USA/Canada Lions Leadership Forum

What USA/Canada Lions Leadership Forum does

USA/Canada Lions Leadership Forum, Inc. is a private non-profit organization founded in 1976 and headquartered in Rapid City, South Dakota, that operates the largest dedicated Lions Club leadership training event in the world. The Forum's core product is an annual three-day leadership training convention featuring over 70 seminar sessions on developing quality Lions Clubs, rotating across North American host cities (Louisville 2024, Atlantic City 2025, Memphis 2026). The 2026 Memphis Forum will mark the organization's 50th anniversary and has logged 1,620 registrants as of the data timestamp.

The organization serves two primary customer segments: Lions Club leaders (club presidents, district governors, multiple district leaders, and aspiring leaders across USA and Canada) and Leo members under age 19. Its technology stack is built on the Wild Apricot membership management platform, which powers the members.lionsforum.org portal handling registration, donations, merchandise purchases, and a free Forum Membership archive of past seminars. A Team App integration supports community photo galleries (744 service photos logged) and member engagement between events. All distribution and customer acquisition occurs through Lions Clubs International's district and club networks, with promotional materials produced by Marketing Chair Debbie Doty and disseminated via downloaded brochures and newsletters.

Revenue is generated through three streams: forum registration fees ($385 general, $165 for Leos), Friends of the Forum donations ($150 individual, $250 couple/club/district), and merchandise sales including 50th anniversary polo shirts ($40 preorder, $45 onsite). The organization is volunteer-governed through a Planning Committee, supported by under 10 administrative staff including Registrar Geri Drabek, and funded without venture capital or institutional investment. All operations are concentrated around a single annual event window, with year-round activity limited to membership portal maintenance, merchandise preorders, and the production of monthly newsletters.

Name

USA/Canada Lions Leadership Forum

Legal name

USA/Canada Lions Leadership Forum

Website

https://lionsforum.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

USA/Canada Lions Leadership Forum is a non-profit organization that operates the largest annual Lions Club leadership training event in the world, serving Lions and Leo members across USA and Canada through a three-day convention with 70+ seminars, complemented by donations and commemorative merchandise.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Leadership Training & Nonprofit Forum Services

NAICS

Convention and Trade Show Organizers (561920), Business Associations (813910)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYTHAHACAA

Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies)

Travel & Hospitality/MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences & Exhibitions)/Professional Conference Organizers (PCOs) & Meeting Planners

SECONDARYMPAGAGAK

Executive Summits & Invitation-Only Forums

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Live Entertainment & Events (Concerts, Theater, Festivals)/Conventions & Conferences (Business Events)

SECONDARYTHAHAMAH

Training, Enablement & Talent Development Summits

Travel & Hospitality/MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences & Exhibitions)/Corporate Meetings & Summits

Keywords

• Lions Club leadership training
• Nonprofit leadership forum
• Volunteer leadership development
• Leo youth leadership
• Annual leadership convention

Headquarters

HQ city

New Richmond

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Forum Registration Fees: Primary revenue stream from event registration fees. The 2026 forum charges $385 per person for general registration and $165 for Leo (youth) registration during June-July period.
2. Friends of the Forum Donations: Donation program supporting the forum's mission. Individual donations at $150, couple/club/district at $250. Provides special ribbon recognition for name badges.
3. Merchandise Sales: 50th anniversary commemorative merchandise including polo shirts priced at $40 preorder and $45 for onsite purchase.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The USA/Canada Lions Leadership Forum organizes an annual three-day leadership training forum for Lions Club members across the USA and Canada, featuring over 70 seminar training sessions related to developing quality Lions Clubs. The forum develops leaders, motivates and educates attendees, provides an open exchange of ideas, and supports programs and goals of Lions Clubs International. Supporting offerings include the Friends of the Forum donation program, Forum Membership access, and a merchandise store with 50th anniversary commemorative items.

Product overview

USA/Canada Lions Leadership Forum is a single unified event offering - an annual leadership training forum for Lions Club members. The core product is the three-day forum event featuring over 70 seminar training sessions. Supporting offerings include the Forum Store (merchandise), Friends of the Forum (donation program), Forum Membership (access to historical materials), and Registration System. All are powered by Wild Apricot membership software.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• USA/Canada Lions Leadership Forum (Annual Event) An annual three-day leadership training event for Lions Club members featuring over 70 seminar training sessions related to developing quality Lions Clubs. The forum develops leaders, motivates and educates attendees, provides an open exchange of ideas, and supports programs and goals of Lions Clubs International. Registration includes seminars and four designated meals.
• Friends of the Forum A donation program allowing individuals, couples, clubs, and districts to financially support the forum's mission. Donors receive special recognition in the form of ribbons for their name badges at the annual Forum.
• Forum Store Merchandise Online merchandise store offering forum-branded items including 50th anniversary commemorative polo shirts with the anniversary logo. Shirts available for preorder at $40 or onsite purchase at $45; shirts must be picked up at the Memphis Forum Store.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 70 seminar training sessions related to developing quality Lions Clubs offered

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Lions Clubs InternationalcoreOthers · 1 January 1976The USA/Canada Lions Leadership Forum operates in support of Lions Clubs International's programs and goals. The forum's mission is to 'develop leaders, motivate and educate attendees, provide an open exchange of ideas, and support programs and goals of Lions Clubs International.' Lions Clubs International is the world's largest service club organization with which all attendees are affiliated members.
• Lions UniversitysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerLions University is referenced as a linked resource on the forum website, suggesting an educational partnership for leadership training and development content.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/usacanadalionsleadershipforum
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/usa-canada-lions-leadership-forum

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 USA/Canada Lions Leadership Forum