During the 20th anniversary of Sigma, the Committee on Public Policy urged that the fraternity come forth with a broadly-based program that would be addressed to the problems of the great masses of the Negro people. This new departure, in large measure, grew out of the experiences of the New York group. These men from Manhattan (New York City) brought with them a new idea, SOCIAL ACTION.

Phi Beta Sigma has from its very beginning concerned itself with improving the general well-being of minority groups. In 1934, a well-defined program of Social Action was formulated and put into action. Elmo M. Anderson, then president of Epsilon Sigma Chapter (New York) formulated this program calling for the reconstruction of social order. It was a tremendous success. It fit in with the social thinking of the American public in those New Deal years. In the winter of 1934, Elmo Anderson, James W. Johnson, Emmett May and Bob Jiggets came down to the Conclave in Washington, D.C. and presented their Social Action proposition, and just the birth of Social Action as a National Program. In addition, Anderson is known in Sigma as "The Father of Social Action".

The fraternity's current social action programs are the following:

• Project S.W.W.A.C. (Sigmas Waging War Against Cancer) - This program is a is to reduce the incidence of cancer in the African American community.
• Together Preventing Premature Births, Teenage Pregnancy and Building Strong Fathers (Prematurity Program and Project S.A.T.A.P.P.) - This program is a collaborative venture with the March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation to address the alarming rise in teenage pregnancy.
• Sigma Wellness Project (Sigma Wellness) - The goal of this program is to focus on living healthier lifestyles through education.
• Project Vote 2006 (Project Vote) - Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity will continue to register and educate citizens to participate in the democratic process.
• Phi Beta Sigma Capitol Hill Summit (Sigma Presence on Capitol Hill) - The goal of this program is to allow Sigma members to the opportunity to discuss the many of the critical issues facing our communities with members of the U.S. Congress.