Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

General Society of Mechanics & Tradesmen

EIN 13-1624013 · New York, NY

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong95 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE SOCIETY'S PRINCIPAL PURPOSE IS TO OPERATE A TUITION-FREE SCHOOL AND LIBRARY IN ORDER TO PROVIDE INFORMATION AND INSTRUCTION TO THE NEW YORK BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION TRADES. THE SOCIETY DISSEMINATES LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE THROUGH LECTURES AND OTHER MEANS OFINTELLECTUAL IMPROVEMENT AND MAINTAINS A CULTURAL AND EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE CENTER FOR THOSE IN MANUAL, TECHNICAL, CRAFT AND CREATIVE OCCUPATIONS.THE SOCIETY ALSO PROVIDES OPERATING SPACE FOR SIMILAR NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS WHOSE GOALS ARE TO PRESERVE AND PROMOTE THE ARTS, CULTURE, AND HISTORY OF TRADESMEN. IN ADDITION, THE SOCIETY PRESERVES AND MAINTAINS ITS LANDMARKED BUILDING, WHICH IS LISTED ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES AND PROVIDES THE VENUE FOR ITS EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES.

Income
$2.7 million
Spending
$1.8 million
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
Over 10 years of spending
Largest source of income
other income, 48%
Employees
26
Volunteers
20
Highest pay
$509,247, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 87% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 31% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 9% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    76% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 68% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (3)
  1. $528,389 spent. HISTORIC PRESERVATION -THE GENERAL SOCIETY MAINTAINS ITS 1890 LANDMARK BUILDING LOCATED AT 20 WEST 44TH STREET, NYC. THE BUILDING IS LISTED ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES AND THE FACADE OF THE BUILDING IS A NEW YORK CITY LANDMARK. IN 2022, THE GENERAL SOCIETY UNDERTOOK A MAJOR RESTORATION OF THE SOCIETY'S HISTORIC CENTURY OLD SKYLIGHT. THE PROJECT ALSO ENCOMPASSED THE REPLACEMENT OF THE SURROUNDING ROOF. THE PROJECT WAS COMPLETED IN 2024.THE RESTORATION OF THE HISTORIC REAR FIRE ESCAPE BEGAN IN 2024, AND WAS COMPLETED IN 2025.
  2. $449,545 spent. MECHANICS INSTITUTE -A TUITION FREE TECHNICAL EVENING SCHOOL OFFERING 2 SEMESTERS, 4 PROGRAMS AND 32 COURSES, WITH AN AVERAGE OF 160 STUDENTS PER SEMESTER.
  3. $423,880 spent. THE GENERAL SOCIETY LABOR, LITERATURE, LANDMARK AND ARTISAN LECTURE SERIES -TWELVE LECTURES WERE HELD DURING 2025 WITH PUBLIC PROGRAMS ON A RANGE OF TOPICS RELATED TO THE ART OF CRAFTSMANSHIP, ARCHITECTURE, HISTORIC PRESERVATION, LITERATURE, LABOR AND URBAN HISTORY. THIS CONTINUES A TRADITION OF PUBLIC LECTURES THAT STARTED AT THE SOCIETY IN 1837.THE GENERAL SOCIETY LIBRARY AND THE JOHN M MOSSMAN LOCK COLLECTION -THE GENERAL SOCIETY LIBRARY IS A REFERENCE AND SUBSCRIPTION CIRCULATING LIBRARY WITH APPROXIMATELY 300 MEMBERS. THE LIBRARY HAS APPROXIMATELY 110,000 BOOKS AND IS OPEN TO STUDENTS, MEMBERS, RESEARCHERS AND THE PUBLIC. THE MOSSMAN LOCK COLLECTION, WHICH IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, COMPRISES OVER 400 LOCKS, KEYS, TOOLS, AND OTHER ARTIFACTS, DATING FROM 4000 B.C. TO THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since October 1934.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.