The Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity Inc

What The Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity Inc does

The Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity Inc is a national collegiate fraternity founded in 1906 at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, organized as a 501(c)(8) fraternal benefit society and governed by a volunteer National Council with day-to-day operations run from its Executive Offices in Oxford. It serves undergraduate college men through 80+ active chapters across the United States and a lifelong alumni network spanning more than a century, with peak post-COVID undergraduate membership of just over 4,700 brothers and an average chapter size of 55. The fraternity's mission centers on brotherhood, leadership development, academic excellence, and service, anchored by its national philanthropy partnership with the SeriousFun Children's Network founded by alumnus Paul Newman.

The organization delivers value through a portfolio of programs rather than a single product, including the annual Zenith Officer Institute (200+ participants in 2025), eight regional conferences per year, two Leadership Academies each summer, the Borradaile Challenge recognition system, and the Brotherhood Assessment administered via Dyad Strategies. Its technology layer is composed entirely of third-party platforms — ChapterBuilder for chapter administration, Greekbill for billing and dues, Eventleaf for event management, the Phi Tau Portal as a member hub, RealResponse for encrypted anonymous crisis reporting, and a Crisis Text Line integration (text PHITAU to 741741) for 24/7 mental health support. A separate Phi Kappa Tau Foundation, a 501(c)(3) entity, operates scholarship, educational, and philanthropic programs and transferred over $310,000 to the Fraternity in 2023/24.

Revenue flows from four streams: undergraduate chapter dues and educational assessments (raised at the 2023 National Convention after several years without adjustment), philanthropic donations to the Foundation (targeting a minimum of $1,000,000/year via the Boles 1,000 campaign and recognizing $1,000+/year donors through the Ewing T. Boles Society), official merchandise sales through the Phi Tau Store, PKT Marketplace, Herff-Jones Jewelry, and Ritual Regalia, and transaction-related revenue through Greekbill. The go-to-market motion combines event-driven chapter recruitment and an active Growth/Expansion team with community-led alumni engagement via Graduate Councils, Boards of Governors, House Corporations, and project-based volunteer roles.

Name

The Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity Inc

Legal name

The Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity Inc

Website

https://phikappatau.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1906

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Phi Kappa Tau is a 501(c)(8) collegiate fraternity founded in 1906, operating 80+ U.S. chapters with approximately 4,700 undergraduate members; it delivers leadership programming, alumni services, and philanthropic support through its national offices in Oxford, Ohio and a separate Foundation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fraternal Membership Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Greek Life (Fraternities & Sororities) (EDALAHAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Student Organizations & Club Administration (EDALAHAB), Alumni Relations & Alumni Engagement Programs (EDALAOAA), Volunteer Management & Alumni Leadership Programs (EDALAOAH)

Keywords

• Collegiate fraternity services
• Fraternal membership organization
• Leadership development programs
• Chapter management support
• Brotherhood community building

Headquarters

HQ city

Oxford

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 and Chapter Assessments: Undergraduate chapters pay dues and educational assessments to the national fraternity. Chapters receive invoices with credits when Foundation grants are applied. Dues were increased at the 2023 National Convention after several years without adjustment. Chapter dues fund national operations, educational programming, and fraternity infrastructure.
2. Philanthropic Donations: The Phi Kappa Tau Foundation accepts donations through multiple campaigns: Brotherhood Fund (unrestricted), Chapter Giving (designated to specific chapters), and Educational Programs & Scholarships. The Foundation conducts the 'Boles 1,000' campaign to raise a minimum of $1,000,000 per annum. A 10% allocation to the Brotherhood Fund is applied to all restricted gifts. The Ewing T. Boles Society recognizes donors giving $1,000 or more annually.
3. Merchandise Sales: The fraternity operates official merchandise storefronts including the Phi Tau Store (phitau.store) and PKT Marketplace (phikappataumarketplace.com), and facilitates sales through Herff-Jones Jewelry and collegiate-regalia.myshopify.com for Ritual Regalia. These channels sell branded merchandise to members and alumni.
4. Greekbill Financial Services: Greekbill is referenced as a billing/payment platform for chapter finances. Chapters and members use Greekbill to pay national dues and assessments. Revenue may flow partially through transaction processing for fraternity financial management.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels9 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

Phi Kappa Tau is a national collegiate fraternity that recruits, initiates, and supports undergraduate members across 80+ chapters at U.S. colleges and universities. The organization delivers brotherhood, leadership training, academic and philanthropic programming, scholarships, crisis support, and alumni engagement services funded by chapter dues, donations, and merchandise sales.

Product overview

Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity operates as a collegiate fraternity organization offering member services through a combination of digital platforms and programs. Its primary digital offerings include the Phi Tau Portal (member-only resource hub) and ChapterBuilder (chapter management system). Core member programs include the Zenith Officer Institute (annual leadership summit), Chapter Success Specialist Program (alumni volunteer support), Education Faculty Specialist Program (educational workshop delivery), Brotherhood Assessment (member feedback survey), RealResponse Crisis Reporting system, and the PHITAU mental health text line partnership. Additional programs include the Borradaile Challenge chapter recognition and Phi Tau Thursdays member engagement initiative.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity Membership
• National Convention
• Regional Conferences
• Zenith Officer Institute
• Leadership Academies
• Brotherhood Assessment
• RealResponse Crisis Reporting
• Mental Health Crisis Text Line
• Phi Kappa Tau Scholarships
• Phi Kappa Tau Growth System
• Official Merchandise
• Chapter Success Specialist Program
• Education Faculty Specialist Program
• Phi Kappa Tau Foundation Giving Programs

