Comparison · 16 material differences
The Economic Club of New York vs Forbes Councils
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
Invitation-only community
Verified September 2026 The Economic Club of New York
Senior executives, typically C-suite, in the New York metropolitan area across finance, technology, law, government, academia, media, healthcare and real estate
Networking organization
Forbes Councils
Owners, founders, partners and senior executives who want a bylined publishing platform on Forbes.com alongside a vetted online peer network
What the records say
- Maximum age at joining: The Economic Club of New York: Associate membership: 45 years of age or under; Forbes Councils: No published maximum age at joining.
- Role or title: The Economic Club of New York: Full membership: senior leaders, typically C-suite, distinguished in finance, technology, law, government, academia, healthcare, real estate or another economic sector; Forbes Councils: Owner, founder, partner, C-level executive, or vice president and above leading a region or division, in the council's field.
- Minimum company revenue: The Economic Club of New York: No published minimum company revenue; Forbes Councils: "Your business generates a minimum of $1M USD in revenue".
- Minimum capital raised: The Economic Club of New York: No published minimum capital raised; Forbes Councils: "Your business has received a minimum of $1M USD in financing".
- Annual dues: The Economic Club of New York: $1,400 a year; Forbes Councils: Not publicly disclosed. The Business Council page confirms this is "a fee-based professional organization" offering "1-year and 2-year membership payment plans", and the membership agreement refers to "the then-current membership fee for each year of the Term", but no amount is published. Figures quoted on affiliate and agency blogs could not be independently verified..
Side by side
| The Economic Club of New York | Forbes Councils | |
|---|---|---|
| Profile | ||
| Type | Invitation-only community | Networking organization |
| Founded | 1907 ("Founded in 1907 by J.W. Beatson with the mission of facilitating thoughtful discussion and debates on the issues of the day.") | Not documented |
| Headquarters | New York, United States | Boston, United States |
| Geographic footprint | New York City metropolitan area, with a virtual non-resident class for members living and working outside New York, New Jersey and Connecticut | Nine online councils with no local chapters; the operator, Community.co, is based in Boston, Massachusetts |
| Members | Not publicly disclosed. The Club publishes a member login and membership classes but no membership total. | Not publicly disclosed. Forbes Councils publishes member directories per council but no total. Community.co, which operates Forbes Councils and several sister communities, states "25k+ Members to date" across "50+ Communities", which is not a Forbes Councils figure. |
| Chapters | No chapters. The Club runs a reciprocity programme with the Economic Clubs of Chicago and Washington, D.C., which lets members attend those clubs' events. | No chapters; the councils are online communities |
| Primary audience | Senior executives, typically C-suite, in the New York metropolitan area across finance, technology, law, government, academia, media, healthcare and real estate | Owners, founders, partners and senior executives who want a bylined publishing platform on Forbes.com alongside a vetted online peer network |
| Typical member | Full members are senior leaders, typically C-suite, distinguished in finance, technology, law, government, academia, healthcare, real estate and other sectors. A separate associate class is open to people aged 45 or under in mid-level or more senior leadership positions with roughly seven years of professional experience. | Members are owners, founders, C-level executives, partners and vice presidents who lead a region or division, drawn from the industry each council covers. The financial test is set at the company level rather than personal wealth: US$500,000 or US$1,000,000 in annual revenue or capital raised, depending on the council. |
| Qualification | ||
| Maximum age at joining | Associate membership: 45 years of age or underApplies only to the five-year associate class, not to full membership.verified September 2026 · source ↗ | No published maximum age at joining |
| Role or title | Full membership: senior leaders, typically C-suite, distinguished in finance, technology, law, government, academia, healthcare, real estate or another economic sectorNo revenue or company-size test is published.verified September 2026 · source ↗ | Owner, founder, partner, C-level executive, or vice president and above leading a region or division, in the council's fieldThe Technology Council specifies "founders, partners, and CEOs of technology companies, C-level technology executives such as CTOs and CIOs, and VPs of technology teams"verified September 2026 · source ↗ |
