About Zeta Tau Alpha
In 1898, nine young women at the Virginia State Female Normal School (now Longwood University) formalized their friendship by forming Zeta Tau Alpha. Away from home for the first time, these teenagers longed for companionship while they studied to be teachers. Fearing their unique friendship would fade without a formal bond to sustain it, they met in secret by candlelight in the bathroom of their dormitory. At the start, they used only three question marks as their group name. The first minute book of regular meetings states Zeta Tau Alpha was organized Oct. 15, 1898.
Learn more about how Zeta Tau Alpha was founded.
We now have more than 300,000 initiated members, 171 active collegiate chapters and more than 225 alumnae chapters across the country.
The Zeta Tau Alpha Foundation is the philanthropic and fundraising arm of the Fraternity. The Foundation leads our efforts in breast cancer education and awareness, provides around $1 million in scholarships annually, and sponsors educational and leadership opportunities for our members and others.
The ZTA Fraternity Housing Corporation is the largest in the Panhellenic world and provides safe, secure and competitive housing for all our collegiate members.
Explore the national ZTA website to find additional information about our Nine Key Values, policies, dedication to inclusion, programming and more.
Zeta Tau Alpha has a profound impact on the lives of women, offering them a supportive and empowering environment that fosters personal growth, leadership, and lifelong sisterhood. Through its values of service, leadership, and friendship, ZTA helps women develop critical skills that extend beyond college, preparing them for success in their careers, relationships, and communities.
The organization’s focus on philanthropy, particularly in breast cancer education and awareness, instills a sense of purpose and advocacy in its members, allowing them to contribute to meaningful causes that improve the lives of others. ZTA also provides a platform for networking and building lifelong connections with women who share similar values and experiences, forming bonds that continue long after graduation.
Ultimately, Zeta Tau Alpha empowers women to "seek the noblest" within themselves and others, creating a lasting impact on their personal development, leadership potential, and ability to contribute positively to society.