Elburn Lions Club

What Elburn Lions Club does

Elburn Lions Club is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community service organization (legal entity: Lions of Elburn Charities, Inc., EIN 36-4102233) chartered by Lions Clubs International on September 14, 1929, in Elburn, Kane County, Illinois. It operates with approximately 200 members and maintains Lions Park, a 25-26 acre community facility at 500 S. Filmore Street featuring a renovated banquet hall accommodating up to 220 guests, a seasonal South Pavilion (May-September), playground, baseball/softball fields, and open grounds. The club serves the Elburn community and broader Kaneland School District 302 area, with charitable programs centered on Lions International's sight mission, including free Spot Vision Eye Screenings (Pediavision Spot portable photo refractor), eyeglass recycling for developing nations, low-vision reading machines placed at the library and senior housing, and the Elburn Lions for Literacy program that has distributed nearly 15,000 books since 2012. Additional programs include youth scholarships, a Leo Club for ages 12-30, and community grants.

The organization's business model is event-driven and diversified across multiple revenue streams: facility rentals of the banquet hall and pavilion for weddings, corporate events, and reunions with mandatory in-house catering; weekly Friday Night Bingo (September-May) under Bingo License #B-04001 and Pull Tab License #P-01921; the Elburn Days three-day festival held the third weekend of August (carnival rides, beer garden, food/beverage, tiered sponsorships from Bronze $300 to Platinum $2,500); recurring raffle programs including an annual Car Raffle (3,750 tickets at $20 each) and 300 Raffle; annual ~$75-$150 membership dues paid online via Square; and tax-deductible donations through Lions of Elburn Charities. Distribution is primarily direct at Lions Park and through Square.site e-commerce storefronts (membership, raffles, donations, rentals). Marketing runs through elburnlions.com, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, printed flyers, and partnerships with the Elburn Chamber of Commerce, Kaneland School District 302, Town and Country Public Library, local food pantries, Bob Jass Chevrolet, Hobbytown USA, and Skinners Amusements.

Revenue is not publicly disclosed; based on the visible mix of recurring events, facility rentals, ~200 members, and Elburn Days festival economics, the operation is consistent with a mid-sized community Lions club in the low hundreds of thousands of dollars annually. The club operates as one of the largest Lions clubs in Illinois, is affiliated with Lions District 1J and Lions of Illinois Foundation, and participates in global Lions International humanitarian initiatives (1.4M members across 44,800+ clubs in 188 countries).

Name

Elburn Lions Club

Legal name

Lions of Elburn Charities, Inc.

Website

https://elburnlions.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1929

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Elburn Lions Club is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit chartered in 1929 in Elburn, Illinois, operating a 25-26 acre community park and banquet hall while running Elburn Days festival, weekly Bingo, vision screenings, eyeglass recycling, and literacy programs for local residents.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Nonprofit Services

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Fundraisers & Charity Events (Gala/Walks excluded) (MPAGAEAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cultural Festivals & Events Organizations (BPAGAHAG), Gala, Fundraiser & Nonprofit Event Catering (THAHAKAF)

Keywords

• Community service events
• Event venue rental
• Fundraising programs
• Nonprofit charity services
• Vision screening programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Elburn

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Facility and Park Rentals: The club operates a banquet hall (accommodating up to 220 guests) and seasonal South Pavilion at Lions Park, renting the venues for weddings, showers, birthdays, company picnics, class reunions, and other events. The facility offers in-house catering, bar services, and audio-visual amenities.
2. Raffles and Gaming Events: The club runs multiple raffle programs including a Car Raffle (annual, tickets $20, 3750 sold, winner chooses vehicle or $30,000 cash), 50/50 raffle at Elburn Days, Calendar Raffle, Gun Raffle, and Holiday Meat Raffle. Proceeds support Lions Park maintenance and Lions Charities.
3. Friday Night Bingo: Weekly bingo games held September through May. Players pay per game ($1 each) and pull tabs ($1 each). The club holds a bingo license (#B-04001) and pull tab license (#P-01921). Concessions are sold during events.
4. Elburn Days Festival: The largest annual fundraiser, held on the third weekend of August. Revenue is generated through carnival ride wristbands, food and beverage sales, beer garden sales, raffles, and vendor/booth fees. Sponsor packages at Bronze ($300), Silver ($500), Gold ($1,000), and Platinum ($2,500) levels also contribute.
5. Membership Dues: The club collects annual membership dues from its approximately 200 members. Members can pay dues online through the Lions membership Square site.
6. Donations: The Lions of Elburn Charities, Inc. is a registered 501(c)(3) organization (EIN 36-4102233). Donations support community service programs and international Lions causes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Elburn Lions Club is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community service organization operating Lions Park, a 25-26 acre facility offering banquet hall and pavilion rentals with in-house catering, and running an annual calendar of community fundraising events (Elburn Days festival, Friday Night Bingo, Car Show, German Dinner, raffles, fireworks, and free community dinners). It also delivers charitable programs including free Spot Vision screenings, eyeglass recycling, low-vision reading machine placement, and the Elburn Lions for Literacy book distribution program, supported by approximately 200 dues-paying members.

