Charter 100 International began when the first international Charter 100 was founded in Tijuana/Mexicali in 1979. Since that time, the Charter 100 women's leadership organization has grown to over 9 active chapters: San Diego, CA; San Francisco, CA; Orange County, CA; Phoenix, AZ; Dallas, TX; Houston, TX, Washington, D.C., Tegucigalpa, Honduras; Madrid, Spain and several inactive chapters.

The concept of the original Charter 100 was created by Diana Pickett in 1978 in San Diego, CA. The Charter 100 was one of the very first women's leadership and networking organizations in the United States. The name , originally, came from the fact that 100 women leaders, from their respective communites, would be invited to join. Criteria was that the women was a leader in her field and/or a contributing leader in her community. Giving back by women of means of their time, talent and treasure marked a member of the Charter 100.