Zeta Phi Beta Soroity, Inc. was founded in 1920 on the campus of Howard University in Washington D.C., as the sister organization of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. Five women chose not to embrace the tenets of established black sororities, and chartered Zeta Phi Beta Sorority to encourage the highest standards of scholarship through scientific, literrary, cultural and educational programs; promote service projects on college campuses and in the community; foster sisterhood; and exemplify the ideal o Finer Womanhood. A private nonprofit organization, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority is incorporated in Washington, D.C., and in the State of Illinois.

Since its inception, the sorority has chronicled a number of “firsts” among the established black sororities. In addition to being the only organization consistitutionally bound to a fraternity, the sorority was the first to charter international chapters, those in West Africa and Germany, to form adult and youth auxiliary groups, and to organize its internal affairs witin a central office, administered by a paid staff.

Zeta Phi Beta’s purpose is to foster the ideals of service, charity, scholarship, civic and cultural endeavors, sisterhood, and Finer Womanhood. These ideas are reflected in the sorority’s national programs for which its members and ausiliary groups provide untotaled hours of voluntary service to staff community outreach programs, fund scholarships, support organized charities, and promote legislation for social and civic change.