The Phi Delta Theta Foundation

Friendship, Sound Learning, and Rectitude

Our Mission

The Phi Delta Theta Foundation exists to strengthen men for life by building on the tradition of our core values: friendship, sound learning and rectitude.

Our History

The Phi Delta Theta Foundation was created in 1958 and chartered by the State of Ohio on August 16, 1960. The Foundation was granted its tax-exempt status in 1963 after giving evidence of its good intent by awarding its first scholarships in 1962. The Phi Delta Theta Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization; contributions are tax-deductible as prescribed by law.

For approximately twenty years, the Foundation's activities were limited solely to giving scholarships. Then, in the early 1980s, the Foundation received a private letter ruling from the Internal Revenue Service that greatly broadened the scope of its activities. This ruling allowed the Foundation to provide educational grants for items other than scholarships. Based upon that ruling, the Foundation began supporting other educational activities like the Chapter Consultant program, the Leadership College, the educational portions of the General Convention, educational materials, and numerous other programs.

The Foundation began with a very small corpus—$4,708 in 1962. That small corpus has since grown and the total assets of the Foundation now total over $15 million. As the Foundation's funds have grown, so have the number and the amounts of the scholarships and other educational grants.

Making the Phi Delt 2020 Vision a Reality

In the Fall of 2010, the newly elected General Council assembled for its annual retreat with the General Headquarters staff. This year, their mission was to create a long-term strategic path for Phi Delta Theta. Through this process, Phi Delt 2020 was created to establish Phi Delta Theta as the premiere fraternal leadership organization through six strategic initiatives: Growth, Education, Support, Communication, Capacity and Funding.

Shortly after the creation of Phi Delt 2020, Phi Delta Theta's strategic plan, a fundraising effort called Building on the Bond was launched to raise the dollars necessary to make this vision a reality. The goal is to raise $20 million by December 26, 2020—the most ambitious fundraising effort in Phi Delt history.

Our Impact

Since its very humble beginnings, the Foundation has awarded more than $4.1 million in scholarships and fellowships to outstanding young Phis. The Foundation has also granted nearly $10 million toward the Fraternity's premiere leadership and educational programs such as the Presidents Leadership Conference, the Kleberg Emerging Leaders Institute, the Leadership Consultant Program and the Alcohol-Free Housing Initiative.

Learn more about what the Phi Delta Theta Foundation does today and make a gift at www.phideltatheta.org/Foundation

“Phi Delta Theta was organized with three principle objectives: the cultivation of friendship among its members, the acquirement individually of a high degree of mental culture, and the attainment personally of a high standard of morality.” —Walter B. Palmer, Emory-Vanderbilt 1877

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