LICENSING APPLICATION

To qualify for the member discount, the vendor must be a financial member of the Fraternity and 100% owner of the company (individually, with other financial members or with spouse).

A Jewel Mark includes, subject to pre-approval, the limited and restricted right to use the collective and individual names of the Fraternity Founders and its famous members, their likeness or image when referencing their association with Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

The Import Fee is in addition to the license fees above for those who import Alpha-related merchandise. Also, at Alpha’s sole discretion, an additional fee may be assessed to those who have been placed on probation, fined and/or suspended by the Fraternity within the previous 3 Years.

Please check the Fraternity goods you wish to have approved to be sold by your company. Please submit artwork or jpeg of photos as representation of each item per category. If more than one option, please circle all that apply. All goods displaying Fraternity marks must contain the actual appropriate registered ® or and trademark “TM” symbol(s) as shown on the 2024 Alpha Trademark Sheet. Please select if your merchandise is general goods or/and Fraternity Goods.

Select "Self-made" if you are making your own jewelry or "Manufactured" if you are purchasing your merchandise from a manufacturer.

You must supplement this identification of goods for review and approval by providing items that were not included in the original application and submitted for this calendar year. Include a jpeg picture for each newly submitted item at least two months before posting, advertising, selling, or offering to sell it. If you plan to sell Fraternity Goods and do not personally place the Fraternity Marks on some or all your merchandise, you must purchase such goods from currently Licensed ALPHA Manufacturers and you must list each one below. More specifically, it is a condition of your license that all entities you purchase Alpha-related goods from, or solicit to make Alpha-related goods on your behalf, be independently licensed by the Fraternity and they must have their own License ID Number issued by the Fraternity. In addition, you give the Fraternity the right to independently verify your compliance by inspecting your purchase records; visiting your place of business and manufacture; querying your claimed manufacturer; and other methods Alpha deems fit and just to ensure compliance with your license. All manufacture for, and sales to, unlicensed vendors are prohibited, and the goods related to such transaction shall be deemed counterfeit. There is a $100.00 fee for replacement or duplicates of your Certificate of License. However, you may not obtain a duplicate Certificate of License for another vendor or manufacturer to use. Failure to abide by this restriction may, in Fraternity’s sole discretion, result in the termination of your license or a substantial fine.

Use on Prohibited Items include, but are not limited to: alcohol; tobacco; hazing, paddles and items tied to a culture of, and associated with, hazing; using the Crest (Fraternity Name, Greek Letter) on items that are walked, or sat, on such as shoes; sandals; slippers; placing them across the butt of any pant, shorts and the like; on car mats, floor mats, home welcome mats, seat cushions etc.; other than the Coast of Arms, which is allowed, Fraternity Marks, other than the Coat of Arms, are prohibited on caskets, head/grave stones, and obituaries; items for children 18 years of age or younger; items that are sexist, sexually suggestive or explicit remarks; profanity; firearms or other weapons; or drug-related paraphernalia; controlled or illegal substances; gambling; items that cast the Fraternity in a negative light; items that endorses or associates the Fraternity with any individual, organization or entity without prior written expressed permission; anything that conflicts with the ideals and principles of the Fraternity; political campaigns or promotion of political causes; and those that are in bad taste, racist or demean another’s heritage, sexual orientation, race, color or creed. Items and services reserved exclusively for our “Licensed Partners” including, but not limited to: IMDP jackets, luggage, golf bags, Milestone clothing, official online store, jewelry bearing the Official Shield, all forms of subscriptions, bundles and collections, and items deemed exclusive via a separate license, are prohibited unless approved by a separate written agreement with the Fraternity. In addition, ALPHA Marks may not be used on clothing for non-members, women, infants, toddlers, pets or stuff animals. Furthermore, single Greek Letter such as “A” (unless it is one of the 5 exceptions as shown on the 2024 Alpha Trademark Sheet) and “Φ”, or the Animals “dog”, “ape”, “monkey” and “snake” shall not be used singularly or collectively to represent or refer to the Fraternity or any of its members.

