Being part of a sorority means you’ll leave college with lifelong friendships in tow.
However, you will have also gained valuable skills and a greater perspective of the world through philanthropic efforts that will help you succeed long after graduation.
Sororities are built upon a core set of values, whether they give back to the community or foster positive change and growth for those who join.
Because of this, there are so many fun, easy, and meaningful ways to contribute to your sorority!
Whether creating a welcoming environment for potential new members through sorority recruitment or mentoring others, this guide will walk you through the top 10 ways you can contribute to a sorority now and in the future.
How Can You Contribute To a Sorority? Top 10 Ideas
1. Take on Leadership Roles Volunteering For Small Tasks
Leadership skills can elevate your sorority experience, especially if you want to become a sorority president one day!
Volunteering for small tasks such as cleaning, organizing social events, being part of a committee, or participating in an Open House is a great way to get noticed!
You demonstrate your willingness to go above and beyond and maintain the sorority’s values, goals, and rules by getting involved in these tasks.
These attributes are what sororities seek in future leadership positions, including the executive board.
So go ahead and sign up — you never know who’s watching!
2. Help Your Sisters With Academic Success
A sorority is all about sisterhood, so providing academic support to your sisters is a great way to contribute and give back.
After all, this is still college, so maintaining a high GPA is in everyone’s best interest.
Offering tutoring sessions benefits sorority women because it not only helps them maintain their GPA and pursue academic growth.
It also reflects the sorority’s core values, which usually include a commitment to helping students receive scholarships, financial aid, and awards. Plus, it highlights your commitment to their success after graduation.
There’s another perk, too: maintaining or enhancing the reputation of your sorority on campus and avoiding punishment.
Your Greek Life, including whether or not you and your sisters are prioritizing education, reflects on the school.
If members’ GPAs begin to slip, the school may put the entire sorority on probation.
3. Organize or Participate in Service Projects
Like academic success, community service is a cornerstone of sororities, as they are deeply committed to giving back to the most deserving communities.
Get creative with your ideas! However, if you need some inspiration, consider these:
- Volunteering at a local food bank: Volunteering at a food bank is an excellent example of social responsibility. Plus, it has a massive impact on the community! Whether sorting donations or loading trucks for delivery, volunteering at a food bank makes an enormous difference in people’s lives!
- Hosting a charity 5K walk/run: Sororities can choose a charity near and dear to their hearts, such as funding cancer research. Organizing a walk or run is a great way to get everyone together and demonstrate social responsibility to the community. Get creative with this! Wear designated colors, allow costumes (if it’s around Halloween), or invite kids in the community to participate with their older siblings.
- Organizing a coat drive for local shelters: No one deserves to go cold, so if you’re looking for a project that active members can participate in, try hosting a coat drive! Members can donate their gently-loved coats to nearby homeless and domestic violence shelters.
- Partnering with children’s hospitals for craft or toy drives: This is perhaps one of the most selfless community service projects to get involved in! Fundraising events can help you earn money to buy toys for donation. You can also contact the hospital directly to sign up as a volunteer. Not only are you positively impacting a child, but you’re doing something uplifting for the families taking care of them, too.
A service project’s goal is to help those in need.
Identifying ways to give back based on the values your sorority emphasizes doesn’t just leave an impact; it spearheads change for years to come!
Read: What To Wear On an Unofficial College Campus Visit
4. Actively Support Diversity and New Member Integrations
Personal connections are what come out of sororities —and nothing bridges connection quite like a mixer to bring new people and current members together.
Mixers are an easy way to introduce yourself and mingle with prospective chapter members.
Not only can you discover mutual interests, but you can also learn something new as you each share your experiences with life, relationships, and school.
At your next mixer or retreat, go ahead and offer some “get to know you” activities.
Such as sharing a fun fact about yourself and asking open-ended questions such as “What’s something you’re proud of?” or “What’s a piece of advice that’s helped you?”
Questions like these can help ensure new members align with your sorority’s core values, and strength emerging sisterhood bonds.
5. Suggest New Fundraising Ideas
Now’s the time to get creative!
Your chapter’s philanthropy efforts can significantly impact those in the community, so don’t be afraid to think outside the box.
Remember, to make a big impact on different organizations within the community, you first need to get members excited about getting involved.
The best way to do that is to get everyone together and share ideas, including what you think would be fun.
Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Hosting a themed trivia night or karaoke contest with entry donations: Who doesn’t love karaoke and trivia? Hold a night themed to your favorite pop star or TV show, or encourage everyone to let loose and cover their favorite tunes at karaoke night at the Student Union Center.
- Organizing a campus-wide “dorm wars” competition with entry fees benefiting charity: See how much you can raise with these “dorm wars!” Fun ideas include determining who has the best decor or which side of the dorm competed the best in relay races.
