What Alpha Tau Omega does

Alpha Tau Omega is a private national social fraternity founded in 1865 at the Virginia Military Institute by Otis Allan Glazebrook, Erskine Mayo Ross, and Alfred Marshall, and headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. The organization operates as America's Leadership Development Fraternity, serving approximately 8,700 active undergraduate members across 125+ university chapters in the United States, with a 248,000+ lifetime member base and a 150,000+ alumni network sustained through the Life Loyal Tau program and the ATO Palm magazine. Revenue is generated through five streams: recurring membership dues and insurance fees, licensing royalties from a vendor consortium represented by Affinity Marketing Consultants, merchandise sales via the ATO Store and ATO Marketplace, event registration fees for programs such as the biennial Congress, Altitude leadership retreat, Encounter, Men of Destiny, and the annual Presidents Retreat, plus donations to the ATO Foundation (a 501(c)(3) subsidiary established in 1935) which disburses approximately $245,000 in annual scholarships.

The core technology stack is the ATO Portal (portal.ato.org), launched July 1, 2023 and powered by re:Members, which functions as the mandatory member login, communications, and account management platform; Billhighway provides chapter finance and payment processing support. Programs include the LeaderShape Institute (a premier leadership development program created by ATO in 1986), the ATO Roadshow platform for tracking chapter community service, and virtual consulting/on-demand training offerings that ATO positions as a first-of-its-kind among fraternities. Distribution is omnichannel: physical chapter presence on campuses, the ATO Show podcast on Apple Music and Spotify, social media profiles across Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn, and email/text communications through the Portal. Leadership is provided by CEO Wynn Smiley and National President Howe Q. Wallace Jr., with a dedicated Director of Expansion, Director of Health and Safety, and a consultant/intern hiring program supporting chapter services.

Name

Alpha Tau Omega

Legal name

Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity

Website

https://ato.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1865

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Alpha Tau Omega is America's Leadership Development Fraternity, founded in 1865, serving approximately 8,700 active undergraduates across 125+ university chapters in the United States, with a 248,000+ lifetime member base, leadership development programming, and the ATO Portal as its digital member hub.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fraternity Membership & Leadership Development Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Greek Life (Fraternities & Sororities) (EDALAHAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Alumni Relations & Alumni Engagement Programs (EDALAOAA), Alumni Benefits, Membership & Affinity Programs (EDALAOAM), Student Organizations & Club Administration (EDALAHAB), Alumni Communications, Marketing & Publications (EDALAOAF), Alumni Events, Reunions & Regional Chapters (EDALAOAG), Volunteer Management & Alumni Leadership Programs (EDALAOAH), Advancement Services & Donor Operations (CRM, Gift Processing, Stewardship) (EDALAOAD)

Keywords

• Fraternity membership services
• Leadership development programs
• Greek life organization
• College brotherhood programs
• Alumni association services

Headquarters

HQ city

Indianapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues and Fees: Members pay membership fees, insurance fees, and dues to the national fraternity organization.
2. Licensing Royalties: Royalty payments from licensed vendors who manufacture merchandise with ATO's name, Greek letters, and insignia. ATO is member of a consortium represented by Affinity Marketing Consultants, Inc. (AMC).
3. Merchandise Sales: ATO Store sells official fraternity merchandise including apparel, jewelry, and memorabilia.
4. Event Registration Fees: Registration fees for national events including Congress, Presidents Retreat, Altitude leadership program, Encounter retreats, and Men of Destiny programs.
5. Donations and Foundation: Donations to the Alpha Tau Omega Foundation (501(c)(3)) supporting scholarships and educational programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Alpha Tau Omega is a national social fraternity that delivers membership, brotherhood, and structured leadership development programming to college men across 125+ U.S. university chapters. Its offerings include flagship wilderness, spiritual, and officer training programs (Altitude, Encounter, Men of Destiny, Presidents Retreat), the biennial ATO Congress, an ATO Foundation scholarship program exceeding $245,000 annually, alumni engagement through Life Loyal Tau and the ATO Palm magazine, and member services delivered through the ATO Portal launched July 1, 2023.

