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NEW CANAAN SOCIETY INC

NEW YORK, NY · EIN 264332727 · Form 990EZ · FY2024 · NTEE X21 · Religion-Related · Micro (<$100K) · newcanaansociety.org
revenue
$48K
expenses
$93K
net assets
$10K
employees
mission · from form 990

PROVIDE OPPORTUNITY FOR BUILDING FAITH & FELLOWSHIP

profile · synthesized from sources

New Canaan Society is a faith-based network for men in the marketplace seeking deeper relationships with Jesus and with other men. Founded in 1995 in New Canaan, Connecticut, it fosters fellowship through local chapters, retreats, and virtual gatherings. The organization emphasizes authenticity, spiritual growth, and mutual support, serving men across the United States through weekly meetings, regional events, and national retreats.

named programs · 5 · from sources

What they call their work

Energy Groups
Small groups formed to maintain intimacy as chapter sizes grow, preserving deep personal connections within the larger network.
Just Show Up (JSU) Book Club
Monthly virtual book club offering a low-pressure environment for men to reflect and grow through shared reading and discussion.
Local Chapters
Weekly or biweekly gatherings of men for breakfast, prayer, and personal storytelling to foster spiritual growth and authentic friendship.
National & Regional Retreats
Annual and regional retreats providing space for reflection, relationship-building, and purposeful dialogue among men from various chapters.
Virtual Chapter Meetings (VCM)
Online gatherings featuring guest speakers and discussions to connect men nationally and globally who cannot attend in person.
activities · 5 groups

What they do

  • Youth and Young Adult Spiritual Engagement 1 activity
    • Conducts virtual events and meetings to connect men nationally and globally
      Offers virtual chapter meetings, prayer calls, and book club sessions via Zoom and phone conferencing, enabling broad participation across geographic boundaries. These events include guest speakers and structured discussions on faith, leadership, and personal growth.
  • Christian Leadership & Discipleship Training 1 activity
    • Hosts national and regional retreats to foster spiritual growth and fellowship among men
      Organizes annual national retreats and periodic regional retreats—such as in Texas and Colorado—that bring together hundreds of men for reflection, relationship-building, and purposeful dialogue centered on faith and perseverance. Participation has grown from 45 men in 1999 to 750 by 2008.
  • Spiritual Development & Meditation Programs 1 activity
    • Organizes faith-based book clubs and small-group discussions for personal and spiritual development
      Runs an ongoing book club called "Just Show Up" and supports small-group Energy Groups to deepen engagement among members through literature focused on character, faith, and personal growth, fostering authentic community beyond large gatherings.
  • Regional Chapter Network Support 1 activity
    • Provides resources and infrastructure to support chapter formation and national expansion
      Functions as a national umbrella organization that simplifies the creation of local chapters and provides group tax-exempt status, supporting sustained growth and operational capacity across the network.
  • Uncategorized 1 activity
    • Facilitates local chapter gatherings for men focused on faith, fellowship, and personal sharing
      Operates over 50 to 60 local chapters across the United States where men meet weekly or biweekly for breakfast, prayer, storytelling, and faith-based discussion. Includes in-person and virtual participation options, with chapter meetings such as the weekly Thursday morning gatherings in Manhattan.
financials · form 990EZ · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$48K
Contributions & grants$36K75%
Program service revenue$12K25%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue
expenses
Total expenses$93K
Program expenses
Admin / overhead
Fundraising
Salaries & benefits$2K
Grants paid out
balance sheet
Total assets$17K
Cash
Investments
Liabilities
Net assets$10K
3 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +146.0%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

board members · 4
  • CHRISTOPHER NEIDOW — DIRECTOR/VICE PRESIDENT
  • DR CHARLES ROPER — DIRECTOR/PRESIDENT
  • HENOK EPHRAIM — DIRECTOR/TREASURER
  • WILLIAM WOODFIN — DIRECTOR
relationships · 8

Who they work with

  • 3 West Club Partner — Hosts NCS Manhattan weekly gatherings at its location.
  • Dr. Chip Roper Partner — Board member and speaker affiliated with the organization.
  • Jim Lane Partner — Founder of New Canaan Society, who started the organization in 1995 with two friends in his living room.
  • Jim Lane Partner — Founder of New Canaan Society, who started the organization with two friends in 1995.
  • NCS Franklin Partner — Co-hosts the 2027 NCS National Retreat with NCS Nashville.
  • NCS Nashville Partner — Co-hosts the 2027 NCS National Retreat with NCS Franklin.
  • Os Guinness Partner — Featured speaker and conversation partner with NCS CEO James Ackerman in a Virtual Chapter Meeting.
  • St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Partner — Women from this church prayed for the founding of NCS and continued to support the ministry through prayer.
strategies · 4

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.

  • Low-Barrier, Community-Driven Expansion Model
    methodology: community-driven expansion
    By maintaining volunteer-led, self-supported, and accessible communities with no formal entry requirements, the organization enables organic growth and broad participation because low structural barriers allow men to join and initiate chapters without institutional friction.
  • Marketplace-Integrated Spiritual Formation
    methodology: marketplace-discipleship
    By embedding spiritual growth within the context of professional men's daily lives through early-morning and informal gatherings, the organization produces sustained personal transformation because faith development occurs in real-world, relatable settings rather than isolated religious environments.
  • Peer-Led Faith-Based Discipleship
    methodology: peer-led-discipleship
    By using peer-led, discussion-based gatherings instead of formal teaching, the organization fosters relational authenticity and mutual discipleship, producing deeper spiritual engagement because men are more open to growth in egalitarian, non-hierarchical settings.
  • Storytelling and Authenticity as Spiritual Catalysts
    methodology: storytelling_transformation
    By centering personal testimony and storytelling in gatherings, the organization produces spiritual and personal transformation because vulnerability in shared narratives builds trust, models growth, and inspires change more effectively than didactic teaching.