Fraternal benefit societies like Royal Neighbors of America are centered on three great traditions:

• Individuals voluntarily join together based upon a common bond.
• They govern themselves for the benefit of their fellow members through a network of local organizations called chapters.
• There is a strong commitment to mutual support of the member and service to community.

As the largest fraternal benefit society dedicated to serving the needs of women, Royal Neighbors of America reflects a long tradition of members joining together for mutual well-being and charity in the community.

Fraternalism has its roots in the craft guilds of the Middle Ages, whose focus was on self-regulation of product quality and mutual promotion. Other groups followed, some forming as "friendly societies," emphasizing social activities that eventually blossomed into charity work in their communities, mutual support among members, and others stressing patriotic or religious rituals. The oldest still-existing fraternal societies are the International Order of Odd Fellows, the Ancient Order of Foresters, and the Freemasons. By the end of the 1800s, membership in fraternal societies in England alone was more than one million.

Modern fraternalism dates from the years following the Civil War when commercial life insurance began to grow in popularity in the United States. Because of the very high cost of commercial insurance, it was affordable only by white males engaged in business. As a result, during the 1870s and '80s a variety of groups formed not-for-profit fraternal benefit societies to offer their members insurance protection.

Established in 1895, Royal Neighbors of America remains the largest fraternal benefit society organized to provide insurance protection to women and their families.

Like all fraternal benefit societies, Royal Neighbors of America is operated for its members, offering a variety of benefits, such as scholarships, disaster aid, a variety of volunteer opportunities, and aid to members with special needs.

Royal Neighbors of America is governed by its membership. By purchasing one of Royal Neighbors' financial products, you are invited to become a member of the Society, which means you are also a member of a local chapter and have the opportunity to participate in its activities. Local chapters develop their own programs of socialization, charity, and community service or choose to support Royal Neighbors' national volunteer initiatives, such as Dogs for the Deaf.

• Volunteering 
• Chapter Highlights