Building a Better World for Women and Girls

What is Zonta?

Zonta was founded in Buffalo, New York in 1919 by a small group of women business professionals who wanted to support other women. Mary Jenkins was elected the first president.  Zonta comes from a Lakota Sioux Indian word that means “honest and trustworthy“. Today, Zonta International has clubs in 66 countries and holds General Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council and Participatory Status with the Council of Europe. Read more.

Scholarships & Awards

Zonta is dedicated to achieving gender equality in education and supports scholarships, fellowships, and awards for women and girls pursuing education and careers in traditionally male-dominated fields, including aerospace engineering (Amelia Earhart Fellowships), business leadership, and STEM fields. The Zonta Foundation for Women funds four types of education programs annually. Many clubs offer local scholarships as well. Read more.

Club Membership

A diverse community of members is essential to our ability to achieve our mission to create a more equitable future. Joining a Zonta club or starting your own gives you the platform to make a difference for women and girls in your local community and beyond. It also offers access to working with the United Nations and its agencies on sustainable projects around the world. Clubs generally meet 10 times a year in person or virtually. Annual dues are less than 50 cents a day. Your commitment, your contributions, your time matters.  Read more

Service – Local and Global

Zonta clubs serve their communities through hands-on projects and by providing financial support for programs run by their clubs and other non-profits aligned with our mission.

On a global level, Zonta International is providing life-changing opportunities to empower women and girls and improve their health, provide better economic opportunities and prevent gender-based violence. Through those efforts, Zonta members have influenced many of the most important political and cultural gains women have made in the world in the past 100 years.  Read more.

Advocacy at All Levels

Zonta International and our members work at the international, national, and local levels to realize our vision for the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal No. 5: to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. Advocacy actions may include influencing laws, legislation, or attitudes. Both the Zonta USA and Canadian Advocacy Caucuses offer training, tool kits, and library resources for Zonta Clubs and Districts to help advocate for key initiatives including ending gender violence, ending child marriage, climate action, passing the ERA (USA), women’s health and women in leadership.  Read more.

Fundraising

Fundraising is a critical component for Zonta. On a local level, clubs need capital for service, advocacy, and scholarships. The Zonta Foundation for Women depends on the generosity of clubs, members, and supporters to meet its obligations to fund International Service projects and Education Programs for the biennium. Zontians are very creative when it comes to raising money – from Bunco tournaments to Golf tournaments, silent auctions to fashion shows, garden tours to book sales, and so much more! Most clubs donate 1/3 of the profits to the Foundation. Read more.