The Zonta International Organisation
Zonta is an organisation of 30,000 executives in business and the professions around the world providing service and advocacy through projects to improve the health, education, economic and political status of women and girls.
Zonta International began in 1919 in Buffalo, New York as a Service Club for women at a time when men’s Service Clubs such as Lions, Rotary, had already commenced.
From this small beginning, Clubs were established in other USA cities. The Clubs formed a Confederation on 08 November 1919, and the Charter President of this Confederation was Marion de Forest.
The name “Zhonta’ – from the Sioux Indian language – was chosen and later adapted to “Zonta”, and means “honest and trustworthy”.
Zonta became International in 1927 when the Canadian Zonta Club of Niagara Falls joined the Confederation. Zonta International now has over 1200 clubs in 66 countries.
The Zonta International Board, led by an elected President, oversees Zonta International activities. Headquarters are in Chicago, Illinois, USA. The Zonta International Foundation supports service programs of Zonta International by receiving, raising and investing funds for these International programs.
For administrative purposes, Zonta International divides the world into Districts, each led by an elected District Governor and elected District Board. Each District Board reports to Zonta International.
Districts are divided into Areas, with an elected Area Director who reports to the District Governor. Locally, Clubs are the basic units of Zonta International with each Club led by an elected Club President and Club Board.