named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
Art & Auction House Collaborations
Private tours and events with Christie’s, Freeman’s | Hindman Auctions, and other auction houses featuring jewelry, fine art, and design collections
Private Tour of The Winter Show
Annual private viewing of The Winter Show at the Park Avenue Armory for SRA members prior to public opening, featuring art, antiques, and design
Reciprocal Club Gatherings
Events hosted at reciprocal clubs such as The River Club, Tuxedo Club, and international clubs including Circolo Canottieri Lazio in Rome
SRA Thanksgiving Dinner Abroad
Annual Thanksgiving dinner for SRA members held in London, England at the Oxford and Cambridge Club
SRA Young Members Events
Series of social gatherings for under-40 members including holiday parties, spring celebrations, and themed soirées in New York and other cities
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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Cultural Facility Development and Management 1 activity
- Development of a member clubhouse and cultural spaceSupports philanthropic activities by acquiring a townhouse in New York to serve as a clubhouse providing access to historical archives and hosting catered dinners, reunions, celebrations, and exhibits for members and guests.
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Archival Digitization and Preservation 1 activity
- Maintenance and digitization of historical archivesPreserves, catalogs, and digitizes over 3.5 million pages of historical records, letters, artifacts, photographs, and ephemera dating to 1886 and earlier for educational and charitable purposes.
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Reciprocal Club Access Program 1 activity
- Management of reciprocal club access for membersMaintains a list of reciprocal clubs and facilitates member access by submitting reservation requests on their behalf, including issuing Letters of Introduction and copying members.
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Organized Member Social Events 1 activity
- Organization of in-person and virtual member eventsOrganizes and hosts in-person social, cultural, and historical events nationwide—including cocktail parties, gala dinners, art tours, and private viewings—and virtual events featuring expert speakers to foster connections among members nationally and internationally.
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Organizational Newsletter Production and Distribution 1 activity
- Publication of the Social Register ObserverProduces and distributes the Social Register Observer semi-annually since May 1994, featuring obituaries, engagements, debutants, and member-contributed articles; accepts submissions via email for inclusion.
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Uncategorized 3 activities
- Member connection and matching servicesReintroduced the Locator in November 2015 to help members connect based on location and provides one-to-one member matching upon request, particularly to support older members.
- Publication of the Social Register and related directoriesProduces and distributes the Social Register directory annually in winter and summer editions, maintaining approximately 25,000 entries. Also publishes the Summer Directory & Observer and the Social Register Locator & Observer as part of its annual publication cycle.
- Recording and publication of obituariesRecords obituaries in the "Notices" section of the Social Register and accepts written obituaries via email for possible inclusion in the Social Register Observer.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$125K
Contributions & grants$96K76%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$19K15%
Other revenue$10K
expenses
Total expenses$42K
Program expenses92%
Admin / overhead8%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineProfessional Fees
balance sheet
Total assets$559K
Cash$559K
Investments$0
Liabilities$0
Net assets$559K
Liquid reserves161.3 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +67.2%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
board members · 3
- Christopher R Wolf — CEO & Board
- Lise Honore — Treasurer
- Michael E Hatchett — Board Member
relationships · 23
Who they work with
- Advisory Committee Partner — Reviews applications and determines inclusion in the Social Register based on submitted recommendations and information.
- Christie's Partner — Co-hosted a private tour of Irene Roosevelt Aitken’s collection with the Social Register Foundation.
- Coral Beach & Tennis Club Partner — Hosted an SRA weekend getaway in Bermuda for members at its reciprocal club.
- Explorers Club Partner — Co-hosts gala events with the Social Register.
- Freeman’s Auctions Partner — Co-hosted multiple events featuring jewelry and art previews with the Social Register Foundation.
- Lise Honoré Partner — Contact person for advertising inquiries in the Social Register.
- Museum of Arts and Design Partner — Hosted SRA members for private viewings and events related to contemporary jewelry and design exhibitions.
- New England Historic Genealogical Society Partner — Partners with the Social Register on events in Boston.
- New York Yacht Club Partner — Hosted SRA members for a private tour of maritime artwork and an exclusive luncheon.
- Oxford and Cambridge Club Partner — Hosted the SRA Thanksgiving dinner in London for members and guests.
- Park City Club Partner — Hosted the inaugural Social Register gathering in Dallas for SRA members.
- ROBB REPORT Partner — Published an article titled "Socially Active" about the Social Register and its members.
- Reciprocal Clubs Partner — Network of clubs that provide access privileges to Social Register members through formalized reciprocity agreements.
- River Club Partner — Invited Social Register Association members to its annual casino night as part of an interclub event.
- Royal Hospital Chelsea Partner — Hosted the Treasure House Fair, where SRA members attended an inaugural private tour.
- Scully & Scully Partner — Co-hosted a private evening of design and luxury at their Park Avenue boutique with the Social Register Foundation.
- Social Register Association Network — Preserves and promotes the historical legacy of the Social Register Association and its role in American history.
- The Acorn Club Partner — Hosted a Philadelphia Spring Fête for SRA young members at its historic clubhouse.
- The Tuxedo Club Partner — Hosted SRA members for the 1886 Regatta at Tuxedo Lake as part of a reciprocal club event.
- The Union Club of Boston Partner — Co-hosted events including Lobster Night and a discussion on auction buying with SRA members.
- The Winter Show Partner — Prepares Art Tours in Manhattan for Social Register members.
- premier clubs and groups Partner — Co-sponsors exclusive social mixers and events with the Social Register Association.
- select clubs Partner — Collaborates to extend dining and overnight stay privileges to visiting Social Register members.
strategies · 3
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Cultural Heritage Engagement to Sustain Relevancemethodology: cultural-heritage-engagementBy using museum-quality exhibits, interactive digital platforms, lectures, and publications to illuminate the historical significance of the Social Register Association and its associated families, the foundation sustains intergenerational relevance and member commitment because historical continuity reinforces identity and belonging.
- Elite Network Engagement to Amplify Influencemethodology: elite-network-engagementBy targeting highly educated, affluent, and philanthropic families who are decision-makers and trendsetters, the foundation increases its societal influence and fundraising potential because engagement of high-impact individuals catalyzes broader support and resource mobilization.
- Peer-Reviewed Inclusion for Network Integritymethodology: peer-reviewed inclusionBy using an Advisory Committee and peer sponsorship via letters of recommendation to determine inclusion in the Social Register, the foundation ensures network credibility and exclusivity, which strengthens member trust and engagement because membership is perceived as both prestigious and carefully vetted.