Elks of Canada

What Elks of Canada does

Elks of Canada is a not-for-profit fraternal organization founded in 1912 and headquartered in Regina, Saskatchewan, operating a chartered network of over 200 lodges and approximately 7,000 members across Canada. Its stated mission is to be a volunteer organization of men and women serving communities, with a programmatic focus on the Elks and Royal Purple Fund for Children, a national charity established in 1956 that funds hearing aids, speech therapy, medical equipment, and travel for Canadian children with hearing and speech disorders. Over 40 years, the Fund has reportedly directed nearly $10 million to provincial programs and $3.5 million to roughly 3,000 personal assistance cases, supporting 80 to 100 families annually.

The organization's revenue mechanics rely on three streams: recurring membership dues, donations and fundraising (walk-a-thons, Giving Tuesday, lodge initiatives), and merchandise sales through its online store and seasonal clothing partner. The product surface is fundamentally non-technological, comprising branded regalia (blazers, fez, crests, rings, jewels), lodge administration materials (charters, directories, ritual books, altar drapes), Fund for Children merchandise (including a Hillberg & Berk jewelry collaboration), and an annual collectible sports pin program now in its 35th edition. Programs such as the Junior Elks youth initiative, Elks Proud peer-recognition awards, and rotating annual National Conventions (2026 in Gander, Newfoundland) provide member engagement and recruitment infrastructure.

Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, with the "10-5 target" program encouraging each lodge to grow membership 10% while keeping attrition under 5%. Distribution is executed through a three-tier model: local lodges, provincial associations (e.g., 98 lodges in Alberta, 58 in Saskatchewan), and the Regina national office. There is no parent company, external equity, or public listing; the organization is member-governed with an elected Grand Exalted Ruler and a National Executive, and there are early signs of membership pressure, including at least one charter surrender attempt (Yorkton Lodge No. 392) that was averted through recruitment of new members from the Philippines.

Name

Elks of Canada

Legal name

Elks of Canada

Website

https://elksofcanada.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1912

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Elks of Canada is a Regina-based, not-for-profit fraternal organization founded in 1912, operating 200+ lodges and 7,000+ members nationwide. It runs the Elks and Royal Purple Fund for Children charity, funding hearing aids, speech therapy, and medical equipment for Canadian children in need.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Regina

HQ country

Canada

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: Members pay dues to belong to local lodges and the national organization
2. Donations and Fundraising: The organization raises funds through walk-a-thons, Giving Tuesday events, and local lodge fundraising initiatives to support the Elks and Royal Purple Fund for Children
3. Merchandise Sales: Sale of branded merchandise including regalia, lodge materials, clothing, and Fund for Children items through the online store

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Elks of Canada is a not-for-profit fraternal organization that provides membership services through a nationwide network of over 200 lodges with 7,000+ members. The organization operates the Elks and Royal Purple Fund for Children, a national charity that funds hearing aids, speech therapy, medical equipment, and travel for children with hearing and speech disorders. It also sells branded regalia, lodge materials, and Fund for Children merchandise to support its charitable mission.

Product overview

Elks of Canada operates as a fraternal charitable organization offering a portfolio of merchandise, regalia, lodge materials, and programs. The core offering includes Fund for Children merchandise (sub-brand supporting their national charity), official Regalia items for members (ceremonial wear, pins, rings, crests), Lodge Materials and supplies (charters, directories, ceremony books, administrative supplies), the Elks Proud peer recognition program, a Junior Elks youth leadership program, an E-Newsletter subscription service, annual National Conventions, and clothing through an external supplier. The organization does not operate as a technology platform but as a membership-based charity with retail and program offerings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Elks and Royal Purple Fund for Children: National charity of Elks of Canada that provides assistance to children with hearing and speech disorders across Canada.
• Junior Elks Program
• Elks Proud Awards
• Charlie the Elk