Please list the location(s) you own and operate where your products are made, sold and/or displayed (a certificate is needed for each location):

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. (“A Phi A”, “ALPHA” or “Fraternity”) has made changes to its application and process. Please review carefully. Securing a license will require the applicant to submit the following: 1) Vendor/ Manufacturer Application; 2) payment by cashier’s check/money order or by using the enclosed Credit Card Authorization Form; 3) a current state business license or and a current Certificate of Good Standing from the incorporating state; 4) signed Vendor/Manufacturer Agreement; 5) Proof and Certificate of Insurance naming ALPHA as an additionally insured with 30 day notice provision before canceling 6) verification of each ALPHA related item you intend to sell and submit submitted it as a separate jpeg attached file; and 7) current proof of sole (also with spouse) ownership of business if seeking membership discount. After these items have been received, thoroughly reviewed and approved by the A PHI A Corporate Office, if approved, you will be sent a unique Vendor/ Manufacturer ID number (if you do not already have one) and /or Certificate of License for the applicable licensed year (collectively “License”) if Alpha deems it appropriate. Only after receiving your License will you be able to sell Alpha-related items. Consequently, until you receive a current License, you are NOT AUTHORIZED to sell goods bearing Alpha Trademarks.

Your Application should be submitted with any changes/updates to company name or contact information. Please note that we do not accept “dba” and you may sell Alpha-related items only under the name listed on your License. Previously, if you have been using a post office box for your address, you must also include a physical address. It is also required that a current state business license and Certificate of Good Standing from the incorporating state be submitted with the application. A Credit Card Authorization Form should accompany the invoice if paying by credit card (American Express, MasterCard and Visa ONLY). A 2.75% credit card processing fee shall be assessed to all charges. Other acceptable forms of payment are cashier’s checks or money orders, made payable to Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Because reviewing each application is exacting and time intensive, your application fee includes only two corrective submissions. All subsequent corrective submissions must be accompanied by a $350.00 fee to cover staff time and administrative costs.

After applicant has satisfactorily passed the initial review by the Fraternity, meaning the Fraternity has received from applicant all of the required documentation, a separate jpeg photo of each item it intends to sell bearing the Fraternity trademarks and, if the Fraternity is inclined to issue a license, all applicants must submit Proof of Insurance regardless to whether you attend Fraternity events or not. The Proof of Insurance must have a minimal limit of One Million Dollars ($1,000,000.00) for each occurrence and product and that also names the Fraternity as an additional insured. It must be submitted with the signed Agreement to finalize the application process, after which you may receive a Vendor/Manufacturer ID number and/or Certificate of License if deemed a licensee by the Fraternity. ALL Licensees must submit a Certificate of Insurance (COI) before a license will be granted. Failure to provide the Corporate Office with a current COI will result in the rejection (or termination if the policy lapses) of your application and your application fee being returned less a $150.00 administration fee for processing and handling.

Occasionally, there may be a misunderstanding regarding the correct use of Fraternity intellectual properties. To ensure that the goods you desire to make, and sell are not prohibited and meet the current Fraternity standards, you must annually submit a jpeg of each good that bears the Fraternity marks, even if it was previously approved. After making the selection of goods on your application, the applicant is required to verify the goods he/she intends to sell by providing representation of each item per category as a jpeg file. The Fraternity will also randomly request representative items to be sent to the General Office at Vendor/Manufacturer expense as part of its quality control process. Applicants must also verify that the items it intends to sell are those of its own design and/or that they have permission to sell the items whose unique design belongs to another vendor. Using or misusing the designs and/or goods belonging to another may result in a fine, suspension and/or termination of your license, as well as potential litigation with the other vendor. Please note that this year we are allowing Licensees to purchase a separate fee the exclusivity in making and selling an original design they created. Thus, it is more important than ever to have your goods approved before you make or offer them for sale as you may be obligated to turn them over to the Fraternity or destroyed per Alpha instructions. All goods displaying Fraternity Marks must contain the actual registered or unregistered trademarks notice symbols as shown in Attachment A – Authorized Alpha Trademarks. Failure to properly mark your goods will result in their immediate removal and/or destruction, a fine and possibly termination of your license in the Fraternity sole discretion.

