This study examines questions of provisions, providers, and solidarity in the private association system of Athens and Attica. Against the background that private associations were long regarded as forms of organisation primarily pertaining poor and underprivileged sections of the population, it was already assumed in the earliest research that these collectives were based on group solidarity and that their members benefited at various levels from substantial support services provided by the associations. Although research in recent decades has shown that the resulting overall picture of private associations and their membership composition is anything but homogeneous, not least with regard to the socio-economic status of the members, it has nevertheless been possible to show that a rich spectrum of support services is tangible with regard to the entire ancient private association system and that there are also some indications of group solidarity.