Product overview

Alpha Tau Omega offers a comprehensive portfolio of membership services centered on leadership development for college men. The core member-facing platform is the ATO Portal, a digital hub launched in 2023 for account management and communications. The organization delivers structured leadership programming through multiple flagship programs: Altitude (Rocky Mountains wilderness leadership), Encounter (spiritual retreat in Gatlinburg), Men of Destiny (strengths-based personal development), and Presidents Retreat (annual officer training). The biennial ATO Congress serves as the premier national gathering event. Financial support is provided through the ATO Foundation, which awards over $100,000 annually in scholarships. Additional member benefits include the ATO Palm magazine (official publication), Life Loyal Tau alumni association, and the LeaderShape Institute partnership. The fraternity also operates the ATO Podcast and maintains licensed merchandise through the ATO Marketplace.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Life Loyal Tau: A worldwide alumni association program for ATO members to stay connected to the National Fraternity
• ATO Foundation
• Altitude
• Encounter
• Men of Destiny
• Presidents Retreat
• ATO Palm
• Congress
• LeaderShape Institute

Products and services

• ATO Portal Member-only digital portal serving as the central hub for all Alpha Tau Omega members to manage accounts, access communications, register for events, and engage with fraternity services. All members are required to set up accounts since its launch.
• ATO Foundation Scholarships Scholarship program administered by the Alpha Tau Omega Foundation providing over $100,000 annually to initiated members, including National Undergraduate and Graduate Scholarships, J. Milton Richardson Theological Fellowship, Lawrence A. Long Memorial Law Scholarship, Arthur Sailer Pharmacology Scholarship, Richard A. Ports Public Affairs Award, and Distinct Advantage Scholarship.
• ATO Palm Magazine Official publication of Alpha Tau Omega covering alumni achievements and fraternity news. Lifetime subscriptions provided to Life Loyal Tau members; digital editions available with print editions through membership.
• Altitude Leadership Program A rigorous six-day leadership program in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado involving backpacking, wilderness camping, white water rafting, rock climbing, and summiting a 14,000-foot peak. Curriculum focuses on servant leadership development. $500 total tuition.
• Encounter Retreat Three-day spiritual retreat in Gatlinburg, TN designed for brothers to explore or deepen their spiritual identity through the story of the Prodigal Son, focusing on Glazebrook's belief in unconditional love. $300 total tuition includes airfare and all logistics.
• Men of Destiny One-and-a-half-day leadership program helping men identify personal strengths and motivations and how they overlap with the desire to engage and support others in family, community, or the world.
• Presidents Retreat Annual January retreat providing incoming chapter officers with nuts-and-bolts content coverage and collaboration opportunities. Attendance is required for every President, Vice President, and membership educator.
• ATO Congress Biennial three-day national convention held in July/August providing opportunities for alumni and undergraduates to network, recognize chapter successes, and participate in educational programming with notable speakers and live-stream feeds. The 87th Congress is scheduled for July 30-August 2, 2026 in Orlando, FL at The Ritz-Carlton Grande Lakes.
• Life Loyal Tau Alumni Association Worldwide alumni association program enabling ATO members to stay connected to the National Fraternity and expand their ATO network. Members receive lifetime subscription to the ATO Palm magazine.
• LeaderShape Institute Premier leadership development training program created by Alpha Tau Omega in 1986, available to college students and young professionals. ATO Foundation provides scholarships for members to attend.
• ATO Podcast (The ATO Show) The official podcast of Alpha Tau Omega, available on Apple Music and Spotify for members and alumni to stay connected and informed about fraternity activities and leadership development.
• Growth and Chapter Services Consultant Program Year-round career program employing young professionals and graduating seniors as consultants who support chapter operations nationally. New hires start in January or June, with primary hiring between September and November.
• Summer Internship Program Paid internships for non-graduating members working 4-6 weeks at national headquarters in Indianapolis, IN. Interns assist with fraternal projects including planning the National Awards Celebration and Congress. Primary hiring in February and March.
• True Merit Award Program Fraternity's chapter recognition program established in 1969 (originally Chapter Efficiency Award, renamed Chapter Excellence Award in 1975, then True Merit Award in 1979). Awarded to chapters achieving excellence in chapter operation based on the spirit of the ATO Creed.

