The Quota Club was founded in January 1919 in Buffalo, New York. Its membership was based on invitations only to the best women in their professions. Even though the classifications of membership were restricted by its categorization, it was hard to draw distinctions between classifications, so the Club started to admit members by cross categorizing. As result, new positions were regularly created for incoming members.

One of the members, Marian de Forest, strongly believed that the club should represent quality, not quantity. De Forest and five other businesswomen withdrew from the Quota Club and founded the Zonta Club. They established the system of only one representative for each class on the new club; there would be no paid organizers who received commission fees for new members. Each member of Zonta had to devote their time and attention to women's advancement in society.

Within a month, the officers of nine clubs, including Detroit, Michigan, and Erie, Pennsylvania, clubs which had joined the New York clubs (Buffalo, Rochester, Binghamton, Elmira, Syracuse, Ithaca, Utica), formed a new confederation at the Hotel Statler, Buffalo, New York, in November 1919. The first president of the Confederation was Mary Jenkins, a publisher of the Syracuse Herald.

In May 20-21, 1921, the first annual convention was held in Syracuse, New York. In 1923, New York City and Los Angeles chapters joined the Confederation of Zonta Clubs, bringing the total to 22 clubs in the United States. Zonta became international after the participation of Toronto, Hamilton, and St. Catherines, Ontario clubs in 1927. In 1930, new clubs in Hamburg, Germany, Vienna, Austria, and Sidney, Australia, joined the Confederation. That same year, the organization changed its name to Zonta International and elected Helen W. Cleveland as its first president.

1919

The Zonta Club was founded in Buffalo, New York.

1921

The Confederation of Zonta Clubs was established; Mary Jenkins elected first president.

1922

Zonta became incorporated.

Zonta's base of operation moved to Harriet Richards' home in Utica, New York.

1925

Serbia honored Zonta for its service to the education of young Serbian women.

1926

Zonta acquires its business office in the Women's Council Building of the Larking Company of Buffalo, New York.

1927

Zonta became international as clubs on Toronto, Hamilton, and St. Catherines, Ontario joined the confederation.

1928

Zonta headquarters moved to Chicago, Illinois.

1930

The name of the organization changed to Zonta International; Helen W. Cleveland elected first president.

1932

Headquarters moved to the Buckingham Building in Chicago.

1938

Amelia Earhart Scholarships for Women established.

1954

295 Zonta clubs in 13 foreign countries with 10,848 members.

1959

First international service project with United Nations agencies.

1964

427 Zonta clubs in 24 foreign countries with 17,500 members.

1979

Zonta International moved to offices on 35 East Wacker Drive, Chicago.

1982

Received an award from UNICEF for outstanding contribution to the children.

1986

Zonta International purchased a building for its headquarters, 557 West Randolph Street, Chicago.

1994

Buffalo club hosted Diamond Jubilee Celebration at Statler Towers, Buffalo, New York.

2007

1,200 Zonta clubs in 67 countries with 33,000 members.