Zonta International’s story is a century-long journey of empowerment, advocacy, and service for women and girls worldwide. It began in 1919 when the Confederation of Zonta Clubs was founded in Buffalo, New York, USA, led by Marian de Forest, with Mary Jenkins as the first president. The first Zonta colors and emblem were adopted in 1920, and the first issue of The Zontian was published the same year.
The organization’s early work included international humanitarian projects, such as funding care for 115,000 orphan children and women in Smyrna, Turkey, in 1923. By 1927, the first club outside the U.S. was formed in Toronto, Canada, and in 1930 the name “Zonta International” was adopted with the establishment of the first European club in Vienna, Austria.
Zonta’s mission has always been to “Build a Better World for Women and Girls”, aligning with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 5. Over the decades, it has expanded globally, with more than 25,600 members in 1,070 clubs across 65 countries. It has held consultative status with the United Nations, the Council of Europe, and other international bodies, enabling it to influence global policy and support UN initiatives like UNIFEM.
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Key milestones include:
- 1963 – UN Economic and Social Council roster-level status.
- 1968 – First International President outside the U.S., Helvi Sipilä.
- 1984 – Establishment of the Zonta International Foundation.
- 1998 – Launch of the ZISVAW project to end violence against women.
- 2014 – Adoption of the slogan “Empowering Women Through Service and Advocacy.”
- 2019 – 100th anniversary, with new scholarship programs and global advocacy campaigns.
Today, Zonta continues to inspire members through programs like Z and Golden Z Clubs, which engage students in leadership, service, and advocacy. Its legacy is built on the belief that women’s leadership and service can create lasting change, both locally and globally.
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Contact our Zonta International Headquarters team for answers to all your questions.