Products and services

• Elks Membership Annual membership in a nationwide fraternal organization that gives adult men and women access to over 200 lodges, community volunteering opportunities, fellowship events, and the ability to participate in charitable fundraising across Canada.
• Elks and Royal Purple Fund for Children - Personal Assistance Program Financial assistance program for children under 19 with hearing and speech disorders, providing funding for hearing aids, speech therapy, medical equipment, conversion vans for mobility, and travel costs for specialized medical appointments.
• Regalia Official ceremonial and formal wear for Elks members, including Men's and Women's Blazers, Vests, Trousers, Ties, White Leather Belts, Sashes/Cummerbunds, Fezez, Fez Boxes, Fez Brilliants, Tassels, Jewels, Pins (membership year pins, FFC pins, life member pins, officer pins), Rings (Silver Award, Silver Membership, Silver Seal), and Crests.
• Lodge Materials Official supplies and materials for Elks lodges, including Constitution documents, Charters, Lodge Directories, Ritual/Ceremony Booklets, Lodge Letterhead, Attendance Registers, Receipt Books, Secretary Minute Books, Name Tags, Greeting Cards, Altar Drapes, Elk Statuettes, Ballot Boxes, Lodge Flags, and Gong Strikes with Chime Bars.
• Fund for Children Merchandise Branded merchandise supporting the Elks and Royal Purple Fund for Children national charity, including Hi-Five Club T-Shirts, FFC Cards by Hannah Hicks, FFC Keychains, Hillberg & Berk jewelry (pendants and earrings), lapel pins, soccer balls, limited edition prints, notebooks, and Mini Charlie the Elk plush toys.
• Elks Proud Awards Peer-to-peer recognition awards program where Elks members recognize fellow members for their dedication, commitment, and hard work. Awards are passed from member to member and recipients share stories of pride about their fellow Elks.
• Junior Elks Program Youth program empowering the next generation of community leaders, part of the Elks of Canada organization focused on community service and leadership development.
• National Convention Annual national convention bringing together hundreds of Elks members from across Canada, rotating locations. The 2026 convention is scheduled for July 14-16 in Gander, Newfoundland.
• 35th Collector's Edition Sports Pins Annual collectible sports pins issued by Elks of Canada, with the 35th edition featuring rugby as the theme.

Quantifiable outcome

• $10 million donated to provincial programs in the last 40 years
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Royal PurplecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Royal Purple is a closely affiliated women's organization that works jointly with the Elks on the Fund for Children. Together, the Elks and Royal Purple operate the national charitable foundation that has donated over $10 million to provincial programs in 40 years. Both organizations share the mission of helping children with hearing and speech disorders.
• US ElksminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe US Elks organization shares best practices and strategies with the Canadian organization. Brother Rick Gathen, Grand Lodge Membership and Marketing Director of the US Elks, attended the 2018 National Convention to share insights and tactics that have helped the US Elks grow their membership.
• District BrewingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal Regina brewery partnered with Regina Elks Lodge #9 to create 'Elks Beer' - a branded Pilsner and Radler for the 2018 National Convention, providing a unique marketing opportunity and local business collaboration.
• STARS Air AmbulanceminorOthersBrother Darren Entner from Balgonie Elks Lodge #572 is a member of the STARS air medical crew and presented at the 2018 National Convention about the organization's work.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Rotary International: Global fraternal service organization with local club chapters, dues-based membership, and signature charitable programs (e.g., PolioPlus). Shares the same member-recruitment, community-service, and fundraising DNA as Elks of Canada.
• Lions Clubs International: International fraternal service organization with a parallel membership/lodge model, volunteer-driven community service, and structured charitable programs. Directly comparable to Elks of Canada in operating model, member demographics, and service mission.
• Shriners International: Fraternal organization affiliated with Freemasonry, operating temples/lodges and running a network of Shriners Hospitals for specialized pediatric care. Directly comparable to Elks of Canada in combining fraternal identity with a focused children's healthcare charity mission.
• Royal Canadian Legion: Canadian fraternal/service organization with branch network across provinces, dues-paying membership, and veterans/community charitable programs. A direct Canadian peer to Elks of Canada in scope, structure, and mission.
• Kiwanis International: Fraternal service club network with local club structure, volunteer fundraising, and youth-focused programs (Key Club, Junior Kiwanis). Closely mirrors Elks of Canada's lodge-based, member-dues-driven operating model.
• Knights of Columbus: Catholic fraternal service organization with local council structure, insurance and member-benefit programs, and a substantial charitable foundation. Comparable to Elks of Canada in fraternal tradition, regalia/ceremony, and charitable giving through a national foundation.
• Freemasons / Grand Lodge of Canada: Long-established fraternal organization operating lodges across Canada, with ceremonial traditions, regalia (aprons, jewels), and member-recruitment models. Closely matches Elks of Canada in fraternal heritage, ritual, and lodge governance.

Broad incumbents

• Canadian Red Cross: Major Canadian charitable organization with significantly broader scope and scale than Elks of Canada. Comparable in mission of providing health/social assistance and operating a national fundraising apparatus across Canada.
• United Way Canada: Nationwide charitable umbrella organization funding community programs through workplace campaigns and donations. Comparable to Elks of Canada in distributing charitable funds to local causes and operating a national network with provincial reach.

Emerging players

• Variety - the Children's Charity: Canadian children's charity supporting kids with special needs through grants for mobility equipment, therapy, and educational support. Direct peer to Elks/Royal Purple Fund for Children in mission focus (assisting children with specific medical/disability needs).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ElksofCanada

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Elks of Canada