Karnival Krewe de Louisiane (KKdL)

What Karnival Krewe de Louisiane (KKdL) does

Karnival Krewe de Louisiane (KKdL) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 1987 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, that raises funds for cancer research, education, and indigent patient care through annual Mardi Gras-themed events. The organization's sole beneficiary is Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center, to which it has contributed nearly $6 million cumulatively over 38 years. KKdL operates with a volunteer Board of Directors and a minimal staff of 6 employees, running an annual Mardi Gras Ball, Coronation Social & Auction events, and various supporting community gatherings at venues including Raising Cane's River Center and Renaissance Baton Rouge Hotel.

The organization's core products are its event-based fundraising experiences: the annual Mardi Gras Ball (which raised a record-breaking $500,000 in 2024), Coronation Social & Auction events featuring live and silent auctions, jewelry raffles, and Royal Court coronations. Revenue is generated through five streams: individual membership dues, corporate sponsorships (with presenting sponsor Gerry Lane Enterprises and platinum sponsor Fox 44), event ticket sales, auction proceeds, raffle tickets, and tax-deductible donations. The organization maintains a member portal (members.karnivalkrewe.com) for registration, renewals, and donation processing. Distribution is regional, focused on the Baton Rouge market, with marketing conducted through the website, email newsletter, social media, and community word-of-mouth.

KKdL's customer base consists of individual members, corporate sponsors, Royal Court participants, and the broader Baton Rouge community that benefits from cancer services funded through Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center. The organization's go-to-market motion is event-driven and community-led, leveraging Mardi Gras tradition as a fundraising vehicle. Programmatic impact includes funding more than 2,000 cancer screenings annually, 2,747 psychosocial distress screenings, nearly 1,900 patient touchpoints, and contributing to a 60% increase in clinical research enrollment at Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center.

Name

Karnival Krewe de Louisiane (KKdL)

Legal name

Karnival Krewe de Louisiane, Inc.

Website

https://karnivalkrewe.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Karnival Krewe de Louisiane is a 501(c)(3) Baton Rouge non-profit founded in 1987 that raises funds for cancer research through annual Mardi Gras Ball and coronation events. It has contributed nearly $6 million cumulatively to Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center, its sole beneficiary.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Baton Rouge

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Individual Memberships: Individual members pay annual dues to join the krewe and participate in events. Memberships are automatically renewed in some years.
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate sponsors pay for various sponsorship tiers to gain visibility at events and support the cancer cause. Presenting sponsor Gerry Lane Enterprises has supported the organization for years.
3. Event Admissions and Auctions: Revenue generated from ticket sales to the Mardi Gras Ball, coronation social events, and both live and silent auction proceeds.
4. Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals and organizations supporting the cancer research mission. All donations through April 30, 2021 were 100% tax deductible as a 501(c)(3) organization.
5. Raffle Tickets: Raffle tickets sold for prizes such as Anton's Fine Jewelry shopping sprees ($25 per chance, 5 for $100).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Karnival Krewe de Louisiane (KKdL) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable krewe that hosts annual Mardi Gras-themed fundraising events — primarily an annual Mardi Gras Ball and annual Coronation Social & Auction — to raise money for cancer research, education, and indigent cancer patient care in the Baton Rouge area. The organization also operates Individual Membership and Corporate Sponsorship programs, manages the KKdL Endowment Fund supporting Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center, and runs a member portal for transactions and registrations.

Product overview

Karnival Krewe de Louisiane operates as a non-profit charitable organization running annual Mardi Gras-themed events. The core offerings include the Mardi Gras Ball (featuring Royal Court coronation, debutante presentation, and parade), Coronation Social & Auction events, and membership programs (Corporate Sponsorship and Individual Membership). The organization also maintains an Endowment Fund supporting Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center's cancer research and patient care initiatives. A member portal provides online access for membership management and donations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mardi Gras Ball Annual formal ball event featuring Royal Court coronation, debutante presentations, parade, live music, and fundraising for cancer research at Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center. Open to individual members and corporate sponsor table holders; the 2024 (37th Annual) Ball raised a record $500,000.
• Coronation Social & Auction Annual social event featuring live and silent auctions, bourbon and cigar bar, jewelry raffles (e.g., $4,000 Anton's Fine Jewelry shopping spree), and coronation of Royal Court King and Queen. Tickets priced at $25 per coronation social ticket; raffle tickets $25 each or 5 for $100.
• Individual Membership Annual membership program allowing individuals to join the krewe, participate in planning committees and boards, attend Krewe events, and support the Mardi Gras and cancer-fighting mission. Membership dues recur annually via the member portal.
• Corporate Sponsorship Corporate membership and sponsorship program allowing businesses to sponsor KKdL events at various tiers with benefits including annual table seating at events, logo placement, featured recognition throughout Krewe events and the Ball, and association with the cancer fundraising cause. Long-term presenting sponsor is Gerry Lane Enterprises; platinum sponsor Fox 44.
• KKdL Endowment Fund Endowment fund supporting Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center's long-term cancer research, prevention, and patient care programs. Managed by the Krewe's Endowment Coordinator and channeled to support cancer screenings, patient navigation, clinical research, tumor registry, dental services, and patient support programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly $6 million raised for cancer care since 1987
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 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

