P.E.O. is a sisterhood based upon the principles of friendship and loyalty. Since our founding in 1869, P.E.O. philanthropies have provided approximately $432 million in financial assistance to more than 125,000 women.
The mission statement of the P.E.O. Sisterhood has been refreshed into a simple, short message that reinforces our commitment to women and education. Help share the good works of our organization today by sharing it.
P.E.O.—Where women motivate, educate and celebrate women.
P.E.O. was founded on January 21, 1869, by seven students at Iowa Wesleyan College in Mount Pleasant, Iowa. This circle of kindred spirits, bonded by friendship and their enthusiasm for educational opportunities for women, eventually expanded to include women off-campus as well. Through membership, the P.E.O. Sisterhood has brought together more than a half a million women in the United States and Canada who are passionate about helping women advance through education.
The P.E.O. Sisterhood is a nonprofit volunteer women’s organization grounded in our loving concern for each other and our mission of supporting women to pursue their educational goals. Joined by a shared commitment to these two foundational tenets, P.E.O. strives to offer a sense of belonging to current and future members by embracing each person’s unique talents, background and perspective.