About Delta Sigma Theta

The Founders of Delta Sigma Theta

Twenty-two undergraduate women founded Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. on January 13, 1913 at Howard University. These young women wanted to use their collective strength to promote academic excellence and to provide assistance to persons in need. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority is a private, non-profit organization whose purpose is to provide services and programs to promote human welfare. The Grand Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. has a membership of over 200,000 predominately African-American, college-educated women. The Sorority currently has 900-plus chapters located in the United States, Tokyo, Japan, Okinawa, Japan, Germany, Bermuda, the Bahamas, Seoul, Korea, and St. Thomas and St Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The major programs of the Sorority are based upon the organization's Five-Point Programmatic Thrust: Delta's Five-Point Program Economic Development Educational Development International Awareness and Involvement Physical and Mental Health Political Awareness and Involvement Program development and implementation in Delta is a cooperative function with committees, the national executive board, and headquarters staff involved. Those with direct leadership responsibilities for implementation include members of the Program Planning and Development Committee, Social Action Commission, Commission on Arts and Letters, Information and Communications Committee, Membership Services Committee and Regional Officers. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. owns property located at 1703, 1705, 1707, and 1709 New Hampshire Avenue in the prestigious Dupont Circle area in northwest Washington, D.C. This is the site of its national headquarters and the headquarters of the Delta Research and Education Foundation (DREF).