The mission of Alpha Gamma Delta Foundation is to impact and enrich our communities by providing essential support for education, philanthropy and leadership.
Our History
Alpha Gamma Delta was the first women's fraternity to establish an international philanthropy project.
1919- Convention delegates voted to create a summer camp for underprivileged children.
1920- The camp was opened on a lake in Jackson, Michigan, and a second camp was later established in Wellington, Ontario. The summer camps were staffed by collegians and alumnae of our Fraternity for more than 25 years.
1947- Alpha Gamma Delta changed its philanthropic focus, but maintained an interest in children. Working with the National Society for Crippled Children and Adults, the Fraternity sponsored a training program for counselors involved with the rehabilitation of the physically impaired.
1964- The Convention of 1964 approved a change of project to provide support for children with minimal brain dysfunction.
1979- At the Diamond Anniversary Convention, the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation (currently known as JDRF) was adopted as the official beneficiary of financial support and service.
1991- The philanthropic efforts of the Fraternity were then directed toward the general treatment, research and cure of diabetes mellitus (expanding its support to multiple diabetes organizations) where they remain today.
Since 1962, the evolution of the Fraternity's philanthropy was accompanied by the emergence and progress of the Alpha Gamma Delta Founders Memorial Foundation. The name of the Founders Memorial Foundation was changed to the Alpha Gamma Delta Foundation in 1990.
With diabetes as the current philanthropic focus of the Fraternity, grants are awarded annually to organizations and individuals for research, care and treatment of patients, and education about the disease. The Foundation also supports educational and leadership programming for collegiate and alumnae members including Scholarships, Continuing Education Grants, Scholastic Achievement Awards, LeaderShape, the Undergraduate Interfraternity Institute (UIFI), GreekLifeEdu, and the brand new Gamma Program.
Other educational ventures that are wholly or partially funded by the Foundation are on-site leadership training through the Leadership Consultant program, and portions of International Convention and The Leadership Conference (TLC) programming. Through the Sisters Income Supplement (SIS) Program, the Foundation provides emergency assistance to sisters who have serious financial needs.
Through The Campaign for Alpha Gamma Delta, the Fraternity and Foundation created The Leadership Institute - Women with Purpose in 2006. This distinct charitable organization holds as its mission to help women reach their leadership potential. The reference to "purpose" is intentional, as our own Alpha Gamma Delta Purpose served as the inspiration for the Institute.
As we embark on the Alpha Gamma Delta Foundation's 50th anniversary we thank those individuals, chapters and clubs who continue to allow us to fulfill our mission of support for education, philanthropy and leadership.
