The Daughters of the British Empire (DBE) is a charitable, non-profit, non-political, non-sectarian, voluntary American society of women of British or Commonwealth birth or ancestry. Its members are professionals, businesswomen, and homemakers with common interests and heritage, who meet regularly for business and social events with the common cause of philanthropy. The society was founded in the United States on March 15, 1909, as the Imperial Order, Daughters of the Empire in the U.S.A., and became the National Society, Daughters of the British Empire in the U.S.A. in 1920. The National Society is incorporated in the State of Delaware.
The Society is affiliated with the Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire in Canada (I.O.D.E.); the Victoria League in London, England; and the General Federation of Women’s Clubs in the United States.
The Honorary President of the DBE is the British Ambassador to the U.S. or the Ambassador's wife.
For over 100 years, The Daughters of the British Empire in the U.S.A. has been a common bond for women of British heritage living in America. Members, joining together in fellowship, contribute significantly to the good of their local communities and support the four retirement homes for men and women established by the DBE. The states of the Midwest District are proud to support the Cantata British Home in Brookfield, IL.