue personal/individual support of causes not aligned with the ALA’s mission.
Reconsider If:
• The program or cause isn’t aligned with areas in support of veterans, military, or their families.
• You haven’t fully researched the program or organization and its relevance to the ALA’s work.
•It dedicates your unit’s money to nonaligned, personal interests.
Who We Are
We are the male and female spouses, grandmothers, mothers, sisters, and direct and adopted female descendants of members of The American Legion. Some of us are veterans ourselves.
MEMBERSHIP ELIGIBILITY
Who We Are
Patriotism and veterans advocacy are so important to the American Legion Auxiliary that for a century, we’ve been serving, educating, and giving to America’s finest — our military.
We answer the call of Service Not Self. We are the male and female spouses, grandmothers, mothers, sisters, and direct and adopted female descendants of members of The American Legion. Some of us are veterans ourselves.
We are the American Legion Auxiliary. And we make a difference. You’ll find us in more than 8,000 local communities in the USA and in foreign countries. Founded in 1919 during the first National Convention of The American Legion, the ALA has grown to be one of the largest veterans support organizations. And we’d love for you to be part of our mission outreach.
Purpose of the Brand Mark
The American Legion Auxiliary brand mark was created to address the need to modernize the American Legion Auxiliary brand to appeal to the next generation. Moreover, the new brand mark takes into consideration a host of applications that the original emblem could never have anticipated. Those include digital and social media, special event and sports marketing, lifestyle apparel and more.
Brand Mark versus Emblem
Going forward, the brand mark is to be used in all marketing communications applications, while the emblem should be reserved for official documents and communications.
In application
The following guidelines offer direction in terms of when to use the emblem or one of the brand marks. While most applications will be clearly defined, inevitably some instances may straddle the line between two areas. In those cases, use discretion based on the intended audience. When choosing a brand mark option, default to what is most visually pleasing in that application. For example, the word mark should almost always be used in embroidery.
Brand Mark Options
- advertising
- apparel (use word mark for embroidery)
- business cards, letterhead, email signatures
- credentials, event badges
- press releases
- digital (apps, web, social, PowerPoint presentations)
- promotional communications (flyers, handouts, etc.)
- events (signs, backdrops, tents, tablecloths, swag/giveaways)
Emblem
- uniform caps
- financial documents
- history books
- flags
- legal affairs
- internal manuals & guides
- reports & resolutions
- awards (option emblem or brand)
- building signage (option emblem or brand)
- formal government communications (option emblem or brand)
For more in-depth explanations of approved usage guidelines,
click here
Color Palette
Blue
PANTONE 654C
C:100 M:84 Y:31 K:17
R:0 G:56 B:112
HEX # 1B3D6D
Red
PANTONE 186C
C:12 M:100 Y:91 K:0
R:215 G:33 B:49
HEX # D72131
Usage Permission
Like the emblem, the brand mark is legally protected property of the American Legion Auxiliary. Any use outside of the organization – such as merchandising, marketing by groups unaffiliated with the American Legion Auxiliary or at political events – is legally restricted and requires authorization.
The same rules of permission to use the official emblem apply to the brand mark. Those rules, along with an online application form, can be found here.
Download the Branding Guidelines
Click here to download the full American Legion Auxiliary Branding Guidelines.
Download the Brand Mark and Word Mark
Click here to download the American Legion Auxiliary Brand and Word Mark.
Download the Emblem
Click here to download the American Legion Auxiliary Emblem.
Questions
For any additional brand-related questions, please contact the American Legion Marketing Division at:
317-630-1398
marketing@legion.org
Make your reservations for 2026 Department Convention
AMERICAN LEGION FAMILY
DEPARTMENT CONVENTION
RESERVATION FORM
JULY 16-19, 2026
EISENHOWER HOTEL AND CONFERENCE CENTER
2634 Emmitsburg Road, Gettysburg, PA 17325
ALL ROOMS MUST BE RESERVED THROUGH DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS!
PLEASE COMPLETE THIS FORM IN FULL AND RETURN VIA MAIL OR EMAIL debbie@pa-legion.com
THE AMERICAN LEGION
ATTN: DEBBIE WATSON
PO BOX 2324
HARRISBURG, PA 17105
(717) 730-9100
DEADLINE FOR RESERVATIONS IS JUNE 1, 2026
Click here for a printable version of the form
Founded in 1919, The American Legion Auxiliary has nearly 1 million members from all walks of life. The Auxiliary administers hundreds of volunteer programs, gives tens of thousands of hours to its communities and to veterans, and raises millions of dollars to support its own programs, as well as other worthwhile charities familiar to Americans. It is all accomplished with volunteers.
While originally organized to assist The American Legion, the Auxiliary has achieved its own unique identity while working side-by-side with the veterans who belong to The American Legion. Like the Legion, the Auxiliary’s interests have broadened to encompass the entire community.
The American Legion Auxiliary is made up of the male and female spouses, grandmothers, mothers, sisters, and direct and adopted female descendants of members of The American Legion. Through its nearly 10,500 units located in every state and some foreign countries, the Auxiliary embodies the spirit of America that has prevailed through war and peace. Along with The American Legion, it solidly stands behind America and its ideals.
Visit The American Legion Auxiliary »
There is strength in numbers and that includes membership in this great organization of ours. Membership strengthens our voice on Capitol Hill as The American Legion’s legislative advocacy efforts is to protect and enhance benefits for our veterans and their families.
The impact the Legion Family has is multiplied when our members can speak in a unified voice. This is made possible through the Legislative Action Alerts, which allows us to engage Congress with one voice and one message. The American Legion’s Legislative Division uses VoterVoice as its grassroots advocacy platform for connecting American Legion members and advocates with their members of Congress. VoterVoice allows The American Legion to contact every member of Congress on large, national campaigns as well as target specific members on key committees that pertain to The American Legion’s legislative priorities.
It is The American Legion’s voice heard on Capitol Hill that helps to pass bills that we support for our veterans and their families. Let your voice be heard on Capitol Hill by signing up for the Legion’s Legislative Action Alerts here.
On this page, you can also find Legislation, Find your elected Officials, Sign up for the Alerts, Report a Meeting. This is such a strong tool that we should all be using it!
