Comparison · 17 material differences
The Chicago Club vs The Conduit
This comparison was generated on request from the records. It carries no editorial verdict and is not indexed. The published comparisons are listed on the compare page.
Read down each column for one organization, across a row for the difference. A bronze mark at the left of a cell means the organizations differ on that row. A dash or “not published” means the organization does not disclose the fact; it is not a zero.
Verified September 2026 Private club
ajay_suresh · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0The Chicago Club
Not publicly disclosed. The club's membership page consists of one sentence stating that membership is by invitation only, plus a contact for the Director of Membership.
Private club
The Conduit
The club lists its community as "sustainability professionals, social entrepreneurs and SME owners, investors and philanthropists, creatives and influencers, industry and business…
What the records say
- Geographic restriction: The Chicago Club: No published geographic restriction; The Conduit: Out-of-town membership is available to those who live and work outside the M25.
- Annual dues: The Chicago Club: Not publicly disclosed. The only figure on record is historic: Wikipedia states that membership cost $100 when the club was founded in 1869; The Conduit: £1,500 a year.
Side by side
| The Chicago Club | The Conduit | |
|---|---|---|
| Profile | ||
| Type | Private club | Private club |
| Founded | 1869 (Wikipedia dates the founding to January 1869 by former members of the Dearborn Club, with Philip Wadsworth as first president and a first meeting on 1 May 1869; the club's own public site carries no history page.) | 2018 (Founded in 2018 by Paul van Zyl and Nick Hamilton; the club's own site states it "was founded in 2018 to convene and catalyse solutions") |
| Headquarters | Chicago, United States | London, United Kingdom |
| Geographic footprint | Single clubhouse at 81 East Van Buren Street at Michigan Avenue, in the Loop | One clubhouse at 6 Langley Street, Covent Garden, London; the club describes its London home as "the first of our homes" |
| Members | Not publicly disclosed by the club. Wikipedia gives approximately 1,200 members; that has not been independently verified and carries no current date. | Not publicly disclosed |
| Chapters | Single clubhouse; no chapters | 1 |
| Primary audience | Not publicly disclosed. The club's membership page consists of one sentence stating that membership is by invitation only, plus a contact for the Director of Membership. | The club lists its community as "sustainability professionals, social entrepreneurs and SME owners, investors and philanthropists, creatives and influencers, industry and business leaders, non-profit and NGO professionals, civil society leaders, and policymakers" |
| Typical member | Not publicly disclosed. Wikipedia records that charter members included Anson Stager, Robert Todd Lincoln, Potter Palmer, Marshall Field and George Pullman, but the club publishes nothing about its present membership. | Members are drawn from impact investing, social enterprise, NGOs, policy and business, and are grouped into member-led Community Groups organised around the club's six Solutions Agenda themes. |
| Qualification | ||
| Geographic restriction | No published geographic restriction | Out-of-town membership is available to those who live and work outside the M25Price for the out-of-town tier is not publishedverified September 2026 · source ↗ |
| Invitation required | Yes | No |
| Sponsor required | Not documented | No |
| Application process | There is no public application route. The club states that membership is by invitation only and directs enquiries about membership requirements to its Director of Membership by email. | Membership is by application through the club's online portal. Applicants are asked to say who they are, what matters to them and what change they are working to create. Prospective members can first book an in-person meeting and tour at the Covent Garden clubhouse or a call with the membership team, available 8am to 7pm on weekdays. |
| Selectivity | Not publicly disclosed | Not publicly disclosed: the club states criteria in qualitative terms and publishes no acceptance rate or waiting-list information |
| Cost | ||
| Annual dues | Not publicly disclosed. The only figure on record is historic: Wikipedia states that membership cost $100 when the club was founded in 1869verified September 2026 · source ↗ | £1,500 a yearConduit Membership: "£1,500 per year", with a monthly payment plan availableverified September 2026 · source ↗ |
| Initiation fee | Not publicly disclosedverified September 2026 · source ↗ | Not publicly disclosed; no joining fee is mentioned on the membership or FAQ pagesverified September 2026 · source ↗ |
| Membership term | Not documented | 12-month contract; the club states that members cannot freeze or pause membership except for parental leave, where a written sabbatical request may be made |
| Structure | ||
| Meeting frequency | No published programme; the clubhouse operates for dining, meetings, events and accommodation | Weekly Impact Programming and Community Groups; monthly Ubuntu Friday; three signature celebrations and two Days of Action a year; more than 150 events annually per the club's site |
| Peer forums | Not documented | Member-led Community Groups meeting weekly on Mondays or Fridays, organised around six Solutions Agenda themes: regenerating climate and nature, AI for good, inclusive economies, the future of impact leadership, health and food futures, and reimagining democracy and justice |
| Confidentiality | Cell phone use for voice communication is limited to phone booths, private meeting rooms and guest rooms; discreet non-verbal use such as texting and web browsing is permitted throughout the club. | Not publicly disclosed; the club publishes house rules and community values |
| Time commitment | Not documented | Not documented |
| Organized as | Clubhouse premises, Event-focused | Clubhouse premises, Event-focused |
| Confidential peer forums | No | Yes |
| Local chapters | No | No |
| Virtual membership | No | No |
| Online community | No | Yes |
| Member directory | Not documented | Yes |
| Events | Yes | Yes |
| Programming | ||
| Educational programming | Not documented | Yes |
| Leadership development | No | Yes |
| Retreats | No | No |
| Travel | Partial | No |
| Family programming | Not documented | No |
| Spouse and partner programming | Not documented | No |
| Next-generation programming | Not documented | Partial |
| Investment discussions | No | Yes |
| Investment opportunities | No | Partial |
| Philanthropic component | Partial | Yes |
| Networking emphasis | Medium | High |
| Social emphasis | High | Medium |
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Sources
Drawn from the sources listed on each page: The Chicago Club · The Conduit