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New York Genealogical and Biographical Society

EIN 13-5596870 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE NEW YORK GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY (NYG&B) PRESERVES, DOCUMENTS, AND SHARES THE STORIES OF FAMILIES ACROSS THE STATE OF NEW YORK. WE ENGAGE WITH GENEALOGISTS, BIOGRAPHERS, HISTORIANS, AND ORGANIZATIONS TO ESTABLISH THE BROADER CONTEXTS OF NEW YORK'S PAST. THE NYG&B ACTIVELY FOSTERS CONNECTIONS BETWEEN NEW YORK'S PAST AND THE PRESENT.

Income
$2.4 million
Spending
$2.2 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
84.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 54%
Employees
10
Volunteers
100
Highest pay
$350,055, president and trustee

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 91% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 84.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 24% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 19 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    17 of 18 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, 2024, 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 (4)
  1. $337,298 spent. THE NYG&B OFFERS PERSONALIZED RESEARCH TOURS TO REPOSITORIES. ANNUAL TOURS INCLUDE VISITS TO ALBANY, NEW YORK CITY, AND ELSEWHERE. IN ADDITION TO FREE MONTHLY ONLINE PROGRAMMING, THE NYG&B OFFERS GUIDEDHERITAGE TOURS TO INTERNATIONAL DESTINATIONS AND HANDS-ON WORKSHOPS COVERING A MULTITUDE OF TOPICS TO NEW YORK FAMILY HISTORY AND GENEALOGY. IN ADDITION, THE NYG&B OFFERS THE NEW YORK STATE FAMILY HISTORY CONFERENCE, NEW YORK'S ONLY STATEWIDE FAMILY HISTORY EVENT.
  2. $1.0 million spent. THE NYG&B WELCOMES MEMBERS FROM ACROSS THE UNITED STATES WHO ARE INTERESTED IN DISCOVERING AND PRESERVING NEW YORK STORIES. OUR WEBSITE, NEWYORKFAMILYHISTORY.ORG, PROVIDES ACCESS TO EXTENSIVE NEW YORK RECORDS, AN IN-DEPTH KNOWLEDGE BASE OF ARTICLES AND RESEARCH AIDS, AND GUIDES TO EACH OF NEW YORK'S 62 COUNTIES. THE NYG&B ALSO OFFERS PERSONALIZED CONSULTATIONS AND RESEARCH SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS.
  3. $264,313 spent. THE NYG&B PUBLISHES THE NEW YORK GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD, A RENOWNED PEER REVIEWED QUARTERLY THAT DOCUMENTS NEW YORK FAMILIES AND THE NEW YORK RESEARCHER, A QUARTERLY MAGAZINE DEVOTED TO SHARING RESEARCH ARTICLES AND OTHER TIMELY INFORMATION RELATING TO NEW YORK FAMILY HISTORY. SIGNIFICANT PUBLICATIONS ALSO INCLUDE THE NEW YORK FAMILY HISTORY RESEARCH GUIDE AND GAZETTER, TRACING IMMIGRANTS TO NEW YORK, NEW YORK CITY MUNICIPAL ARCHIVES: AN AUTHORIZED GUIDE, AND A FORTHCOMING GUIDE TO THE HOLDINGS OF THE NEW YORK STATE ARCHIVES FOR GENEOLOGISTS AND LOCAL HISTORIANS. IN ADDITION, THE NYG&B PUBLISHES MILLIONS OF RECORDS ONLINE AT NEWYORKFAMILYHISTORY.ORG.
  4. $126,160 spent. THE NYG&B ACTIVELY ENGAGES IN PRESERVING AND DIGITIZING NEW YORK RECORDS, MAKING MATERIALS ACCESSIBLE THROUGH ITS WEBSITE NEWYORKFAMILYHISTORY.ORG. IN ADDITION, THE NYG&B OFFERS INDIVIDUAL CONSULTATIONS AND CONDUCTS RESEARCH PROJECTS ON AN AD-HOC BASIS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 June 1964.

    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.

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