In 1919, a group of forward-thinking executive women came together in Buffalo, New York, to use their combined expertise in service to their community. Not satisfied with the predominantly social nature of many women’s organizations at the time, the women who founded Zonta envisioned a new kind of service organization – one that would promote professionalism among its executive members while serving the needs of girls and young women in the community.

One hundred years later, the legacy of Zonta’s early members can be seen and felt through nearly 1,200 Zonta clubs in 63 countries across the globe. While the world has changed dramatically over the last century, approximately 29,000 Zontians today remain committed to the professionalism, fellowship and service that led Zonta’s visionary founders to come together.Today, Zonta’s history extends beyond the community service of each individual Zonta club.

Zonta International has provided more than US$40.9 million through the Zonta International Foundation to empower women and girls and expand their access to education, health care, economic opportunities and safe living conditions.