Product overview

Elburn Lions Club operates a community-focused nonprofit organization with three main divisions: Lions Park (venue rentals and catering), Lions Club (membership and community service), and Lions Charities (vision and literacy programs). The venue business offers indoor banquet hall and outdoor pavilion rentals with in-house catering as the primary revenue-generating service. Community programs include Friday Night Bingo (seasonal gaming), the annual Elburn Days Festival (three-day fundraiser), All Wheel Car Show, Fireworks Show, German Dinner, and Free Spaghetti Dinner (monthly). Lions Charities provides vision screenings using Spot Vision technology, eyeglass recycling, reading machines for low vision, and literacy programs distributing books to those in need. The club also operates a Leo Club for youth leadership and offers venue, raffle, and scholarship programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Elburn Leo Club: Youth leadership program for young people ages 12 to 18, focused on individual and social development through community service.
• Elburn Days

Products and services

• Lions Park Venue Rentals

Quantifiable outcome

• Close to 15,000 books distributed to individuals in need through the Elburn Lions for Literacy program
• +2 more outcomes

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Lions Clubs InternationalflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 September 1929Lions Clubs International is the world's largest service club organization with 1.4 million members in 44,800+ clubs across 188 countries and geographic areas. The Elburn Lions Club was chartered by Lions Clubs International on September 14, 1929. Lions are recognized worldwide for service to the blind and visually impaired, stemming from Helen Keller's 1925 challenge to become 'knights of the blind in the crusade against darkness.' The Elburn Lions operate under the Lions International motto 'We Serve' and participate in global humanitarian projects.
• Lions District 1JcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDistrict 1J is the Lions district defined by clubs in a specific geographic area that includes the Elburn Lions Club. The district provides organizational structure, resources, and coordination for Lions clubs within its boundaries. For more information visit www.district1jlions.org.
• Lions of Illinois FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Elburn Lions Club participates in Lions of Illinois Foundation programs including Candy Days, Camp Lions for Blind/Low Vision & Deaf/Hard of Hearing Youth, and other statewide Lions initiatives. The foundation supports local clubs' charitable work across Illinois.
• Camp Henry Horner, East Bay Camp, Camp Cedar Point/Camp ManitowaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLions of Illinois Foundation supports three recreational camps for children and adults who are blind or have severe vision loss: Camp Henry Horner (Ingleside, IL - Northern IL), East Bay Camp (Hudson, IL - Central IL), and Camp Cedar Point/Camp Manitowa (Benton, IL - Southern IL).
• Town and Country Public LibraryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Elburn Lions Club partners with Town and Country Public Library for the Elburn Lions for Literacy program. Librarians work with the club to pair the correct book to recipients based on age, reading level, and interests. The library also hosts a Low Vision Viewer (reading machine) provided by the Lions.
• Kaneland School District 302minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Elburn Lions partner with Community Unit School District 302 (Kaneland School District) for the Elburn Lions for Literacy program. The school district provides age and gender information for students who have literacy needs, and the Lions provide books. The district also helps identify candidates for vision screening programs.
• Bob Jass Chevrolet (Elburn, IL)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerBob Jass Chevrolet in Elburn, Illinois is the sponsor of the Elburn Lions annual Car Raffle. The winner receives the choice of a 2026/2027 Chevy Car or Truck from Bob Jass Chevrolet (vehicle not to exceed $40,000) OR $30,000 cash. Bob Jass Chevrolet is also a Platinum-level sponsor of Elburn Days and a Silver sponsor of the All Wheel Car Show.
• Hobbytown USAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHobbytown USA is a Platinum-level sponsor of Elburn Days and hosts the annual HobbyTown Charity Race during the festival. The charity race benefits Elburn Lions Charities.
• Skinners AmusementscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSkinners Amusements provides carnival rides for Elburn Days festival as a Platinum-level sponsor. The carnival operates Friday through Sunday of the festival weekend with wristband specials and individual ride tickets.
