ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA EDUCATIONAL ADVANCEMENT FOUNDATION INC

What ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA EDUCATIONAL ADVANCEMENT FOUNDATION INC does

Alpha Kappa Alpha Educational Advancement Foundation, Inc. (AKA EAF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation founded in 1980 as the official educational funding arm of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. — the oldest Greek-letter organization established by African American college-educated women. Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, the foundation provides need- and merit-based scholarships, fellowships, endowments, Community Assistance Awards, and Youth P.A.C. grants to undergraduate and graduate students of all backgrounds, plus institutional funding to HBCUs under the HBCU For Life Program Initiative. Over its 45-year history, AKA EAF has awarded more than $6 million in scholarships to 6,000+ students and currently distributes over $500,000 annually to nearly 300 recipients across 400+ distinct award programs.

The foundation's operational technology is a web-based scholarship management platform built on a WordPress/Avada CMS stack, featuring an online application portal and a multi-dimensional scholarship search tool that filters across type, level, AKA membership status, HBCU affiliation, gender, region, major, military status, and foster care background. Programmatic delivery is supported by a Chapter Captain liaison network and 10 Regional Coordinators spanning North Atlantic, Mid-Atlantic, South Atlantic, Great Lakes, South Eastern, South Central, Central, Mid-Western, Far Western, and International regions (the last covering Canada, the Caribbean, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia). The foundation manages a self-sustaining portfolio of 400+ endowments, with interest and dividends funding perpetual awards while principal remains untouched.

Revenue is generated through a diversified donations-and-contributions model: $10 annual membership dues remitted via AKA sorority per-capita payments, individual donations (96 cents of every dollar to programs), corporate matching gift programs at Allstate, Lockheed Martin, McKesson, AT&T, Bank of America, Microsoft, Verizon, IBM, J.P. Morgan Chase and others, Combined Federal Campaign payroll deductions (#11173), Amazon Smile, stock and securities gifts, chapter-level Silver/Gold/Platinum contributions, investment income from the endowment portfolio, and branded merchandise sales. Membership is automatic for all financial members of the parent sorority, embedding the foundation within a 115K+ member ecosystem that drives awareness, fundraising, and volunteer distribution without significant paid acquisition.

Name

ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA EDUCATIONAL ADVANCEMENT FOUNDATION INC

Legal name

Alpha Kappa Alpha Educational Advancement Foundation, Inc.

Website

https://akaeaf.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

AKA Educational Advancement Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1980 as the educational funding arm of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. It administers 400+ scholarships, fellowships, and endowments, distributing over $500K annually to nearly 300 undergraduate and graduate students.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Educational Foundation Services

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDADAHAC

Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts

Education/Education Administration, Accreditation & Policy/Education Funding, Grants & Financial Aid Administration

SECONDARYEDALAJAB

Scholarships, Grants & Donor-Funded Awards Management

Education/Student Services & Campus Operations/Financial Aid, Scholarships & Student Accounts (Bursar)

SECONDARYEDALAOAC

Major Gifts, Planned Giving & Endowment Development

Education/Student Services & Campus Operations/Alumni Relations, Development & Campus Community Engagement

SECONDARYFSAAAGAC

Endowments (Universities, Foundations, Nonprofits)

Financial & Insurance/Asset & Wealth Management/Asset Management — Institutional (Pensions, Endowments, Sovereign)

SECONDARYFSAKAEAM

Scholarships, Grants & Education Benefits Administration (Financing-adjacent)

Financial & Insurance/Lending & Consumer Finance/Student Loans & Education Finance

Keywords

• Educational scholarships
• Fellowship awards
• Endowment funds
• Nonprofit educational foundation
• Student financial aid

