Kappa Alpha Order

What Kappa Alpha Order does

Kappa Alpha Order is a 501(c)-style private non-profit men's social fraternity founded on December 21, 1865, at Washington College (now Washington & Lee University) in Lexington, Virginia. It operates a national chapter network at colleges and universities across the United States, governed by an elected Knight Commander and Executive Council, with a National Administrative Office headquartered at Mulberry Hill, a Virginia Historic Landmark in Lexington. The Order serves approximately 146,229 living members through undergraduate chapters, alumni chapters, the Loyal Order, Courts of Honor, and a Military Division, structured under a province system with Province Commanders overseeing regional operations.

Its core 'product' is the fraternity membership experience, built around four pillars — Reverence, Gentility, Knowledge, and Leadership — and delivered through structured programs including the Emerging Leaders Academy, Number I's Leadership Institute, Officer Training Conference, annual Convention, and the Bid for Brotherhood fundraising auction. The affiliated Kappa Alpha Order Educational Foundation (KAOEF) layers on scholarships ($114,300 in individual support) and internships, while Project Outreach coordinates philanthropic initiatives such as The Independence Fund partnership (trackchairs for wounded veterans, with over $1.4 million raised since 2016) and Operation KARE. Operational technology is third-party SaaS rather than proprietary: OmegaFi (goKA portal) for dues and member management, MailChimp for alumni communications, ChapterBuilder for recruitment, CrowdChange for philanthropy tracking, and Collegiate Regalia for merchandise.

The revenue model combines recurring membership dues (undergraduate and alumni, with a new $200 annual alumni chapter dues structure taking effect after Convention in 2027), one-time merchandise sales through the KA Shop and Collegiate Regalia partnership, and donations routed through the KAOEF giving programs (Crimson & Gold Society, 1865 Trust, Forever KA). The national staff is small (11-50 employees) and growth is organic, driven by new chapter installations and alumni engagement rather than external capital, as the organization has no funding rounds or parent company.

Name

Kappa Alpha Order

Legal name

Kappa Alpha Order

Website

https://kappaalphaorder.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1865

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Kappa Alpha Order is a U.S. national men's social fraternity founded in 1865, serving 146,229 living members through undergraduate and alumni chapters via brotherhood, leadership education, scholarships, and philanthropy programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fraternity & Membership Services

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Student Organizations & Club Administration (EDALAHAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Alumni Benefits, Membership & Affinity Programs (EDALAOAM), Alumni Events, Reunions & Regional Chapters (EDALAOAG), Major Gifts, Planned Giving & Endowment Development (EDALAOAC)

Keywords

• Fraternity membership organization
• Leadership development programs
• Scholarship and philanthropy
• Alumni networking services
• College chapter operations

Headquarters

HQ city

Lexington

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Undergraduate and alumni members pay national dues to support the Order's operations, leadership programs, and the Kappa Alpha Order Educational Foundation (KAOEF). Alumni chapter annual dues are $200 as stated in the Alumni Chapter Annual Report.
2. Merchandise Sales: The Order operates a shop selling KA-branded products including regalia, badges, and chapter supplies through partnerships with vendors like Collegiate Regalia.
3. Donations and Foundation Support: The KAOEF raises funds through various giving programs including the Crimson & Gold Society ($1,000+ annual contributors), 1865 Trust, Forever KA, and Bid for Brotherhood auction which has generated over $1.1 million net aggregate since inception.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Kappa Alpha Order is a nonprofit college men's fraternity that operates 132 active chapters and 6 colonies across U.S. universities. It delivers its offering through local chapters providing brotherhood, leadership development, scholarship programs, and alumni networking. The organization is supported by The Kappa Alpha Order Foundation (a 501(c)(3) educational foundation) and merchandise sales through the KA Shop.

Product overview

Kappa Alpha Order is a national collegiate fraternity founded in 1865 offering a unified membership experience centered on brotherhood, leadership, and service. The core offering consists of fraternity membership access through local chapters, supported by the Kappa Alpha Order Educational Foundation (KAOEF) which provides scholarships and internship programs. The organization delivers member development through structured programs including the Emerging Leaders Academy, Number I's Leadership Institute, Officer Training Conference, and annual Convention. Community engagement is facilitated through Project Outreach initiatives including The Independence Fund for wounded veterans and Operation K.A.R.E. The ecosystem also includes operational tools like ChapterBuilder for recruitment and OmegaFi for member management, along with branded merchandise through Collegiate Regalia.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Scholarship Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 146,229 living members across undergraduate and alumni chapters
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• The Independence FundcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Kappa Alpha Order has partnered with The Independence Fund since 2016 to support wounded Veterans. The partnership provides trackchairs (all-terrain wheelchairs) to catastrophically wounded Veterans and has expanded to include family support programs like the Family Retreat featuring accessible Disney Cruises. The High Point University chapter alone has raised over $1.4 million for The Independence Fund, with $150,000 raised in the most recent year to fund a June 5 Family Retreat sending four Veteran families on an accessible Disney Cruise. The partnership builds on the Order's long-standing commitment to restoring independence and outdoor access through trackchairs.
• Disabilities In ActionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBaton Rouge-based dealer for Action Trackchairs in Louisiana and Mississippi. Partnered with LSU's Alpha Gamma Chapter and The Independence Fund to provide a $16,000 Action Trackchair to disabled veteran J.D. Roberts.
• OmegaFicoreTechnology or IntegrationThird-party member management and financial services platform used by KA chapters for dues collection, roster updates, and national reporting (Reports 1-10). Chapters use OmegaFi's goKA portal for member login, dues payment, and online National Reports filing.
• Collegiate RegaliaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOfficial partner providing quality regalia to KA chapters including officer jewels, badges, and chapter supplies. Order Regalia is available through Collegiate Regalia's KA-branded storefront.
• Lumatic PhotographyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKA's official photography partner providing all-in-one resources for composite photos, chapter events, and photography services for chapters.
• Brooks BrothersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe oldest men's clothier in the United States provides professional dress resources and tie-tying instructions for KA members. Local Brooks Brothers stores can send representatives to chapter meetings to discuss professional dress.
• TNT Security SolutionsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides off-duty police officers for security services at chapter social events and traffic direction for community service events like 5K runs.
• Omni Insurance Services LLCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides special events insurance for KA chapter events. Chapters must submit requests at least 60 days prior to desired event date.
• Linda Wright (Risk Management Consultant)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKA's Risk Management Consultant who handles questions about special events insurance requests and risk management policy.
• Fairwinds Estate Winery / Excelsior Napa ValleyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Order's wine program and brand. Excelsior Napa Valley wines are featured at convention events including wine tastings at The Values Oasis event and Bubbles at the Biltmore tasting.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/kappaalphaorder
• Facebookfacebook.com/kappaalphaorder
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kappa-alpha-order

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Kappa Alpha Order