Quantifiable outcome

• Peak undergraduate membership of just over 4,700 brothers in Fall 2025 — highest Post-COVID
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Embassy Suites by Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista SouthminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 July 2025The venue for the 66th National Convention of Phi Kappa Tau, taking place July 23-27, 2025 in Orlando, Florida. Attendees booking at the convention hotel receive a discounted registration rate, free made-to-order breakfast (2 per room), and complimentary evening receptions each day.
• RealResponsecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Phi Kappa Tau partnered with RealResponse, a confidential reporting platform that enables members and guests to anonymously report emergencies, crises, or general concerns. Reports are submitted via call or text to 1-513-540-1906. The platform uses secure, end-to-end encrypted transmission and masks user phone numbers, enabling real-time two-way conversations without revealing identity. Managed 24/7 by the Chapter Services Department.
• Dyad StrategiescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 September 2022Phi Kappa Tau partnered with Dyad Strategies to administer the Brotherhood Assessment, a comprehensive survey sent individually to all undergraduate members via unique email links. The assessment takes 25-30 minutes to complete and requires 60% chapter participation for statistically significant results. Results are confidential and used to improve chapter resources and member experience.
• GreekbillcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGreekbill is the financial services and billing platform referenced throughout the Phi Kappa Tau website as the mechanism for chapters and members to pay national dues and assessments. Listed prominently in the website navigation as a key service for members.
• ChapterBuildercoreTechnology or IntegrationChapterBuilder is the chapter management software platform used by Phi Kappa Tau chapters for member management, event planning, and chapter administration. Accessible through app.chapterbuilder.com as part of the Members section of the website.
• Herff-Jones JewelryminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHerff-Jones is an official merchandise partner for Phi Kappa Tau fraternity jewelry. Listed in the Official Merchandise section of the website as a channel to purchase PKT branded jewelry items.
• SeriousFun Children's NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPhi Kappa Tau's national philanthropy since 1996, founded by Phi Kappa Tau alumnus Paul Newman. The partnership includes SeriousFun camps serving children with serious illnesses. Phi Kappa Tau is the largest single source of male volunteers at SeriousFun camps. In 2023-24, nearly 60 Phi Taus served at camps, many receiving stipends from the Jenkins Fund. Camp Hole in the Wall Gang is the flagship camp partner.
• North Star Reach (SeriousFun Camp)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of the newest SeriousFun camps, with J.J. Lewis (Phi Kappa Tau Foundation Trustee, Central Michigan '04) named as its CEO in April 2024. Lewis brings 20+ years of nonprofit management experience. The camp is inviting Phi Tau volunteers to Spring Work Weekends. Phi Kappa Tau has an initiative to get volunteers to every SeriousFun camp in the country.
• AprimominorOthersMichael Lummus, National President of Phi Kappa Tau, serves as Senior Vice President of Strategy & Chief of Staff at Aprimo, a leading content management software business. No formal corporate partnership stated; affiliation is through individual leadership.
• GuideStar (Candid)minorOthersThe Phi Kappa Tau Foundation's financial documents and transparency information are available on GuideStar. The Foundation has received a Gold Star rating on GuideStar, demonstrating nonprofit transparency and accountability. Foundation IRS Forms 990 are available for review on GuideStar.
• Fraternity Social MediaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFounded by Guillermo Flores (Southern Illinois '08), Fraternity Social Media is a fraternity marketing platform. Flores delivered the keynote address at Zenith Officer Institute 2025, encouraging brothers to use innovative storytelling techniques to better market their fraternity experience.

Scale indicators17 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Alpha Tau Omega: Alpha Tau Omega is a direct peer — a national social fraternity with similar chapter footprint, foundation governance, and recruitment / retention programs. Notably, Phi Kappa Tau CEO Matt Arnold was previously affiliated with ATO.
• Lambda Chi Alpha: Lambda Chi Alpha is a direct peer fraternity with similar chapter scale, dues structure, and focus on leadership development and alumni programming for collegiate men.
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon: Sigma Alpha Epsilon is a national fraternity operating a parallel member services, housing, risk management, and recruitment model across U.S. college campuses — directly comparable to Phi Kappa Tau.
• Pi Kappa Phi: Pi Kappa Phi is a comparable national fraternity with a similar push ability charity model (Push America / The Ability Experience), parallel to Phi Kappa Tau's SeriousFun partnership.
• Kappa Sigma: Kappa Sigma Fraternity operates a national chapter network, foundation, and philanthropy structure that closely mirrors Phi Kappa Tau's operating model and target member base.
• Sigma Chi: Sigma Chi International Fraternity is a direct peer — a national collegiate fraternity with comparable chapter network, dues model, philanthropy structure, and alumni engagement programs targeting undergraduate men.
• Phi Delta Theta: Phi Delta Theta is one of the largest U.S. social fraternities with a similar governance structure, philanthropic platform, and chapter-based operating model, making it a closely comparable direct peer.
• Delta Tau Delta: Delta Tau Delta is a direct peer national fraternity with parallel chapter services, housing, risk management, and philanthropic engagement infrastructure for undergraduate men.
• Beta Theta Pi: Beta Theta Pi is a long-established national fraternity with a comparable headquarters-based operating model, Foundation, chapter services team, and recruitment-growth focus.

Others

• North American Interfraternity Conference (NIC): NIC is the trade association and governing body for North American social fraternities; PKT participates as a member and has received the NIC Gold Medal. NIC sets industry standards on risk management, recruitment, and expansion that shape Phi Kappa Tau's operating environment.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/phikappatau
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/phi-kappa-tau-fraternity
• Instagraminstagram.com/phikappatau

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about The Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity Inc