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago, Illinois

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Direct donations from individuals supporting educational funding. Ninety-six cents of every dollar donated goes toward programs supporting students and community organizations.
2. Corporate Matching Gifts: Partnership with dozens of corporations to match funds donated by their employees. Corporate matching programs include Allstate, Lockheed Martin, McKesson, AT&T, Bank of America, Microsoft, Verizon, IBM, J.P. Morgan Chase, and others.
3. Membership Dues: Every financial member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. pays annual $10 membership dues to EAF when per capita is paid to the sorority.
4. Investment Income: Endowment funds are invested, with interest and dividends used for scholarship awards. The principal remains untouched to provide perpetual funding.
5. Merchandise Sales: Sale of branded merchandise including jewelry, history books, scarves, and commemorative items. Proceeds support the mission of providing perpetual support for lifelong learning.
6. Chapter Contributions: Contributions from Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority chapters at local levels. Silver, Gold, and Platinum recognition levels based on chapter giving.
7. Federal Employee Giving: Federal employees make regular payroll or one-time donations through the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC), select #11173.
8. Stock Gifting: Donations of stocks and securities directly to AKA EAF to support overall investment strategy for sustaining education funds.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Alpha Kappa Alpha Educational Advancement Foundation, Inc. (AKA EAF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that operates as the official educational funding arm of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. The foundation administers need- and merit-based scholarships, fellowships, endowed funds, and community assistance awards to undergraduate and graduate students of all backgrounds. It sustains its mission through individual donations, corporate matching gifts, federal employee giving programs, sorority membership dues, investment income from endowments, and merchandise sales, while distributing over $500,000 in awards annually across nearly 300 recipients.

Product overview

Alpha Kappa Alpha Educational Advancement Foundation, Inc. (AKA EAF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that serves as the educational funding arm of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. The foundation operates a unified scholarship and grant platform offering multiple award types: Scholarships (one-time merit and need-based awards for undergraduate and graduate students), Fellowships (project-based awards for research improving quality of life), Endowments (donor-established scholarship funds with specific criteria), Community Assistance Awards (for civic and educational programs), and Youth P.A.C. (scholarships for AKA members). The organization also partners with corporations like Marriott International for specialized scholarship programs and generates revenue through merchandise sales. All programs share the mission of promoting lifelong learning through educational funding.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Scholarships One-time monetary awards based on merit or financial need, available to full-time sophomore and beyond undergraduate and graduate students earning degrees at accredited institutions. Includes undergraduate merit scholarships, graduate merit scholarships, and graduate financial need-based scholarships.
• Fellowships Awards granted to individuals and organizations working on projects or research to improve quality of life for others. Do not require enrollment in an academic institution and are awarded in even-numbered years across fields including leadership, STEM, childhood development, and human services.
• Endowments Permanently restricted scholarship funds established by donors with specific criteria. Endowments require a minimum $5,000 to initiate and $25,000 to capitalize before awards can be distributed from interest earned. The endowment portfolio includes over 400 active funds.
• Community Assistance Awards Designated funds to assist individuals and organizations for specific civic, educational, or human service programs. Projects must address one of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority's Signature Program Initiatives. Established in 1991 with more than $200,000 awarded since.
• Youth P.A.C. (Youth Partners in Accessing Capital) Scholarship program for undergraduate members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. requiring 3.0 GPA, demonstrated academic achievement or extreme financial need, and participation in leadership, volunteer, civic, or campus activities.
• Thrive Scholarships Gap scholarships for full-time sophomore or beyond students with minimum 2.5 GPA who have a financial gap in tuition and need assistance to move to the next level or graduate. Awards capped at $1,000.
• Launch Scholarships Scholarships for students typically not qualifying for merit or need-based awards who are experiencing a financial shortfall and need support to pursue their education.
• Alice S. Marriott Scholarship Fund Partnership scholarship with Marriott International for students from traditionally underrepresented groups interested in pursuing careers in hospitality. Available annually since 2012 in honor of Alice S. Marriott's volunteerism philosophy.
• EAF Branded Merchandise Online store selling branded merchandise including jewelry, history books, scarves, and commemorative items such as 45th Anniversary Commemorative Bears and Anniversary Pins. Proceeds support the foundation's mission of providing perpetual support for lifelong learning.

