What Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity does

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. is a private, non-profit Greek-letter fraternity founded on December 4, 1906 at Cornell University, and is recognized as the first intercollegiate Greek-letter fraternity established for African American men. The organization is headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland (2313 St. Paul Street), with 11–50 headquarters staff supporting approximately 70,000 current members and more than 300,000 members initiated historically across roughly 880 college and alumni chapters in the United States, Canada, Africa, Europe, Asia, the Caribbean, and the Middle East. Its mission is delivered through a portfolio of national programs — including A Voteless People Is a Hopeless People (voter registration), Go-to-High-School Go-to-College (education), Project Alpha (youth development ages 12–15), and Brother's Keeper (senior support) — administered largely through the Alpha Phi Alpha Education Foundation.

The operating product stack is modest and member-facing: AlphaMX (formerly AlphaNET, migrated to ProTech in January 2020) serves as the member portal for profile management, chapter affiliation, life membership applications, and event registration; SphinxTV is a YouTube- and SoundCloud-hosted multimedia platform producing original programming (Power in Practice, Beyond The Lights, The Standard, Sphinx Newsroom, DIVINE 9 Situation Room); The Sphinx Magazine is the official publication and the second-oldest African American publication in the United States; and Sphinx Reserve (sphinxreserve.com) is the owned e-commerce storefront for merchandise. No public API, developer platform, or AI/ML capability is documented.

Revenue is generated through five streams: recurring membership dues (including individual grand tax, chapter tax, and life membership fees of $850 active / $1,000 inactive), merchandise sales via Sphinx Reserve and a network of 20+ officially licensed vendors, trademark licensing royalties, donations across multiple funds (Education Foundation, General Operations, Disaster Relief, Jewels Heritage Project), and convention/event revenue (General Convention, five regional conventions, and add-on fundraising such as the $19.06 Suits and Sneakers initiative). The organization is governed by an elected General President and Board; the current General President is Lucien J. Metellus, Jr. There is no parent company, no external equity ownership, and no public financial disclosure.

Name

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity

Legal name

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

Website

https://apa1906.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1906

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. is a private, non-profit Black Greek-letter organization founded in 1906, serving approximately 70,000 current members across 880+ chapters worldwide through leadership development, national programs, member media (SphinxTV, The Sphinx), and scholarship initiatives.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fraternal Membership Services

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Greek Life (Fraternities & Sororities) (EDALAHAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Student Organizations & Club Administration (EDALAHAB), Alumni Events, Reunions & Regional Chapters (EDALAOAG), Volunteer Management & Alumni Leadership Programs (EDALAOAH), Alumni Communications, Marketing & Publications (EDALAOAF), Major Gifts, Planned Giving & Endowment Development (EDALAOAC)

Keywords

• Fraternal organization services
• Membership dues programs
• Leadership development programs
• Community service initiatives
• Educational scholarship programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Birmingham

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Members pay annual dues including individual grand tax, chapter tax, and life membership fees. Life membership fees range from $850 for active members to $1000 for inactive members, with proceeds supporting fraternity operations.
2. Merchandise Sales: Revenue from official Alpha Phi Alpha merchandise through the Alpha Marketplace (sphinxreserve.com) and licensed vendors. Proceeds go directly into the fraternity's operating budget.
3. Licensing Fees: Revenue from officially licensed vendors who pay licensing fees to use Alpha Phi Alpha trademarks. All vendors are screened for quality and must have licensing agreements.
4. Donations and Foundation Support: Donations to various funds including the Education Foundation, General Operations Fund, Disaster Relief Fund, and the Jewels Heritage Project. For donations over $10,000, contact the Chief Development Officer for legacy gift options.
5. Convention and Event Revenue: Revenue from convention registrations, merchandise sales at events, and special fundraising initiatives like the Suits and Sneakers campaign ($19.06 registration add-on).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. is a private, nonprofit fraternal organization that recruits, inducts, and serves members through a network of more than 880 college and alumni chapters worldwide. It delivers its mission through paid life and annual memberships, national programs (education, voter engagement, youth mentorship, senior support), licensed merchandise, multimedia content (SphinxTV, The Sphinx Magazine), and an online member portal (AlphaMX).