• Schenk Custom BuilderscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchenk Custom Builders is a Platinum-level sponsor of Elburn Days and was the winner of the 2025 Elburn Days raffle, receiving the 2025/26 Chevy Car or Truck or $30,000.
• Waubonsee Community College FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Waubonsee Community College Foundation manages the Elburn Lions Club Car Show Scholarships - two annual $1,500 scholarships for students in Auto Body Repair and Automotive Technology programs at Waubonsee Community College.
• Elburn Leo ClubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Elburn Leo Club is the youth arm of the Elburn Lions Club, providing leadership development opportunities for youth ages 12-30. Leos participate in community service projects and co-host events like the root beer float stand at Elburn Days, Breakfast with Santa, and service dog fundraisers.
• Nearby Lions Clubs (Aurora Noon, Batavia, Cortland, Geneva, North Aurora, Sandwich, Sycamore, Waterman)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Elburn Lions Club maintains relationships with nearby Lions clubs in the region including Aurora Noon, Batavia, Cortland, Geneva, North Aurora, Sandwich, Sycamore, and Waterman for collaboration on community service and district activities.
• Community Organizations (Elburn Chamber of Commerce, Food Pantries, Library, Fire District)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe club collaborates with local organizations including the Elburn Chamber of Commerce, Elburn Countryside Food Pantry, Sugar Grove Food Pantry, Town and Country Public Library, Elburn and Countryside Fire Protection District, and American Legion for joint community initiatives.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• St. Charles Rotary Club: Local Rotary chapter in the same Fox River Valley area. Operates the sister major service-club model (membership dues, fundraisers, community grants). Comparable operating model and competitive alternative for civic-minded members in the same geography.
• Aurora Noon Lions Club: Named Fox Valley Lions chapter and listed Elburn Lions partner. Comparable scale and charter district (District 1J), provides a close reference point for member count, fundraising event mix, and community grant-making.
• American Legion Post 76 (St. Charles, IL): Nearby veterans service organization running its own community hall, bingo events, and fundraising operations. Highly analogous 'community hall + membership + charitable gaming' operating model with overlapping geography.
• St. Charles Lions Club: Neighboring Lions Club chapter in St. Charles, IL (Fox Valley/Kane County area) operating under the same Lions Clubs International governance model with similar fundraising events (raffles, festivals) and community service programs. Directly comparable local peer with overlapping geographic and event footprint.
• Geneva Lions Club: Another nearby Fox Valley Lions Club mentioned as a partner of Elburn Lions. Same service-club structure, same district (District 1J), with analogous fundraiser calendars (pancake breakfasts, raffles, community grants). Closest activity-for-activity comparable peer.
• Batavia Lions Club: Batavia, IL Lions Club explicitly named as a regional peer/partner. Same charter district, same Lions International affiliation, similar community-service and fundraising event mix. A high-relevance direct peer for benchmarking event profitability.

Broad incumbents

• Lions of Illinois Foundation: Statewide Lions 501(c)(3) foundation supporting programs such as Candy Days, Camp Lions, and youth vision initiatives. Operates one tier above a single club, comparable in mission and donor cycle, and an institutional peer for charitable-program scale.
• Lions Clubs International: The global umbrella organization (1.4M+ members, 44,800+ clubs, 188 countries) of which Elburn Lions is a chartered chapter. Functions as the incumbent brand/network provider that gives Elburn its Lions identity, governance framework, and program support.

Regional players

• Hobbs Building Community Center: Representative regional community/banquet venue operator in the Fox Valley area. Comparable in venue-rental and catering revenue mechanics; provides a private-sector benchmark for banquet hall pricing power and utilization.

Others

• Kaneland School District 302 (community partner): Partner entity (not a competitor) that aligns the club's literacy and vision screening programs with the school district. Relevant ecosystem peer for understanding institutional reach and the boundary of the Elburn Lions' community-facing service footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ElburnLions
• Facebookfacebook.com/elburnlions
• Instagraminstagram.com/elburnlions
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/elburn-lions-club

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Elburn Lions Club