It was founded in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1917[1] by Dr. Alfred Durham as a chain of national clubs for business and professional women.
Dr. Alfred Durham, a member of Kiwanis, began organizing clubs throughout Nashville, Louisville, Kentucky, and Dayton, Ohio, before he moved on to Indianapolis, Indiana, where he met Mamie L. Bass.
Bass had served as the superintendent of the Women's Division of the United States Employment Services, and was a partner in her brother's architecture firm.
[5] Since that first step over US borders in 1935, Altrusa moved into Puerto Rico, Chile, Ecuador, Mexico, India, Korea, Russia, Ukraine, Ireland, Great Britain, Bermuda, Canada, and New Zealand.
Increasing its global outlook, Altrusa expanded projects beyond literacy and education by adopting a resolution to promote environmental concerns in 1989.
In 2011, the association launched a new branding and marketing campaign with the purpose of increasing Altrusa's image in the communities, and reaching out to an evolving membership.
In July 2017 Altrusa International, Inc. celebrated its centennial year at its biennial convention in Nashville, Tennessee.