Product overview

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity operates a unified platform of membership services, media content, and community programs. The core member-facing product is AlphaMX (formerly AlphaNET), a member portal providing database access, chapter services, and event management. The fraternity's media ecosystem centers on SphinxTV for video content and The Sphinx Magazine for publications. The e-commerce operation includes Sphinx Reserve (online merchandise store) and the Alpha Marketplace (licensed vendor program). The fraternity's mission is executed through national programs including A Voteless People Is a Hopeless People (voter engagement), Go-to-High-School Go-to-College (education), Project Alpha (youth development), and Brother's Keeper (senior support), all administered through the Education Foundation and various special initiatives. The organization also provides scholarships, leadership development, and collegiate competitions as part of its programmatic offerings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Alpha Phi Alpha Education Foundation: Non-profit charitable arm of the fraternity focusing on scholarship, programs and training/development of the membership. Encompasses Go-to-High School, Go-to-College; Project Alpha; First of All, We Vote; The Belford V. Lawson Oratorical Contest; and other educational initiatives.
• The Sphinx Magazine
• Sphinx Studios
• Sphinx Reserve
• First Of All We Vote

Products and services

• AlphaMX Member Portal Member-only online portal for managing membership profiles, chapter affiliations, life membership applications, dues, and event registrations for the fraternity's 70,000+ members.
• SphinxTV Digital video and multimedia streaming platform featuring original programming including The Sphinx Newsroom, Power in Practice, Beyond The Lights, The Standard, and DIVINE 9 Situation Room, distributed via YouTube and Sphinx Radio on Soundcloud.
• The Sphinx Magazine Official print and digital publication of the fraternity, the second oldest African American publication in America, serving as a fraternal archive and platform for community thought leaders.
• Sphinx Reserve (Alpha Marketplace) Official e-commerce store selling licensed Alpha Phi Alpha apparel and paraphernalia, with all proceeds supporting the fraternity's operating budget.
• Alpha Marketplace (Official Vendor Licensing Program) In-house licensing program managing more than 20 officially licensed vendors that sell Alpha Phi Alpha-branded merchandise across the United States, ensuring trademark compliance and product quality.
• A Voteless People Is a Hopeless People (VPHP) National civic engagement program offering voter registration drives, political awareness town meetings, and candidate forums for members and African American communities.
• Go-to-High-School, Go-to-College National educational achievement program supporting African American youth through high school completion and college enrollment mentorship.
• Project Alpha Collaborative youth development program providing education, motivation, and skill-building on responsibility, relationships, teen pregnancy, and sexually transmitted diseases for young males ages 12-15.
• Brother's Keeper Service program advocating for and improving quality of life for senior and disabled fraternity brothers, their spouses, widows, and vulnerable community members.
• Alpha Phi Alpha Education Foundation Non-profit charitable arm of the fraternity administering scholarships, leadership development institutes, the Belford V. Lawson Oratorical Contest, and John Hope Franklin Collegiate Scholars Bowl.
• Membership Items Product Catalog Catalog of member-only products including anniversary pins (25, 55, 70, 75 year), fraternity pins, jewel coin collections, life member plates, and official publications including Constitution and Bylaws and historical books.
• WGU Service and Leadership Scholarship $5,000 scholarship offered to Alpha Phi Alpha members enrolling at Western Governors University in competency-based online programs in business, technology, healthcare, and education.