Quantifiable outcome

• $8 million raised in service for charitable causes across chapters in one year
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Affinity Marketing Consultants, Inc. (AMC)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAMC works closely with licensed vendors to choose appropriate product designs utilizing official ATO colors and logos. AMC represents ATO in granting licenses to companies manufacturing merchandise with ATO's name, Greek letters, and insignia. ATO is member of a consortium of Greek organizations that have entered into trademark licensing agreement with AMC.
• LeaderShape Institute, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreated by ATO in 1986, the LeaderShape Institute is considered one of the country's premier leadership development training programs available to college students and young professionals. ATO Foundation provides scholarships for members to attend.
• BettermyndminorOthersMental health services partner accessible through ATO member portal login.
• Lumatic (Photography/Composites)minorOthersOfficial photography and composites partner for fraternity and sorority chapters.
• Richmond Property GroupminorOthersReal estate and property management services partner.
• North-American Interfraternity Conference (NIC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerATO is a participating member of NIC, along with Fraternity Executives Association (FEA), College Fraternity Communications Association (FCA), Council for the Advancement and Support of Education, FIPG, Inc., and Fraternal Risk Management Trust (FRMT).
• re:MemberscoreTechnology or IntegrationCompany that powers the ATO Portal platform. Portal launched July 1, 2023, requiring all members to set up new login accounts through this platform.
• Noah's Ark CampgroundminorOthersPartner location for Altitude leadership program - participants stay at Noah's Ark campground in Buena Vista, Colorado during the Rocky Mountains backpacking adventure.
• Camp SumatangaminorOthersLocation partner for Valiant Leadership Training Program in Gallant, Alabama.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE): One of the oldest and largest US fraternities with a comparable national chapter system, leadership programming, and Foundation structure. Directly comparable to ATO across scale, member profile, and operating geography.
• Beta Theta Pi: Established national fraternity with a similar values-based founding story, national programming model, and chapter-based service structure. Operates with comparable scale and member engagement programs to ATO.
• Kappa Sigma: Christian-values fraternity with comparable member mission, chapter footprint, and leadership development orientation. Direct peer in values positioning and similar operating model to ATO.
• Delta Tau Delta: Established national fraternity with comparable chapter scale, member programming portfolio, and headquarters-driven service model. Closely matches ATO in organizational structure and member offering.
• Pi Kappa Alpha (PIKE): Large national fraternity with comparable undergraduate member base, leadership programming, and chapter-based delivery model. Direct peer to ATO across mission and operations.
• Phi Delta Theta: Large national fraternity with comparable chapter footprint and undergraduate leadership focus. Phi Delt operates a similar community-led growth motion, national headquarters structure, and member programming platform as ATO.
• Sigma Nu: Values-based national fraternity with explicit leadership development positioning, similar chapter footprint, and comparable Foundation/donation structure. Direct peer in mission and operating model.
• Sigma Chi: One of the largest US social fraternities with a similar values-based foundation, multi-chapter footprint, and undergraduate leadership development model. Highly comparable to ATO in target member, organizational structure, and chapter-based delivery.

Others

• North-American Interfraternity Conference (NIC): Umbrella trade association of which ATO is a participating member, alongside most major US fraternities. NIC represents the broader fraternal industry in policy and standards discussions, making it a relevant ecosystem peer for benchmarking and industry context.
• Lambda Chi Alpha:

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/alphatauomega
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/AlphaTauOmegaNHQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/alphatauomega
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/alpha-tau-omega-fraternity
• Instagraminstagram.com/atonhq

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Tau Omega