Altrusa International, Inc. is an international service organization for professional and executive business women with membership on a limited classification basis. The first Altrusa Club was organized in Nashville, Tennessee on April 11, 1917 by Dr. Alfred Durham, an ostheopatic physician, who had been organizing clubs for Kiwanis. He organized the first five clubs, which were Nashville, Louisville, Indianapolis, Dayton, and the first Chicago Club. His original idea was a national club for business and professional women, principally to have forums to study various phases of business and professional life. The altruism was expressed in helping younger business women. The National Association of Altrusa Clubs, originally founded as the Altrusa Institute, was incorporated under the laws of Indiana on August 21, 1917, and was the first national organization of business and professional women. The first convention was held in Indianapolis in May 1918. At this time Durham accepted the contract relinquishing all rights as an organizer.

At the 1930 Convention the clubs were divided into ten districts, administered by a governor, who served as a part of the national governing body. Indianapolis was in District 5 until 1955 when it was changed to District 6.

At the 16th National Convention held in Chicago in June 1935, Altrusa became international, and a new name International Association of Alrusa Clubs, Inc. was given. In 1936 the first Classification Guide was adopted. The organization's name was again changed to Altrusa International, Inc. during the convention at Banff, Alberta, Canada, in June 1947.

Altrusa was organized primarily to encourage women to take a more active and varied role in community, national and international affairs. The organization's objectives, which have changed very little throughout its history, are: to cultivate friendly relationships and foster solidarity among business and professional women; to encourage high ethical standards of business and professional conduct; to provide vocational information and service to both young and mature women; to encourage participation in community and public, national and international affairs; to promote educational and cultural training.

Altrusa has pioneered in sponsoring career conferences for youth; job forums for the mature workers; services to the aged; assistance to the mentally and physically handicapped and safety programs. The projects are administered by the Altrusa International Foundation, established in 1962, to receive and administer funds donated by Altrusans and interested members of the general public for the support exclusively of educational, scientific, literary and charitable projects of Altrusa International, Inc. Altrusa is known for two major projects: Founders Fund Vocational Aid, the unique program of assistance for women of all ages to become self-supporting, established by Altrusa in 1952, and Grants-in-Aid project, established in 1945 to provide assistance for graduate women from other countries who are in need of emergency funds to complete their graduate work. These programs became models for the other targeted assistance programs organized by later agencies and organizations.

Every Altrusa Club is affiliated with Altrusa International. Clubs are grouped geographically into districts. Altrusa holds annual District Conferences and biennial International Conventions. International activities are directed from and co-ordinated by Altrusa Headquarters under the supervision of the Executive Committee. The National Headquarters is in Chicago, Illinois.

Indianapolis Altrusa Club was the fourth club organized (April 28, 1917). The first Indianapolis Altrusa president was Mamie L. Bass, who also served as the first national president. The Indianapolis Altrusa Club was fully involved in the formation of the National Association of Altrusa Clubs. In 1923 Indianapolis was the first Club to publish a weekly bulletin called The Altrusan to keep members and others informed. The current monthly publication is called the Altrusa Flash.

The major projects of Indianapolis Altrusa were vocational education and guidance, senior citizens programs, civic service and community service projects. The major community service projects included the elderly women, the homeless, the handicapped, unprivileged children, and individuals needing medical care. For instance, Altrusa members donated money and time to the Salvation Army, Indianapolis Zoo and other agencies, and was committed and involved with the residents of the John J. Barton Hi-Rise Apartments (one of the long standing local projects). Besides monthly bingo parties and an annual holiday party, club members contribute to a health fund which provides non-prescriptive drugs and health supplies. Altrusans have also sponsored parties for the children at LaRue Carter Hospital. The support for these projects and others are obtained from an annual spring style show and periodic sale of various items.

In 1966 Altrusa formed ASTRA (Ability, Service, Training, Responsibility and Achievement) youth groups as a part of their community service program. These were designed to introduce the benefits of community service to girls ages 13-25. The idea originated in a national vocational guidance program established in 1924 to provide practical direction for young college women. Each spring Altrusa of Indianapolis recognizes the outstanding high school junior girl from the Indianapolis public high schools (Annual Merit Awards).

Internationally, the club contributes to the Altrusa International Foundation with emphasis on literacy-related programs. To help clubs channel their community service focus towards literacy, the Foundation established ABC Literacy Grant programs to tangibly advance its mission to improve literacy worldwide and to address identified unmet community literacy needs. For its literacy project, the Indianapolis club initiated a reading program for the K through third grade children at IPS School 70, for which the club received District Six recognition.