Partnerships

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

• Mary Bird Perkins Cancer CentercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1987Primary beneficiary of KKdL fundraising since the organization's founding in 1987. KKdL has contributed nearly $6 million to support the cancer center's mission to improve survivorship and lessen the burden of cancer. The partnership includes support for clinical research, tumor registry, prevention and early detection, dental services, patient navigation, and patient support programs.
• Gerry Lane EnterprisesflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting sponsor of KKdL events for many years. Gerry Lane Enterprises, a car and truck dealership group in Baton Rouge, has supported the krewe through the years and is featured at events. Gerry Lane also hosts the coronation social at their Gerry Lane Cadillac location.
• Fox 44coreGTM or Marketing PartnerPlatinum sponsor that produced a 30-minute television segment to showcase the Krewe's mission to raise money for cancer care.
• Anton's Fine JewelrycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerDonates jewelry prizes for raffles at coronation socials. Raffle prizes include a $4,000 shopping spree.
• Culinary ProductionsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCatering vendor for coronation social events providing cuisine samplings.
• Savor Baton RougeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCatering vendor for coronation social events providing cuisine samplings.
• Bergeron City MarketminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCatering/food vendor for coronation social events.
• Matherne's MarketminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDowntown food vendor providing samplings at coronation social events.
• Hollis OrthodonticsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDonated live auction item (full set of braces) for coronation social.
• Eye Wander PhotocoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial photographer for KKdL events. Aaron Hogan with Eye Wander Photo documents events throughout the year and photos are available for purchase through their online gallery.
• Squires FormalwearminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFormalwear retailer located at 7474 Corporate Blvd. that offers a KKdL discount for ball attendees.
• Doug Olinde RentalsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent rental company in Baton Rouge that provides chair upgrades for KKdL ball tables.
• Raising Cane's River CentercoreGTM or Marketing PartnerVenue for the annual Mardi Gras Ball, located in Baton Rouge. The 2027 Ball will be held at Raising Cane's River Center Exhibition Hall.
• Hilton Baton Rouge Capitol CenterminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHotel partner that provided a reduced rate of $137 per night for KKdL ball attendees.
• La Maison de BellaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVenue for the 2021 Coronation Social & Auction Brunch in Prairieville, LA.
• Renaissance Baton Rouge HotelcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerVenue for coronation social events in 2022 and 2023, hosting Royal Court coronations and debutante presentations.
• Mary Bird Perkins-Our Lady of the Lake Cancer CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKKdL conducts tours and orientations at the cancer center facility, allowing members and debutantes to see firsthand how their fundraising supports patient care.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Krewe of Endymion: Large New Orleans Mardi Gras krewe known for its annual ball and charitable contributions. Comparable as a high-profile krewe with corporate sponsorship and charity components, although substantially larger in scale and broader in mission.
• Krewe of Bacchus: Major New Orleans Mardi Gras krewe with a charitable giving mission alongside parade and ball traditions. Most directly comparable as a krewe-structured nonprofit combining Carnival celebration with philanthropy, though KKdL is cancer-focused and regionally smaller.
• Pelotonia: Community-based fundraising event dedicated to cancer research at Ohio State. Directly comparable as an event-driven fundraising model where annual community events generate millions for cancer research, with similar reliance on corporate sponsors and individual participants.

Broad incumbents

• Susan G. Komen: National breast cancer research and patient support nonprofit. Comparable in mission alignment around cancer care and community fundraising, but operates at much larger scale with multiple event formats and a national affiliate network.
• American Cancer Society: National cancer-focused nonprofit funding research, patient support, and prevention. Comparable as a cancer-mission nonprofit, but operates at vastly greater scale, nationally, and supports a much broader portfolio of programs than KKdL's single-beneficiary model.
• V Foundation for Cancer Research: National cancer research fundraising foundation. Comparable as a cancer-research fundraising organization, but operates nationally through events, corporate partnerships, and an endowment model rather than a single local krewe.

Regional players

• Junior League of Baton Rouge: Baton Rouge civic volunteer organization with membership dues, fundraising events, and community philanthropy. Comparable as a regionally focused, volunteer-driven nonprofit that convenes members around charitable causes in the same geographic market.

Others

• Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center: KKdL's primary beneficiary and long-standing strategic partner; not a competitor but a deeply integrated counterparty. Comparable as the recipient of virtually all KKdL's fundraising, with tours and orientations linking the Krewe directly to programmatic outcomes.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kkdl

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Karnival Krewe de Louisiane (KKdL)