Quantifiable outcome

• $2.3M in scholarship funds raised
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Western Governors UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 May 2026Renewed partnership providing $5,000 WGU Service and Leadership Scholarships for Alpha Phi Alpha members. The agreement encourages professional growth and educational advancement through WGU's competency-based online programs in business, technology, healthcare, and education.
• The Jed Foundation (JED)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Partnership with JED to protect mental health and prevent suicide among members through participation in JED's Greek-Letter Organizations (GLO) programs. Addresses the 47% increase in suicide rate among young Black men ages 20-24 between 2018-2024. Partnership includes substance misuse and hazing prevention training.
• University of Minnesota Carlson School of ManagementcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 May 2024Partnership ensuring more Alpha members pursue graduate business degrees. Provides application fee waivers and no less than three full tuition fellowships annually for those admitted to Carlson's Full-Time or Management Science MBA program. Partnership runs through June 30, 2026.
• EventnoirecoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 March 2024Strategic partnership with Eventnoire, a Black-owned event ticketing and media platform, to amplify and support events within the Black community. The partnership promotes cultural, educational, and social events while empowering event organizers and attendees to foster unity and pride within the Black community.
• Ora Lee Smith Cancer Research FoundationminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 23 January 2024Fraternity supporting the Black tech-based cancer charity during Black History Month with a social media takeover and fundraising campaign for $10 million needed for human clinical trials with LANT cancer treatment developed by Dr. Hadiyah-Nicole Green.
• Barber-Scotia CollegeminorOthers · 1 September 2023Fraternity donated $10,000 to Barber-Scotia College in honor of late former college president and Past General President Lionel Hodge Newsom. The fraternity committed to annual support recognizing the HBCU's legacy.
• National Council of Negro Women (NCNW)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2019Partnership supporting the 2019 NCNW Hungry for Education HBCU Tour visiting seven campuses. Alpha members provided support and mentorship at tour stops including Florida A&M, Howard University, and Texas Southern University.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of AmericacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1990Partnership implemented during the 1990 General Convention to assist in reaching goals of working toward positive development of African-American youth. Focuses on increasing minority representation and exposing African-American boys to positive Alpha role models.
• Boy Scouts of AmericaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEstablished partnership for implementing educational collaboration and programs that empower and enhance the quality of life for youth through the Alpha Phi Alpha-BSA relationship.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority: Divine Nine African American sorority with parallel national programs, youth affiliates, and community-service orientation, often co-programming with Alpha Phi Alpha chapters.
• Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity: Divine Nine NPHC fraternity founded in 1914 with similar African American male membership focus, national programs, and chapter-based structure, often bundled with Alpha Phi Alpha via Sigma Beta Club youth initiatives.
• Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity: Fellow Divine Nine / NPHC African American intercollegiate Greek-letter fraternity founded in 1911, competing directly for the same African American male undergraduate recruitment pool with comparable chapter structure and national programs.
• Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority: First African American Greek-letter sorority and a Divine Nine counterpart to Alpha Phi Alpha; operates a comparable national program, scholarship, and chapter model and is the sororal peer in the Black Greek community.
• Iota Phi Theta Fraternity: The newest of the Divine Nine NPHC fraternities, founded in 1963; competes for the same African American male collegiate membership pool with a slightly different positioning but structurally comparable.
• Omega Psi Phi Fraternity: One of the four historically Black Greek-letter fraternities in the Divine Nine, founded in 1911 at Howard University; directly comparable membership model, chapter footprint, and community programming.
• Zeta Phi Beta Sorority: Divine Nine sorority founded in 1920 with a comparable African American collegiate membership base, national programs, and scholarship/community service focus.
• Delta Sigma Theta Sorority: Major African American sorority in the Divine Nine with comparable national scale, programmatic offering, civic engagement focus, and youth/community service mandate.

Broad incumbents

• Big Brothers Big Sisters of America: Long-standing national youth mentorship organization and Alpha Phi Alpha's partner since 1990; overlaps in mentorship programming for African American youth but operates as a non-membership nonprofit rather than a Greek-letter society.
• NAACP: Larger, established African American civic and civil rights organization with overlapping voter rights, education, and advocacy programming; competes for donor dollars and member attention rather than direct membership.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/apa1906network
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCZCo9ezB1jPAnnBHa4g6jiw
• Facebookfacebook.com/1906apanetwork
• Instagraminstagram.com/apa1906network
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/alpha-phi-alpha-fraternity-inc-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity