Zonta International

Zonta International is a global, non-governmental service organization focused on improving the lives and social standing of women and girls. Its stated mission is to build a better world for women and girls, a purpose closely aligned with United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 5 on gender equality. The organization operates through a network of local Zonta clubs, members, charitable activities, advocacy, educational awards, and international service projects. The first Zonta club was established in Buffalo, New York, in 1919 under the leadership of journalist, playwright, and civic leader Marian de Forest. The early organization borrowed some structural features from service clubs such as Rotary, including professional classification and an emphasis on members contributing their expertise to community work. Membership was selective and initially centered on women with recognized standing in their professions. By the mid-1920s, clubs had been formed in several major American cities, including New York, Washington, Detroit, Cleveland, and Toledo. Zonta developed an international structure in 1930, when the Confederation of Zonta Clubs was created and a club was established in Vienna. The organization subsequently adopted the name Zonta International. The name is derived from a Lakota word commonly translated as “honest” or “trustworthy.” Amelia Earhart joined Zonta in 1926 and later became associated with the organization’s New York club; her connection led to the creation of the Amelia Earhart Fellowship in 1938. Today, Zonta combines local volunteering with international advocacy and grant-making. Its work addresses violence against women and girls, child marriage, human trafficking, unequal access to education, women’s economic participation, climate action viewed through a gender-equality lens, and constitutional and legal equality. Its signature Zonta Says NO campaign raises public awareness about violence against women and encourages local action. Zonta Says NOW, introduced in the 2020s, links climate action with gender equality and emphasizes the disproportionate effects of climate disruption on women and girls. Through the Zonta Foundation for Women, the organization supports scholarships, fellowships, and service projects. Major educational programs include the Amelia Earhart Fellowship for women pursuing doctoral study in aerospace-related science and engineering, the Jane M. Klausman Women in Business Scholarship, the Young Women in Public Affairs Award, and the Z Club and Golden Z Club programs for students. These initiatives connect educational opportunity with leadership development and civic participation. Zonta has held consultative or associated status with several international institutions, including the United Nations and its agencies, the International Labour Organization, and the Council of Europe. It participates in discussions around the UN Commission on the Status of Women and collaborates with organizations such as UNICEF and UN Women. Its international service projects have included work on education, health, protection, economic opportunity, violence prevention, and efforts to end child marriage. Zonta remains an active membership-based nonprofit rather than a commercial product brand, with influence derived from its clubs, advocacy network, philanthropic programs, and partnerships.

Zonta International began with the founding of the first Zonta club in Buffalo, New York, in 1919. The club was organized by business and professional women under the leadership of Marian de Forest. Its early model emphasized professional identity, community service, and selective membership. Members were expected to contribute their expertise and time to work connected with their professional classifications, reflecting the service-club structures that influenced the organization’s formation. During the 1920s, Zonta expanded beyond Buffalo. Clubs were established in New York City, Washington, D.C., Detroit, Cleveland, and Toledo, among other locations. The organization’s membership included women prominent in public life and professional fields. Aviator Amelia Earhart joined the Boston club in 1926 and later transferred to the New York City club. Her association with Zonta became one of the organization’s most enduring historical connections. Her sister, Muriel Morrissey, was also a member. A major institutional transition occurred in 1930, when the Confederation of Zonta Clubs was formed. The establishment of a club in Vienna marked the beginning of the organization’s international expansion, and the name Zonta International was adopted as the network developed beyond its American origins. The name Zonta comes from a Lakota term associated with honesty and trustworthiness. Zonta’s educational and professional-development work expanded over time. In 1938, the organization created the Amelia Earhart Fellowship in memory of Earhart. The fellowship supports women pursuing doctoral-level study in aerospace-related science and engineering. In 1948, Zonta established the Z Club and Golden Z Club program, creating a platform for high-school, college, and university students to develop leadership skills, explore careers, and participate in service. Later programs included the Jane M. Klausman Women in Business Scholarship and the Young Women in Public Affairs Award. The organization also developed a broader international development and advocacy role. Its work moved beyond local service to include education, health, economic opportunity, protection from violence, and efforts to change laws and social conditions that limit women’s autonomy. Zonta received General Consultative Status with the United Nations in 1969. This status enabled participation in international policy discussions, including the annual Commission on the Status of Women. Zonta has also maintained relationships with the International Labour Organization, the Council of Europe, and UN-related bodies. In the 1990s, Zonta participated in global women’s-rights advocacy connected with the international conferences and mobilization surrounding Vienna and Beijing. In subsequent decades, the organization strengthened partnerships with UNICEF and UN Women. Its projects have addressed girls’ education, health and protection services, violence against women, child marriage, and human trafficking. Zonta USA has also participated in US-based efforts concerning child marriage and constitutional gender equality. The Zonta Says NO campaign, launched in 2012, became a prominent international platform for raising awareness of violence against women and girls. It is implemented through local clubs and public activities across the Zonta network. More recently, Zonta added a climate-focused gender-equality agenda through Zonta Says NOW. The initiative argues that climate change has differentiated social and economic effects and that women and girls should be included as leaders in climate policy and resilience efforts. Zonta International is supported by its membership structure and by the Zonta Foundation for Women, which administers philanthropic and educational activities. It remains a noncommercial international service organization whose principal mechanisms are volunteer clubs, advocacy, grants, scholarships, partnerships, and public education.

• 2022

  Zonta Says NOW introduced

  [1]Zonta Internationalen.wikipedia.org

  The organization introduced a climate-action initiative applying a gender-equality perspective to climate policy and community action.

• 2012

  Zonta Says NO campaign begins

  [1]Zonta Internationalen.wikipedia.org

  Zonta launched its signature public-awareness campaign against violence toward women and girls.

• 1969

  General Consultative Status with the United Nations

  [1]Zonta Internationalen.wikipedia.org

  Zonta International received General Consultative Status at the United Nations.

• 1948

  Z Club and Golden Z Club program established

  [1]Zonta Internationalen.wikipedia.org

  The organization introduced student clubs focused on leadership, careers, service, and civic participation.

• 1938

  Amelia Earhart Fellowship established

  [1]Zonta Internationalen.wikipedia.org

  Zonta created a fellowship supporting women pursuing doctoral study in aerospace-related sciences and engineering.

• 1930

  International confederation established

  [1]Zonta Internationalen.wikipedia.org

  The Confederation of Zonta Clubs was formed as the network expanded internationally, including through the Vienna club.

• 1926

  Amelia Earhart joins Zonta

  [1]Zonta Internationalen.wikipedia.org

  Amelia Earhart became a member of the Boston chapter and later transferred to the New York City chapter.

• 1919

  First Zonta club founded in Buffalo

  [1]Zonta Internationalen.wikipedia.org

  Marian de Forest and other businesswomen established the first Zonta club in Buffalo, New York.

A global women-led service and advocacy network combining local clubs, international development projects, education funding, and policy engagement to advance gender equality.

• Educational fellowship · 1938

  Amelia Earhart Fellowship

  An international fellowship honoring Amelia Earhart and supporting women undertaking doctoral-level study in aerospace-related science or engineering. The program is intended to reduce gender barriers in technical and scientific fields and to encourage women’s participation in aerospace research and innovation.

• Academic scholarship

  Jane M. Klausman Women in Business Scholarship

  A scholarship program for women pursuing undergraduate or master’s-level study in business or management. It addresses barriers to women’s advancement from education into organizational leadership and the boardroom.

• Youth leadership award

  Young Women in Public Affairs Award

  An award for young women aged 16 to 19 who demonstrate leadership and involvement in public policy, government, voluntary organizations, or community work benefiting women and girls.

• Student leadership program · 1948

  Z Club and Golden Z Club

  School- and university-based clubs that help students build leadership skills, explore professional opportunities, and take part in local, school, and international service activities.

• Advocacy campaign · 2012

  Zonta Says NO

  A global campaign designed to increase awareness and community action to prevent and end violence against women and girls. Local Zonta clubs adapt the campaign through public education, events, partnerships, and advocacy.

• Climate and gender-equality initiative · 2022

  Zonta Says NOW

  An initiative linking gender equality with climate action. It promotes recognition of the unequal effects of climate change and encourages women and girls to participate in climate leadership, policy, and resilience work.

• 2022Zonta Says NOW

  International

  Zonta introduced a gender-responsive climate-action campaign, including discussion at a Commission on the Status of Women side event and support for work engaging girls on climate change in Madagascar.

  Outcome. Climate change became an explicit part of Zonta’s international gender-equality and advocacy agenda.

  Source
• 2019Commission on the Status of Women parallel events

  United States and international UN community

  Zonta and UNICEF USA organized parallel events addressing sustainable social protection, gender equity, innovation, and capacity-building for girls.

  Outcome. The events extended Zonta’s policy advocacy and partnership work within the UN women’s-rights community.

  Source
• 2012Zonta Says NO

  International

  Zonta’s signature campaign mobilizes clubs and partners to raise awareness of violence against women and girls and to promote prevention, survivor support, and stronger community responses.

  Outcome. The campaign became a recurring international platform for public education and local action across the Zonta network.

  Source
• 1993After Vienna and on to Beijing

  International

  Zonta joined a global women’s-rights mobilization connected with the advocacy process between the Vienna World Conference on Human Rights and the Beijing World Conference on Women.

  Outcome. The organization contributed to international advocacy for women’s rights and equality during a major period of global policy development.

  Source

• 2022

  Add climate action through Zonta Says NOWStrategy

  Background

  Zonta linked climate disruption with gender inequality and treated climate change as an issue affecting human rights, safety, livelihoods, and opportunity.

  Action taken

  The organization introduced Zonta Says NOW and incorporated gender-responsive climate action into its international programming.

  Aftermath

  Climate justice and the participation of girls and women in climate leadership became more prominent in Zonta’s public agenda.

  Source

• 2012

  Adopt Zonta Says NO as an international advocacy platformStrategy

  Background

  Violence against women and girls remained a central global human-rights and public-health issue requiring both awareness and local action.

  Action taken

  Zonta organized a recurring international campaign through its clubs and partners to oppose and help prevent violence against women and girls.

  Aftermath

  The campaign expanded the visibility of Zonta’s advocacy beyond scholarships and service projects.

  Source

• 1938

  Create the Amelia Earhart FellowshipOther

  Background

  Zonta sought to expand educational opportunity for women in fields where they were underrepresented, while honoring member Amelia Earhart.

  Action taken

  The organization established an international fellowship for women pursuing doctoral study in aerospace-related sciences and engineering.

  Aftermath

  The fellowship became one of Zonta’s best-known educational programs and a long-term mechanism for supporting women in aerospace and technical research.

  Source

• 2022

  Zonta launches Zonta Says NOW climate and gender-equality initiative[1]Zonta Internationalen.wikipedia.org

  Campaign · Other

  Zonta introduced Zonta Says NOW to connect climate action with gender equality and to frame climate disruption as an issue affecting women’s rights and human security.

• 2019

  Zonta expands participation in UN Commission on the Status of Women activities[1]Zonta Internationalen.wikipedia.org

  Campaign · Other

  Zonta and UNICEF USA organized parallel events during the Commission on the Status of Women addressing social protection, gender equity, innovation, and support for girls.

• Zonta continues international work to end child marriage[1]Zonta Internationalen.wikipedia.org

  Campaign · Other

  The organization supports global and community-level initiatives addressing the causes and consequences of child marriage, including work connected with the UNFPA-UNICEF Global Programme.

1. 1Zonta Internationalen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Zonta International official websitezonta.org