- Bake sales tied to holidays or campus events: Is your college hosting a movie night or film festival? Are they holding an indoor concert during the holidays? Take advantage of these campus-wide events by holding a bake sale to raise money for your chosen charity or community organization!
- Organize a themed party (ex., Mamma Mia): Here you go again with those creative ideas! College is perfect for hosting a themed party based on members’ favorite film or pop culture icons. Charge an admission at the door and snag some pics at everyone’s amazing cosplays!
Regardless of the philanthropic endeavors you choose, make suggestions for social events a team effort.
The impact will be much more meaningful that way.
6. Volunteer To Help Organize Sorority Recruitment Events
Volunteering to help organize sorority recruitment events.
Including an Open House (prospective members’ first introduction to the chapter), Sisterhood Rounds (where new members get to know the chapter’s values), and Preference Night (where potential members visit the sororities in person).
Why is this the best way to contribute to a sorority?
Not only it shows your commitment but demonstrates your leadership skills and willingness to go above and beyond.
But why? The answer comes down to how time-consuming planning and hosting these events for potential new members is.
Creating themes, putting up decorations, and developing a schedule create a memorable experience for everyone in the chapter house and show off your time management and leadership skills.
You’re not just a sister in the sorority, you’re an active member. Being part of the planning committee is an excellent — and easy — way to highlight that.
7. Organize Meetings To Discuss Important Topics
Sororities are all about sisterhood. But they’re also all about fostering and upholding their values.
To do this, you should hold routine chapter meetings that discuss social, political, and cultural issues.
Everyone has unique experiences, and it’s through sharing those experiences that sorority sisters can solidify their bond.
Plus, new perspectives can foster change and lead to creative ideas and solutions that benefit everyone in the chapter.
Open dialogue (and having an open mind) fosters critical thinking skills and sharpens awareness — qualities that will promote personal growth.
Hold these meetings as often as it makes sense—maybe every week or month—to ensure your educational, philanthropic, and community actions reflect your common goals and sorority’s values.
Read: 20 College Must-Haves You Can’t Forget About
8. Support Chapter Events and Campus Activities
Getting involved in your school is just as important as getting involved in the community!
After all, it shows your commitment to the college campus — and this goes a long way in highlighting what the school (and your sorority) means to you!
Make it a point to attend local sports games, including baseball, tennis, and basketball.
Show off the delicious cookies you make with a bake sale, or share love for your sorority through other chapter events such as craft nights, movie nights, and talent shows.
Is your school holding a campus fair?
Be sure to volunteer so prospective students can learn about your sorority for next term. This is what college life is all about!
Not only is it fun to participate in these events, but doing so will put your sorority in a positive light, ensuring it maintains its good reputation on campus.
This will help with recruitment efforts, too!
9. Mentor Potential New Members
Before you celebrate bid day — when new members receive their invitation to join the sorority formally — you must guide them through the recruitment process.
At the Open House, ensure your sorority is inviting and accurately represents what you’re all about, whether it’s fostering personal growth, leadership development, or involvement in community service.
The more up-front you are about what new members can expect, the more engaged they will be once the recruitment process wraps up.
Throughout the two—to three-week recruitment process, be available to answer prospective members’ questions; many prospective members will arrive with sorority interview questions on hand!
Be able to answer what they can expect once they join, including activities offered.
Remember, the best way to make a potential sorority member comfortable is to share your own experiences.
What do you love about being a member of a sorority? Which experiences have had an impact? Share those stories!
They’re what sets you apart from other chapters.
10. Make a Positive Impact On the Sorority Members Life
When you’re a part of a sorority, you make a bond for life.
However, what shouldn’t be overlooked is the legacy you leave for incoming chapter members.
What you contribute to the sorority now, whether advocating for new ideas, championing diversity, or creating an environment where everyone feels included, you’re leaving the sorority in a slightly better place than how you found it, which will have a lasting impact.
But we can’t forget about your sorority sisters post-graduation either.
Providing support, whether through educational excellence, problem-solving, or highlighting the importance of philanthropy, prepares students for entry into “the real world.”
Realizing how easy it is to advocate for others and make value-based decisions can spearhead personal growth and positive change in every aspect of your and your sorority sisters’ lives — and those they interact with moving forward.
Conclusion
The benefits of being an active sorority member extend far past the sisterhood bonds you’ll make.
Instead, it is your first invitation into social responsibility and leadership, leading the way for you and your sisters.
This guide offered 10 impactful ways you can contribute to a sorority.
Whether it’s promoting inclusivity or making education a priority, your actions as a sister today will leave a lasting impact on your chapter moving forward.
