Comparison · 14 material differences
Jonathan Club vs Washington Athletic Club
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.
What the records say
- Gender: Jonathan Club: Open to men and women since a 1987 vote to admit women as full members; Washington Athletic Club: No published gender.
- Geographic restriction: Jonathan Club: No published geographic restriction; Washington Athletic Club: Envoy (non-resident) membership is reserved for those living and working outside the greater Seattle metropolitan area.
- Annual dues: Jonathan Club: The club publishes no fee information. The only figure in circulation is a reported initiation fee of about $50,000 from a 2024 secondary source.; Washington Athletic Club: Not publicly disclosed.
Side by side
| Jonathan Club | Washington Athletic Club | |
|---|---|---|
| Profile | ||
| Type | Private club | Private club |
| Founded | 1895 (Two dates appear at the downtown clubhouse entrance: 1894, when the club was formed as a political club, and 1895, when it was chartered in California as a non-political social club. The club bases its anniversaries on 8 June 1895.) | 1930 (The clubhouse opened in 1930 as Seattle's third-tallest building; ground was broken on 16 December 1929 and the building was completed in December 1930. The club dates itself from 1930.) |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles, United States | Seattle, United States |
| Geographic footprint | Two clubhouses: the Town Club at 545 South Figueroa Street in downtown Los Angeles, open since 1924, and the Beach Club on the sand in Santa Monica, operating since 1927 | Single 21-floor clubhouse in downtown Seattle; a non-resident Envoy membership serves people living and working outside the greater Seattle metropolitan area |
| Members | Not publicly disclosed. Wikipedia reports more than 650 female members but gives no total. | Not publicly disclosed |
| Chapters | 2 | Single clubhouse; no chapters |
| Primary audience | Not publicly disclosed. The club does not publish eligibility criteria; secondary sources describe membership as by invitation only. | The club says its members are leaders in their industries and presents itself as a fitness, professional and social club for Seattle; a separate Envoy (non-resident) membership is reserved for people living and working outside the greater Seattle metropolitan area, and a Corporate Wellness programme is offered to employers. |
| Typical member | Not publicly disclosed. Wikipedia reports more than 650 female members; no total membership, occupational or age profile is published. | Members are Seattle-area professionals and families, plus non-resident Envoy members who use the club as a Seattle base. The club runs childcare, family traditions and youth camps alongside its professional programming. No current membership total is published. |
| Qualification | ||
| Gender | Open to men and women since a 1987 vote to admit women as full membersWomen guests had been limited to certain floors, dining rooms and entrances as recently as 1975; Wikipedia reports more than 650 female membersverified September 2026 · source ↗ | No published gender |
| Geographic restriction | No published geographic restriction | Envoy (non-resident) membership is reserved for those living and working outside the greater Seattle metropolitan areaResident membership covers people based in the Seattle areaverified September 2026 · source ↗ |
| Invitation required | Yes | No |
| Sponsor required | Not documented | Not documented |
| Application process | Not publicly disclosed. Secondary sources describe membership as by invitation only; no application form, sponsorship rule or committee process could be verified, and the club's own site could not be retrieved. | Prospective members complete an online tour request form giving name, employer, contact details and whether they know current members, then take a clubhouse tour. Applications are reviewed and must be approved by the Membership and Marketing Committee and the WAC Board of Governors. Memberships start on the first of each month. Employers can enquire separately about the Corporate Wellness membership programme. |
| Selectivity | Not publicly disclosed | Not publicly disclosed. The club confirms a committee and board approval step but publishes no criteria, acceptance rate or waiting list. |
| Cost | ||
| Annual dues | The club publishes no fee information. The only figure in circulation is a reported initiation fee of about $50,000 from a 2024 secondary source. | Not publicly disclosedverified September 2026 · source ↗ |
| Monthly dues | Not publicly disclosed. Secondary reporting states that monthly dues are payable in addition to the initiation fee to remain in good standing, but gives no amount.verified September 2026 · source ↗ | The club publishes no dues or initiation figures; prospective members are directed to schedule a tour or email the membership office. |
| Initiation fee | Not publicly disclosed by the club. Reported at approximately $50,000 as of 2024 in a Thrillist survey of Los Angeles members-only clubs, cited by Wikipedia. The club neither publishes nor confirms the figure, and the underlying source is a lifestyle publication rather than a business title, so the number should be treated as indicative only.verified September 2026 · source ↗ | Not publicly disclosedverified September 2026 · source ↗ |
| Membership term | Not documented | Memberships begin on the first of a month; renewal terms are not published |
| Structure | ||
| Meeting frequency | Not documented | More than 200 educational, cultural and social events a year and more than 90 fitness classes weekly; affinity groups meet regularly |
| Peer forums | Not documented | Affinity groups ("clubs within the Club") organised around shared interests |
| Confidentiality | Not publicly disclosed | Not publicly disclosed |
| Time commitment | Not documented | Not documented |
| Organized as | Clubhouse premises, Event-focused | Clubhouse premises, Event-focused |
| Confidential peer forums | No | No |
| Local chapters | No | No |
| Virtual membership | No | Partial |
| Online community | No | Partial |
| Member directory | Not documented | Yes |
| Events | Not documented | Yes |
| Programming | ||
| Educational programming | Not documented | Partial |
| Leadership development | No | Partial |
| Retreats | No | No |
| Travel | Not documented | Yes |
| Family programming | Not documented | Yes |
| Spouse and partner programming | Not documented | Not documented |
| Next-generation programming | Not documented | Yes |
| Investment discussions | No | No |
| Investment opportunities | No | No |
| Philanthropic component | Not documented | Yes |
| Networking emphasis | Not documented | High |
| Social emphasis | High | High |
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Sources
Drawn from the sources listed on each page: Jonathan Club · Washington Athletic Club