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New York Microscopical Society Inc
New York, NY · EIN 136165658 · Form 990 · FY2025 · Small ($100K-$1M) · nyms.org
revenue
$181K
expenses
$19K
net assets
$1.5M
employees
0
volunteers
2
program ratio
85%
mission · from form 990

The promotion of theoretical and applied microscopy, and the promotion of education and interest in all phases of microscopy.

profile · synthesized from sources

The New York Microscopical Society, founded in 1877, promotes theoretical and applied microscopy through educational events, awards, and member activities. It serves a diverse community of professionals and enthusiasts including forensic scientists, geologists, educators, and hobbyists. The organization is based in Clifton, NJ, with a focus on microscopy for both professional and recreational purposes.

named programs · 4 · from sources

What they call their work

Ashby Award
Annual award recognizing contributions to microscopy, first awarded in 1954
Ernst Abbe Award
Honors individuals for outstanding achievement in microscopy or contributions to the science
Library Access Program
Provides members access to a specialized microscopy library with appointment scheduling
Public Microscopy Events
Community events such as "A Deluge of Diatoms" and "Shorebirds and What They Eat" that engage the public with hands-on microscopy
activities · 10 groups

What they do

  • Biomedical Research and Innovation 1 activity
    • Conducts original research using advanced microscopy techniques
      Performs scientific research using methods such as Differential Interference Contrast (DIC) microscopy, hollow-cone darkfield illumination, atomic force microscopy, and computational modeling to study diatoms, cardiovascular biomechanics, tissue regeneration, and disease pathology in collaboration with international partners.
  • Recognition and Awards Programs 1 activity
    • Confers awards recognizing contributions to microscopy
      Recognizes outstanding achievement in the field of microscopy by awarding honors such as the Ernst Abbe Award and the Ashby Award to individuals for their contributions, with a documented history of recipients dating back to 1954.
  • Scientific Conference & Symposium Management 1 activity
    • Hosts educational member meetings with expert presentations on specialized microscopy topics
      Organizes in-person member meetings featuring expert-led presentations on specialized scientific subjects such as forensic geology, historical military operations, and microscopic pathology, including sessions by guest speakers like Dr. Jack Hietpas.
  • Specialized Research Library Access 1 activity
    • Maintains and shares archival and library resources
      Preserves and provides access to historical microscopy work, archived newsletters, publications, and a physical library available to members by appointment, supporting ongoing learning and documentation within the field.
  • Hands-On STEM Education Programs 1 activity
    • Offers technical training and workshops in microscopy and optical theory
      Provides technical courses and workshops in applied microscopy, optical theory, and related sciences for members and the public, including programs for children, families, schools, and park rangers in collaboration with public agencies and scientific societies.
  • Professional Membership and Association Benefits 1 activity
    • Operates a membership-based community for microscopy enthusiasts
      Serves as a membership organization for individuals interested in microscopy, including forensic scientists, geologists, educators, hobbyists, and professional microscope builders, offering structured access to facilities, events, and recognition programs.
  • Onsite & Outreach Environmental Education Programs 1 activity
    • Organizes field excursions and public microscopy events
      Conducts periodic field trips and public outreach events such as MicroExpeditions and beach sampling activities to collect and examine biological and geological specimens using microscopy, including events at Rockaway Beach, Chelsea Piers, Yonkers, and Greenpoint.
  • Public Awareness and Educational Outreach 1 activity
    • Participates in public science education conferences and festivals
      Engages in public science outreach by hosting informational tables at events like the NYSMEA Annual Conference and participating in community festivals such as the Kingsland Wildflowers Festival to promote microscopy education.
  • STEM Education Program Support 1 activity
    • Promotes education and interest in theoretical and applied microscopy
      The organization's core mission is to advance public and member education and engagement in both theoretical and applied microscopy through diverse programming and resources.
  • Uncategorized 1 activity
    • Provides physical access to microscopy equipment and collections
      Maintains a headquarters in Clifton, New Jersey with approximately 30 working antique microscopes, books, magazines, slides, specimens, and supplies, accessible to members by appointment or during meetings for individual use and study.
financials · form 990 · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$181K
Contributions & grants$2K1%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$13K7%
Other revenue$166K
expenses
Total expenses$19K
Program expenses85%
Admin / overhead15%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineFacilities
balance sheet
Total assets$1.46M
Cash$460K
Investments$0
Liabilities$0
Net assets$1.46M
Liquid reserves295.1 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2025 · YoY revenue +266.7%
relationships · 19

Who they work with

  • American Academy of Forensic Sciences Partner — Engages with the American Academy of Forensic Sciences for dissemination of forensic science resources and networking.
  • American Museum of Natural History Partner — Hosted a NYMS-only tour of its Insect Lab and Insectarium in the Gilder Center.
  • Columbia University Partner — Former institution where the Vice President was a founding faculty member in the Biomedical Engineering Department.
  • Facebook Partner — Platform used for sharing current information and updates.
  • Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Partner — Host institution where the Vice President of the board conducts research and holds a faculty position.
  • Instagram Partner — Platform used for sharing current information and updates.
  • John Jay College of Criminal Justice Partner — Collaborates with NYMS through member involvement and expert presentations on interdisciplinary topics.
  • Johns Hopkins University Partner — Institution where the Vice President completed a postdoctoral fellowship.
  • NYC Parks Department Partner — Sponsored the Shorebirds and What They Eat event at Rockaway Beach.
  • NYC Urban Rangers Partner — Collaborates on events involving microscopy outreach to the public.
  • NYC Urban Rangers Partner — Collaborates with NYC Urban Rangers to run public events involving microscopy.
  • New York State Marine Education Association Partner — Participates in the NYSMEA Annual Conference by hosting an informational table.
  • Newton Creek Alliance Partner — Hosted the Kingsland Wildflowers Festival where NYMS participated with educational activities.
  • Novoheart International, Ltd. Partner — Company co-founded by the Vice President, where he serves as Chief Scientific Officer, focused on engineering human heart prototypes for drug development.
  • Quekett Microscope Club Partner — Source of a diatom collection method adopted by a NYMS member during fieldwork.
  • Quekett Microscopy Club Partner — Collaborates on recognition of microscopy work through shared awards or exhibitions.
  • Twitter Partner — Platform used for sharing current information and updates.
  • University of California, San Diego Partner — Institution where the Vice President earned his Ph.D. in Bioengineering.
  • Washington University in St. Louis Partner — Institution where the Vice President completed a postdoctoral fellowship.
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.

  • Hands-on, Experiential Microscopy Education
    methodology: experiential_learning
    By combining field-based sample collection with immediate microscopic examination, the organization fosters public interest and deeper engagement in microbiology, because direct interaction with natural specimens makes abstract scientific concepts tangible and memorable.
  • Inclusive Community Engagement in Microscopy
    methodology: inclusive_community_model
    By evolving from an exclusive club into an inclusive community that welcomes individuals regardless of professional background or experience level, the organization broadens participation in microscopy, because lowering social and structural barriers increases diversity of perspectives and sustains long-term involvement.
  • Theory-Practice Integration in Microscopy Education
    methodology: theoretical_and_applied_science_education
    By advancing microscopy through a dual focus on theoretical knowledge and practical application, the organization enhances educational engagement and professional development, because integrating foundational science with real-world techniques supports both understanding and innovation.