About the New England Society in the City of New York
The New England Society in the City of New York (NES) was founded in 1805. Today, it stands as one of the nation’s oldest nonprofit organizations. It began with New Englanders who had settled in New York and wanted to keep their roots close. They built a community around the values they carried with them from home. Friendship, charity, and shared heritage.
Over the past two centuries, NES has remained a link between two regions. The Society continues to honor the ideals of New England – community, education, and public service.
Our Mission
NES exists to celebrate New England heritage and to strengthen community through philanthropy, education, and cultural connection. Supporting students has always been at the heart of its charitable work. Through the NES Scholarship Program, the Society helps promising New York City students attend colleges and universities across the six New England states.
Beyond scholarships, NES hosts programs that highlight the region’s culture, history, and literature. The annual New England Society Book Awards recognize authors whose work reflects the essence and influence of New England life.
A Legacy of Service
Since its founding during Thomas Jefferson’s presidency, NES has been guided by the belief that community flourishes when people look after one another. Early members organized charitable relief efforts, distributed firewood to families in need, and later established educational initiatives such as the College Students’ Loaning Fund—precursors to today’s scholarship program.
The Society has also left its mark on the cultural landscape. NES members commissioned the Pilgrim statue at Central Park’s Pilgrim Hill in 1885, contributed to the Pilgrim Hall Museum in Plymouth, Massachusetts, and supported preservation projects throughout New England.
Leadership and Fellowship
Over the years, the Society’s gatherings have welcomed some of the most notable figures in American history—including Mark Twain, Daniel Webster, Ulysses S. Grant, and Theodore Roosevelt. NES has also been led by prominent New Yorkers such as J.P. Morgan, Horace Greeley, and Richard Morris Hunt, all united by a sense of purpose that transcends generations.
Today, NES continues that tradition through annual events, cultural programs, and an active membership community that brings together those with ancestral, educational, or residential ties to New England. Members find in NES not just a social connection, but a shared commitment to history, philanthropy, and civic engagement.
Continuing the Tradition
Now well into its third century, the New England Society remains dedicated to honoring the past while investing in the future. Whether supporting students, celebrating the arts, or gathering for fellowship, NES continues to embody the enduring values of New England—service, community, and integrity—right here in New York City.
