Into the Breach is a call to battle for Catholic men which urges them to embrace wholeheartedly masculine virtues in a world in crisis. Inspired by the Apostolic Exhortation for Catholic men written by Bishop Olmsted of Phoenix, the Knights of Columbus produced a video series which seeks to answer the question of what it means to be a man and how to live as a man in today's world.

You can watch all the episodes at https://www.kofc.org/en/campaigns/into-the-breach.html. You can also sign up to receive more like this.

Everything the Knights of Columbus does is driven by four core principals:

• Charity: From the beginning, Catholics have been known for their charity and how they take care of others.
• Unity: While one person can do wonders, a group of people can do even more.
• Fraternity: Taking care of each other is what drove the Knights of Columbus to create an insurance program with is top-rated.
• Patriotism: Knights of Columbus are patriotic citizens and stand up for both God and country.

For more information, click here to go to the Supreme Council website.

Interested in joining the Knights of Columbus? Click here!

Striving to fullfill the vision of Father Michael J. McGivney, The Knights of Columbus offers four awards in keeping with the essential needs of the community:

• COLUMBIAN AWARD: To qualify, conduct and report at least four major programs in each of the Service Program categories (Church, Community, Council, Culture of Life, Family and Youth). Or, conduct and report a single featured program in each Service Program category.
• FATHER McGIVNEY AWARD: Earn this award by gaining a 7 percent increase in membership, or a minimum of four net members, as of July 1 to achieve 100 percent quota for membership. Double Star Councils, which reach 200 percent of their membership quota, or Triple Star Councils, which achieve 300 percent of their quota, also qualify for the Father McGivney Award.
• FOUNDERS’ AWARD: To earn this award, councils must achieve their insurance membership quota as of July 1, with all membership and insurance transactions received, processed, recorded and released at Supreme Council headquarters by June 30. The quota for councils is a 2.5 percent net increase or a minimum of three new insurance members.
• Star Council Award: To earn the Star Council Award during this new fraternal year, councils must earn the Father McGivney Award, the Founders’ Award and the Columbian Award. Additionally, Councils need to have filed all their required forms timely, be in "good standing" with Supreme and be fully safe environment compliant. Councils that participate in these programs and activities and meet the adidtional requirements are recognized as fulfilling Father McGivney’s vision.

For more information, click here to go to the Supreme Council website.

Every January each council and assembly is asked to provide a summary of fraternal activity for the previous calendar year. To accomplish this, each brother and Sir Knight is asked to provide a summary of the activities in which they were engaged that supported those areas which the Knights of Columbus support. To view a PDF copy of this form at the Supreme Council forms website, click here. For more information on service programs, click here.

The Knights of Columbus has established a leadership chain of command that startes with the Supreme Knight and flows to each brother in a council. For those that are new to the Knights of Columbus, the Grand Knight is the person that is in charge of the council and to whom all local council leadership report. The Supreme website has a booklet that describes the positions and responsibilities. To view a PDF copy of this booklet at the Supreme Council forms website, click here.

The Knights of Columbus is a fraternal organization, and, strictly speaking, is a 501(c)(8) organization (Fraternal Beneficiary Society), not a 501(c)(3) (Charitable Organization).

IRC 170(c)(4) provides that, in the case of a contribution or gift by any individual, the term “charitable contribution” includes a contribution or gift to or for the use of a domestic fraternal society, order, or association, operating under the lodge system, but only if such contribution or gift is to be used exclusively for religious, charitable, scientific, literary, or educational purposes, or for the prevention of cruelty to children or animals.

Contributions for fraternal or social purposes are not deductible.

As with all tax-related matters, you should consult a tax professional for applicability on this topic, as circumstances vary from individual to individual.