Quantifiable outcome

• 96% of every dollar donated goes toward programs supporting students and community organizations.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Howard UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 January 2023On January 15, 2023, as part of the 115th Anniversary, EAF made a $500K contribution to Howard University to fund the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Leadership Endowment Fund. Howard University is the founding home of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
• Marriott InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Marriott International has partnered with EAF to grant scholarships for students from traditionally underrepresented groups interested in careers in hospitality. Since 2012, scholarships offered annually. Alice S. Marriott had a personal philosophy of volunteerism remembered in the Alice S. Marriott Award for Community Service.
• Combined Federal Campaign (CFC)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFederal employees may make regular payroll or one-time donations to EAF through the Combined Federal Campaign — one of world's largest annual workplace charity campaigns. Select #11173 on the pledge card. Wisconsin state employees select #4002.
• Amazon SmileminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWhen supporters shop on Amazon Smile, Amazon donates a percentage of eligible purchases to EAF. Federal Tax ID #36-3104692.
• Corporate Matching Gift PartnersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEAF has partnered with dozens of corporations to match funds donated by their employees. Current participants include: Allstate Giving Campaign, Altria, Lockheed Martin, McKesson, AT&T Foundation, Avon Products Foundation, Bank of America, Merck Employee Giving, Microsoft Giving, Procter and Gamble, Verizon, IBM, J.P. Morgan Chase, and many others.
• University and College Financial Aid OfficesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnerships with university and college financial aid offices to showcase EAF scholarship information on their websites, increasing visibility to potential applicants.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• American Indian College Fund: The American Indian College Fund provides scholarships and support to TCU students through corporate partnerships, donor funds, and endowments — closely comparable to EAF's HBCU-supporting endowment and donor-tier recognition model.
• UNCF (United Negro College Fund): UNCF is the largest private provider of scholarships and institutional support for HBCU students, offering need- and merit-based awards funded through corporate partnerships, individual donations, and endowments — directly comparable to EAF's HBCU For Life mission and endowment-driven model.
• National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering (NACME): NACME funds scholarships for underrepresented minority students in engineering and STEM via corporate partner sponsorships (Schlumberger, Boeing, etc.) — directly parallels EAF's corporate matching model and named endowments (e.g., field-specific STEM scholarships).
• Jackie Robinson Foundation: JRF awards multi-year merit scholarships and provides leadership programming to minority students, sustained by corporate partners and a strong brand-linked network — closely comparable to EAF's blend of merit/need awards, donor recognition tiers, and fellowship-style programming.
• Ron Brown Scholar Program: Ron Brown provides multi-year merit scholarships to African American high school seniors pursuing higher education, funded through corporate sponsors and donors — directly comparable to EAF's undergraduate merit scholarships and named endowment awards.
• Thurgood Marshall College Fund: TMCF provides scholarships, leadership development, and capacity-building support to HBCU students and institutions, funded through corporate partnerships and member-scholarship programs — a direct peer in HBCU-targeted scholarship fundraising.
• Hispanic Scholarship Fund: HSF administers large-scale scholarships for Hispanic undergraduate and graduate students via corporate partner funding and online application portals — directly comparable in scale, donor-funded award structure, and digital scholarship search experience.

Broad incumbents

• NAACP Foundation: The NAACP Foundation is a broader African American-focused grantmaking and scholarship organization with a wider advocacy portfolio — comparable as a peer African American-serving philanthropic foundation, though broader and less specialized in education-only scholarship funding.
• National Merit Scholarship Corporation: A larger, established scholarship administrator processing corporate-sponsored awards from a wide base of employers — broadly comparable as a merit-and-need scholarship platform, though not minority-focused like EAF.

Others

• Sigma Pi Phi (The Boulé): Sigma Pi Phi is the oldest African American Greek-letter fraternal organization with charitable foundations supporting education — adjacent as a sibling fraternal philanthropy ecosystem parallel to AKA's sorority-affiliated foundation structure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/alpha-kappa-alpha-educational-advancement-foundation-inc

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA EDUCATIONAL ADVANCEMENT FOUNDATION INC