The New England Society in the City of New York (NES) is one of the oldest social and charitable organizations in the United States, founded in 1805 for the purpose of promoting “friendship, charity and mutual assistance” among and on behalf of New Englanders living in New York.  Today, Its philanthropic focus is a Scholarship Program for New York City students attending New England Colleges and Universities.

Vivanista recently sat down with Executive Director, Valerie Bickel- to learn more about how the organization celebrates the New England spirit and heritage through its charitable works and social activities for members and guests.

How and when was NES inspired and created?

NES was founded when Thomas Jefferson was President and the population of New York was 75,770. In the decades following the American Revolution, there was a major migration of New Englanders to New York. Original founders and members of the New England Society were thus inspired to band together by a love for their native New England and a desire to maintain its traditions and promote its ethos. NES was officially founded on May 6, 1805 to coincide with and commemorate the landing of the Pilgrim Fathers on Plymouth Rock. The first meeting was held at the City Hotel on Broadway.

What is the overall goal of the New England Society? How do you hope to impact change?

The goals of NES are as relevant today as they were when the organization was founded in 1805. In addition to “friendship and mutual assistance” among members and guests, NES is focused on preserving the New England heritage for the New York Community and beyond. Central to this is the NES Scholarship Program which allows students access to the New England college experience. With the average college tuition, fees, room and board reaching $40,000 annually, the need to ensure access to higher education for students from limited means is critical. NES helps these young scholars achieve their full potential for independence and productivity, and by funding education, NES also invests in the future of the community at large.

What has been your organization’s biggest accomplishment to date?

One of NES’s major accomplishments is that it has maintained and stayed true to the mission and founding principles of the organization for over 200 years. While NES has evolved over the years as an organization, these founding principles – philanthropy, celebrating New England heritage and friendship – have remained unchanged.

Tradition of philanthropy: NES was founded in 1805, and as early as 1806, the organization started a robust philanthropic program that encompassed social services such as distributing firewood for cooking and heating to those in need and providing annuities to impoverished widows to funding inventions. NES also responded to those suffering from natural disasters, such as providing funds for relief in the wake of the severe Vermont floods in 1927. But in 1952, NES decided to focus its philanthropic outreach on education and the organization launched its scholarship program to provide funds to New York City students attending colleges and universities in New England. To date, NES has provided over 100 scholarships!

How much of your success do you accredit to volunteer work?

A lot! The New England Society is defined by its strong and dedicated membership. Members share a New England connection through residency, ancestry, education or affinity, and voluntarism and service are integral elements of the New England ethos. Therefore our Members are actively involved in all of our activities. We are also fortunate that in addition to a very capable Executive Director, we also have a strong, proactive Board of Directors that oversees a broad range of organizational functions from fundraising and scholarship grants to membership development. NES documents from our archives indicate that this mix has not changed and it is this that has allowed the organization to remain strong for over 200 years.

Which universities and volunteer groups do you work with on a consistent basis?

The New England Society has relationships with the colleges and universities at which there are or have been NES Scholars. The list of schools at which NES currently has NES Scholars includes: Bowdoin College, College of the Holy Cross, Trinity College, MIT, Tufts University, and Wellesley College.

NES also actively supports its sister societies and takes pride in the shared New York history. And more recently, NES has sought out New England-based companies to partner with for events such as Vermont Spirits, Crowley Cheese, My Grandma’s of New England, and the Castine Candle Company.

Wellesley College

How do you thank your donors?

We recognize donations of time and money both personally and to the membership at large. Members are thanked individually with phone calls, emails and notes. We also highlight contributions of time and money to the general membership through our quarterly newsletter and through mail and email updates. Finally, in 1962, NES created the J.P. Morgan Award named for the noted financier, art collector and philanthropist who was the organization’s 16th President. This Award is presented annually to an NES Member who has demonstrated outstanding devotion and volunteer service to NES.

Gail Gaston, Caroline Camougis, Fred and Anne Elser, Judy Bliss

What external resources do you use in your marketing, fundraising and outreach efforts (i.e. websites, mentors, social networks etc.)?

NES has recently started using social media, and you can now find the New England Society on Facebook and Twitter or you can refer to our website (www.nesnyc.org )for more information. We are currently redesigning and updating our website, and  we are also launching a public relations campaign to raise the profile of the organization.

How can we get involved/help?

We are grateful to benefit from philanthropic resource:Vivanista, to gain exposure and raise awareness. We would welcome any help in promoting our efforts by mentioning us on your website, or on social networks. You can also support NES by donating online, sending us a check, or going green! Use this link for more information! http://www.nesnyc.org/supportus.html

Lastly, you can come out and support us at one of our upcoming events: The Summer Solstice Party on Monday, June 20, 2011 and our major fundraising event, our 206th Annual Dinner Dance at the Metropolitan Club on November 11, 2011. Visit our website at www.nesnyc.org for updates.