Expansion Recommendation Program

As the Fraternity enters a new era of expansion and growth, we want our brothers and friends to help shape the future. Through the Expansion Recommendation Program, you have the opportunity to grow Zeta Psi’s brotherhood by referring outstanding individuals to join or start an expansion group. For all successful referrals, a chapter of your choosing will receive a financial incentive as a thank you!

To get started, please first review the program details below, and when you’re ready, Recommend a Brother and have the recommended party fill out the Zeta Psi Interest Form. Once both forms have been received, a member of the Expansion & Growth team will be in touch.

Expansion Recommendation Program

Overview & Purpose

Zeta Psi Fraternity is currently undergoing a phase of significant growth, primarily focusing on North America. To support the fantastic work done by the Zeta Psi Expansion & Growth staff and accelerate the ongoing expansion efforts at new universities, we have created a Zeta Psi Expansion Recommendation Program: a structured, incentive-based referral process that empowers undergraduates, Elders, and friends of Zeta Psi to take an active role in identifying future members and new chapter opportunities. This program is designed to leverage our network’s personal connections to support strategic growth and reward brothers and friends for their efforts in supporting Zeta Psi’s growth.

Rationale

The success of new expansion efforts often hinges on personal outreach and connections. This program will help to broaden the scope of the Expansion & Growth team’s reach by tapping into potential member candidates and opportunities as our brothers encounter them. By offering a modest financial incentive, we hope to  encourage proactive involvement in identifying:

  • Individuals who would thrive in and strengthen an existing expansion or Refresh Program group; and,
  • Individuals who would be interested in starting a new group at universities where Zeta Psi does not have a campus presence.

This approach incentivizes grassroots expansion in a cost-effective, results-driven manner, paying only for successful conversions (e.g, chartered groups or initiated members).

Program Eligibility

The program is open to anyone who refers:

  • Individuals who join an existing, uncharted expansion group*;
  • Individuals who join an active chapter currently participating in the Refresh Program*; or,
  • Individuals who create a new chapter or restart an inactive chapter.

Limitations & Exclusions:

  • At this time, only recommendations to chapters in North America will be eligible for the program.
  • Active members recommending individuals to their chapter of initiation, current chapter of affiliation, and/or previous chapter of affiliation will not be considered for this program.
  • Recent (to be determined on a case-by-case basis) Elders recommending individuals to their chapter of initiation and/or previous chapter of affiliation will not be considered for this program.
  • Advisors recommending individuals to the chapter they support will not be considered for this program.
  • Recommendations of family members will not be considered for this program.

*Any recommendations made during a campus’s primary recruitment period will not be considered for this program. This program is not designed to replace a chapter’s regular recruitment obligations.

How To Participate

Step 1: Submit a Recommend a Brother Form.

  • The referring individual must submit the Recommend a Brother Form listed on the Zeta Psi website with the name, contact information, school, and a brief statement of support for the individual they wish to recommend.

Step 2: Recommended Party Submits the Zeta Psi Interest Form.

  • The referred individual must complete the  Zeta Psi Interest Form on the Zeta Psi website. As part of this form, the referred individual will include the name of the individual who referred them.

Step 3: Verification and Incentive Disbursement.

  • For the creation of a new chapter, payment will be made once the group is officially chartered. For individuals joining an expansion group or a chapter participating in the Refresh Program, payment will be made once the individual is initiated and has paid dues in full.

Program Integrity

All participants in this program are expected to act in good faith, with integrity, and in alignment with the values and mission of Zeta Psi. The International Fraternity reserves the right, at the sole discretion of Headquarters staff, to disqualify any referral, withhold or revoke payment, and/or take further disciplinary action if there is reasonable suspicion of abuse, manipulation, or unethical conduct related to the program. This includes, but is not limited to:

  • Misrepresentation of a referred individual’s eligibility or intent;
  • Collusion between referrer and referee to exploit incentive structures;
  • Artificial inflation of referrals through deceptive or coercive means; and,
  • Violations of recruitment policies, university regulations, or Zeta Psi’s governing standards.

Headquarters staff may investigate any referral and require additional documentation to verify legitimacy. Decisions regarding payouts and program eligibility are final. By participating, referrers agree to comply with all program terms and accept the Fraternity’s authority to enforce them.

Incentive Structure

Referral Type Incentive Amount Payout Condition
Referred individual establishes a new chapter $300 Group becomes officially chartered with their fees paid in full
Referred individual joins an existing expansion or Refresh Program group $150 Member is initiated with initiation fees paid in full

Method of distribution: 

    • Active Member: After the confirmation of the payout condition, the financial incentive will be credited to the active member’s respective chapter. The chapter should then credit these funds to the referring individual to cover future dues & fees. 
    • Elder Member: After the confirmation of the payout condition, the incentive may be credited to a chapter of the Elder member’s choosing.
    • Friend of Zeta Psi: After the confirmation of the payout condition, the incentive may be credited to a chapter of their choosing

Notification:

  • Once Steps 1 & 2 of the referral process have been completed, an IHQ staff member will confirm receipt of the forms with both the referring and referred individual. Additionally, this staff member will then notify the chapter of the recommendation via Basecamp or connect with the recommended individual directly to discuss the potential new chapter.
  • Upon completion of the payout condition, the staff member will notify the referring individuals of their referred individual’s successful initiation and/or chapter chartering. At this point, the staff member will confirm (for Elder Members and Friends of Zeta Psi) which chapter will receive the specified incentive amount.

Conclusion

This program presents a clear, actionable, and financially responsible approach to strengthening Zeta Psi’s presence across North America. With a modest incentive structure tied to concrete outcomes, we can grow our brotherhood meaningfully and efficiently by activating the network we already have.