Disaster Relief Summary

Disaster Relief – How it Works

When a natural disaster occurs, the Grand Jurisdiction(s) affected may request the MSANA to make an appeal for assistance to all U.S. and Canadian Grand Lodges.

Our first disaster relief appeal was in 1923 to help the victims of an earthquake in Japan. Since that time more than 125 appeals have been made on behalf of individual Grand Lodges.

When a disaster relief appeal is made, all of the monies received are sent, in their entirety, to the Grand Jurisdiction involved. No portion of donated funds is retained by the MSANA for any reason whatsoever. All costs connected with the appeal are absorbed through our regular operating budget. All donated funds are given to help the recovery within the Grand Jurisdiction for whom the appeal was made.

All contributions, donations, and bequests to MSANA are tax deductible and every gift is acknowledged by the MSANA.

Wherever a significant natural disaster occurs, such as hurricanes, earthquakes, and fires the Grand Jurisdiction(s) affected may request the MSANA to make an appeal for financial assistance to the U.S. and Canadian Grand Lodges.

Regardless of the extent of the disaster, the Grand Jurisdiction(s)’ appeal must include both a description of its impact on Freemasons, their families, and local lodges and that such impact is beyond its (their) financial resources. When the request is received, the ten MSANA Commissioners discuss the merits of the appeal and then vote to accept or decline the request. 

If the request for an appeal is accepted, the MSANA Administrator mails and emails the Disaster Relief Appeal notification to the grand secretaries of all MSANA member Grand Jurisdictions. It is then entirely up to each Grand Jurisdiction how they promote and encourage its subordinate lodges and membership to contribute to the appeal.

ALL financial donations must be made directly to the MSANA– either online or by check. Only those Grand Jurisdictions that suffered the disaster, and made the request, may collect money from their local lodges or individual brothers. Individual donations are tax deductible, and the MSANA thanks all donors by letter or email.

Other Masonic appendant or affiliated organizations, hearing of the appeal, may also respond by making a financial contribution, or promoting the appeal to its state and local units, and members. However, such contributions should be directed to the MSANA.

When a significant amount of funds is raised, and at the discretion of the MSANA Commissioners, all money received is sent to the Grand Jurisdiction(s) who made the appeal request. No portion of donated funds is ever retained by the MSANA. All costs connected with the appeal are covered by MSANA’s operating budget.

Our first disaster relief appeal was in 1923 to help the victims of an earthquake in Japan. Since that time more than 125 appeals have been made on behalf of individual Grand Lodges. Besides the US and Canada, relief has been gathered and sent to the following countries: Bahamas, Guatemala, Serbia, Philippines, New Zealand, Japan, Haiti, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Australia, and others.

Summary of Masonic Relief