Applicants who are seeking the membership discount of $1,000.00 must be an active member of the Fraternity, in good standing and must clearly establish that they are the sole owner/principal of the business (or co-owner with spouse and/or other qualifying member) applying for the vendor license by including the following current information: 1) proof that you own 100% of the business either individually, with your spouse or in combination with other active members; and 2) each of your position(s) in the business. Note that there is no discount for Vendor Plus or Manufacturing Licenses. Also, it is now required that ALL Licenses submit a current certificate of license or business license and Certificate of Good Standing that has been issued by the state in which you do business. You must only use the name on your certificate and DBAs are not allowed. If applicable, the applicant is also required to submit a list of all company subsidiaries, with supporting documentation, that will also sell A PHI A items and Fraternity Goods each subsidiary. You are also to include jpeg photos of each item per category of goods selected on your application. The applicant will be required to pay an additional fee for items sold by the subsidiaries.

The definition of a manufacturer includes, but is not limited to, at least one of the following: “anyone or entity that makes, manufactures, or causes another to make or manufacture items bearing Fraternity Marks or manufacturers items for more than 3 fraternities or sororities. In addition, a manufacturer for A PHI A licensing purposes is also one who makes and sells more than $250,000.00 in Black Greek Lettered Organization goods; and/or anyone who responds to an RFP; anyone who makes custom items; or anyone who or makes Alpha related items in bulk for a group, chapter, district, region or the General Office.

Restrictions imposed upon an applicant to obtain or renew vendor’s or manufacturer’s license include, but are not limited to: (a) • must sell only to the Fraternity Corporate Headquarters and its staff, currently licensed manufacturers, currently licensed vendors, or currently financial Fraternity members (must independently verify current license status of vendors and manufacturers by requesting a copy of its Certificate of License before making or selling A PHI A related items for or to them; respectively); (b) • are prohibited from directly contacting officers, staff, chapters or members outside of the vending area unless approved by the Executive Director or his representative in writing; (c) must abide by the Code of Conduct; (d) will not sell Fraternity goods to wholesalers, distributors, thrift shops, second-hand shops, on third party internet companies such as eBay, amazon.com, Etsy, Pinterest, social media platforms (other than Facebook and Instagram) or similarly situated individuals, companies or businesses; (e) will not make or sell any item(s) prohibited by the Fraternity; (f) will not make or sell any item bearing the Fraternity Mark in conjunction, or co- branded, with the trademark of another; and (g) will not bypass established Fraternity RFP or other processes and protocols (for example, having the manufactured item pre-approved by HQ) related to making, supplying and selling items to the Fraternity, its chapters, district and regions. Failure to abide by these restrictions may result, in the Fraternity’s sole discretion, a fine, suspension or combination of the two; termination of your license, and all resulting damages including consequential and incidental to the Fraternity and its affected chapters and members. New this year is the opportunity to purchase a license for original designs that you have created and wholly own. This original design license is exclusive for 1 year and requires the payment of a separate fee.

Please upload the required documents needed by the Fraternity to begin the annual Vendor/Manufacturer Application process. Please be reminded that to be an A PHI A authorized vendor/manufacturer and to participate in Fraternity events, it is imperative that the General Office has an executed Agreement and COI on file for your company. Unless we have these documents on file, your application will be rejected, and your application fee will be returned less a $150.00 administration fee for processing and handling. Again, until you receive a fully executed Agreement, you are NOT AUTHORIZED to sell Fraternity goods during the 2024 calendar year and will be fined for selling without a license. If applicable, submit a list of all company subsidiaries and Fraternity Goods associated with each subsidiary, including jpeg photos of each item per category of goods selected on your application to vendors@apa1906.net.