| Minimum company revenue | No published minimum company revenue | "Your business generates a minimum of $1M USD in revenue"Applies to the Agency, Business Development, Communications, Finance, Human Resources and Technology Councilsverified September 2026 · source ↗ |
| Minimum capital raised | No published minimum capital raised | "Your business has received a minimum of $1M USD in financing"Alternative to the revenue test for the senior-level councilsverified September 2026 · source ↗ |
| Geographic restriction | Full and associate membership is drawn from the New York City metro area; non-resident members must live and work outside New York, New Jersey and ConnecticutNon-resident members have limited access and pay guest ticket prices for in-person events.verified September 2026 · source ↗ | No published geographic restriction |
| Industry restriction | No published industry restriction | "No MLM/direct sales, gambling, adult entertainment, adult websites, adult products, or cannabis companies are allowed"Certain marketing agencies (link sellers, guaranteed media placements) and some cryptocurrency companies, such as those attached to initial coin offerings, are also excludedverified September 2026 · source ↗ |
| Invitation required | Yes | No |
| Sponsor required | Yes | No |
| Application process | Two current members in good standing must propose a candidate for full membership; associate and non-resident candidates need one proposer. The candidate completes an application with a current biographical statement and photo, and each proposer confirms support to the Club by email or letter. The Membership Committee meets monthly to review and select candidates, and initiation fees fall due on acceptance. | Candidates apply online to a specific council. A selection committee reviews the application against the published criteria and, if approved, issues a membership invitation. Payment is taken after acceptance, for a one-year or two-year term. Applications are made in an individual's own name, not a company's, even where an employer pays the fee. |
| Selectivity | Not publicly disclosed. The Club publishes its process and fees but no acceptance rate or membership total. | Not publicly disclosed. Forbes Councils states that applications are vetted by a selection committee and that acceptance is at the company's sole discretion, but publishes no acceptance rate. |
| Cost | ||
| Annual dues | $1,400 a yearFull membership standard dues package for 2026. Dues are prorated by month and are stated to be fully tax-deductible. Events are charged separately unless a higher package is bought.verified September 2026 · source ↗ | Not publicly disclosed. The Business Council page confirms this is "a fee-based professional organization" offering "1-year and 2-year membership payment plans", and the membership agreement refers to "the then-current membership fee for each year of the Term", but no amount is published. Figures quoted on affiliate and agency blogs could not be independently verified.verified September 2026 · source ↗ |
| Initiation fee | $1,450 one-timeOne-time initiation fee for full membership, payable on acceptance by the Membership Committee.verified September 2026 · source ↗ | Not publicly disclosed. The membership agreement states a one-time initiation fee, where applicable, is "non-refundable and will not be refunded once paid regardless of termination or cancellation".verified September 2026 · source ↗ |
| Membership term | Annual renewal for full and non-resident members; associate membership runs for a five-year term after which members may apply for full membership with no guarantee of admission | One-year or two-year terms, renewing automatically for equal periods |
| Structure | ||
| Meeting frequency | A programme of speaker events through the year, in person in New York and online | Monthly Expert Panel cycles and private virtual events; no scheduled local meetings |
| Peer forums | Speaker events rather than standing peer forums | No facilitated peer forums; members join interest-based and geography-based online groups |
| Confidentiality | Not publicly disclosed; the Club publishes speaker transcripts and a podcast drawn from its events | Not publicly disclosed |
| Time commitment | Associate members are encouraged to attend a minimum of three Club events a year | Not documented |
| Organized as | Event-focused | Virtual, Event-focused |
| Confidential peer forums | No | Partial |
| Local chapters | No | No |
| Virtual membership | Yes | Yes |
| Online community | Partial | Yes |
| Member directory | Yes | Yes |
| Events | Yes | Yes |
| Programming | ||
| Educational programming | Yes | Partial |
| Leadership development | Partial | Partial |
| Retreats | No | No |
| Travel | No | Partial |
| Family programming | No | No |
| Spouse and partner programming | No | No |
| Next-generation programming | Yes | No |
| Investment discussions | Partial | No |
| Investment opportunities | No | No |
| Philanthropic component | No | No |
| Networking emphasis | High | Medium |
| Social emphasis | Medium | Low |
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Sources
Drawn from the sources listed on each page: The Economic Club of New York · Forbes Councils