Start a Phi Delt Chapter

By becoming a Founder of Phi Delta Theta, you can create a culture of fraternity that aligns with your beliefs and set a precedent of being a premier fraternity on your campus. Throughout this process you will have an opportunity to experience a wide range of personal and professional development on your pursuit of greatness. This includes the ability for immediate leadership roles, having an impact within the local community through philanthropic efforts, and the support from a global alumni network of over 180,000 living alumni. When done correctly, you will leave a legacy for many students to follow many years after you’ve graduated.

If you are a student, group of students, or alumni interested in starting a chapter, please complete the start a chapter form above and a member of the Growth Team will contact you to learn more about your interest. If your desires and expectations align with the values and experiences Phi Delta Theta offers, our staff will initiate conversations with your university’s fraternity and sorority life staff to determine the viability of bringing Phi Delt to campus.

If you are a campus professional interested in bringing Phi Delta Theta to your campus, please complete the start a chapter form above and a member of the headquarters staff will contact you to learn more about campus, the fraternity and sorority community, and the expectations for expansion. When selecting a campus for expansion, Phi Delta Theta’s leadership evaluates a variety of metrics, including the quality and sustainability of the institution, campus culture, student experiences, university support, local alumni support, and timing of expansion.

Being part of a fraternity will demand an average of 3-5 hours of your time per week. By becoming a Founder, you will have the opportunity to step into leadership roles that could require additional time to fulfill responsibilities associated with the position.

There are several one-time and reoccurring fees associated with becoming a Founder and starting a Phi Delt chapter. A benefit of being part of a new chapter is that you can influence many areas of operation including the creation of a budget and setting local dues. We understand that the financial investment can be a barrier for becoming a member and for that reason, the Phi Delta Theta Foundation offers a variety of scholarships that awards over $500,000 annually to members, including $250,000 specifically to first-generation college students.

Joining or starting a fraternity is a big decision and we believe your family should be involved in that decision. For this reason, we invite you and members of your family to visit our family resource page for more information and resources to assist you in your journey of joining Phi Delta Theta.

While there is a time commitment to being a Founder of Phi Delt, it should not interfere with your involvement in other campus organizations, collegiate sports, part-time jobs, or internships. In fact, members of Phi Delt are encouraged to take advantage of the opportunities their university or local community provides to get involved.

Phi Delta Theta strives to be recognized as the premier leadership society in North America. To do this, Phi Delt has always challenged the status quo of what it means to be a fraternity. This includes the implementation of alcohol and substance free housing in 2000, being active members of the anti-hazing coalition committed to eradicating hazing, and supporting a new generation of college students through first-generation student scholarships.

Once a campus is selected, the General Fraternity will assign a full-time recruitment specialist to each of its expansion projects. The recruitment specialist will be on campus for an entire semester to oversee the recruitment of Founders, education of members and chapter officers, and onboarding of chapter operations. Following the semester-long expansion, the newly inducted emerging chapter will be support by a regional chapter support coordinator as they continue to work towards receiving a charter. This support includes participation in monthly webinars, virtual consults, and in-person campus visits.

Each chapter of Phi Delta Theta is also supported by a local advisory board of volunteers. The advisory board in composed of local alumni, campus professionals, and community leaders that meet regularly with chapter leadership to ensure the chapter is supported in all aspects of fraternity operations and experiences.