Junior League

The League is an all-women organization. In 1996, the Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, and San Francisco Gate publicized that a male hairdresser named Clark Clementsen tried to join the League after his "high society clients" recommended him, but was denied membership and retained an attorney to argue his case at a meeting of AJLI representatives in NYC. For him, members had "been trained to be organized, articulate community leaders, and it showed...no men's organization even came close."[6][7][8][9]

"The Association of Junior Leagues International, Inc. (AJLI) is an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women and improving communities through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable."

As of 2019 there are 291 Leagues of 140,000 women in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and the UK,[10] including but not limited to:

Prospects must attend orientation at their chapter's clubhouse before applying for membership. The application requires biographical data, two short essay questions, two recommendation letters (in most chapters, with some chapters requiring the letters be written by members), and a $100 application fee (fees vary by league).[18]

Once admitted, candidates must register for the ~$150 provisional course (fees vary by league) where they are trained on the organization's history and professional volunteerism over four clubhouse meetings, an off-site group trivia session (JL 101), a group community project (oftentimes PIP aka "Playground Improvement Project"), a volunteer credit shift, a personal development session (VET aka "Volunteer Education Training"), a committee overview event (placement previews), and optional social events with their group of 15-20 women out of 150 total new class members each fall and spring semester. Those who don't complete graduation requirements by the end of the semester must start over the next semester.[18]

Following graduation from provisional course training, members pay annual dues of approximately $525+[18] (fees vary by league) to become Active members and participate in the annual placement process to serve on a committee for the next academic year under the following areas as unpaid volunteers:

• Communities (volunteering with partner community organizations)
• Fundraising (event planning)
• Membership Development
• Communications (marketing and PR)

They're required to attend at least 75% or more of committee meetings and one personal development session (included in membership) each year. Fundraising events are optional for members not on the fundraising committee, with discounted tickets available to members. They can renew their committee placement annually with some restrictions, change committees, and/or run for committee, council, board, organization, and/or headquarters leadership. Those who don't complete their annual membership requirements have their membership revoked.

Requirements for Active and Sustainer status vary by League, but after 20 years of membership or reaching a certain age, members achieve Sustainer status, followed by an option of Sustainer Emeritus status for members aged 80 years or older.

The Junior League has a full calendar year of members-only, family-friendly, and public events at their clubhouses and local venues such as hotels. Notable JL events raising money for partner community organizations related to foster children, domestic violence, human trafficking, illiteracy, city beautification, and other issues include, but are not limited to:

• Annual Winter Ball—the Junior League's largest fundraiser since 1952, where League awards are given to honor outstanding members and a public figure, such as Mary J. Blige (2011).[19][20][21] Non-member dinner tickets start at $500+.
• Annual Thanksgiving Eve Ball—introducing debutantes to society at The Plaza and Waldorf-Astoria since 1948[22][23][24][25][26]
• Savor the Spring Restaurant Week
• Spring House Tour
• Team JL at the New York City Marathon[27]

The New York Junior League used to have a thrift shop where proceeds went to the community organizations.

Other JL initiatives include its contributions to the passage of the Clean Water Act, free school lunch campaign, “Don’t Wait to Vaccinate” campaign, and The Junior Leagues’ Kids in the Kitchen initiative, which combats childhood obesity and educates families on health and nutrition.[28]