Comparison · 13 material differences
The Rainier Club vs The University Club of New York
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
- Maximum age at joining: The Rainier Club: Under 40 Membership is for members aged 18 to 39; The University Club of New York: No published maximum age at joining.
- Minimum age: The Rainier Club: Resident Membership is for members aged 40 and over; The University Club of New York: No published minimum age.
- Gender: The Rainier Club: No published gender; The University Club of New York: Open to men and women since 1987.
- Geographic restriction: The Rainier Club: Non-Resident Membership requires living and working outside a 50-mile radius of the club; The University Club of New York: No published geographic restriction.
- Annual dues: The Rainier Club: All three tiers publish both an initiation fee and dues. Resident and Under 40 dues are billed monthly; non-resident dues are billed quarterly.; The University Club of New York: Not publicly disclosed.
Side by side
| The Rainier Club | The University Club of New York | |
|---|---|---|
| Profile | ||
| Type | Private club | Private club |
| Founded | 1888 (The club describes itself as "a storied social club since 1888" and as Seattle's oldest private social club. Secondary accounts date the founding meeting to 25 July 1888, following a proposal on 23 February 1888.) | 1865 (Incorporated 28 April 1865, growing out of the Red Room Club formed in 1861 by Yale alumni; stated purpose was the promotion of literature and art.) |
| Headquarters | Seattle, United States | New York, United States |
| Geographic footprint | Single clubhouse at 820 4th Avenue in downtown Seattle | Single clubhouse at One West 54th Street, Manhattan |
| Members | Not publicly disclosed | Not publicly disclosed |
| Chapters | Single clubhouse; no chapters | Single clubhouse; no chapters |
| Primary audience | The club describes its members as founders, freelancers, entrepreneurs and executives, and markets separate tiers to residents of the Seattle area, to people under 40, and to non-residents living and working more than 50 miles from the club. | University graduates. Historically the club required a degree from a recognised college; Wikipedia's account states that members now hold a baccalaureate degree from any accredited institution. |
| Typical member | Members are Seattle-area business, professional and civic people, with a distinct under-40 tier and a non-resident tier. The club publishes no membership total or occupational breakdown. | Not publicly disclosed. The club publishes no member statistics; historical accounts record roughly 502 members in 1879, 2,800 in 1901 and about 4,000 in the 1980s. |
| Qualification | ||
| Maximum age at joining | Under 40 Membership is for members aged 18 to 39A separate resident tier applies from age 40verified September 2026 · source ↗ | No published maximum age at joining |
| Minimum age | Resident Membership is for members aged 40 and overMembers aged 18 to 39 join the Under 40 tier at a lower rateverified September 2026 · source ↗ | No published minimum age |
| Gender | No published gender | Open to men and women since 1987The club voted to admit women in 1987 following city antidiscrimination enforcement; 16 women had joined within a yearverified September 2026 · source ↗ |
| Geographic restriction | Non-Resident Membership requires living and working outside a 50-mile radius of the clubNon-resident members receive a complimentary Palmer Advantage golf and travel membershipverified September 2026 · source ↗ | No published geographic restriction |
| Invitation required | No | Not documented |
| Sponsor required | Not documented | Not documented |
| Application process | Prospective members schedule a clubhouse tour through the club's website or membership office and are then quoted the published tier rate for their age and location. The club does not publish a sponsorship, proposal or ballot requirement, nor a review committee. | The club publishes no application process. Its website has no membership page, application form or membership contact; enquiries go through the front office or an existing member. |
| Selectivity | Not publicly disclosed. The club publishes prices and tiers but no acceptance criteria, waiting list or approval process. | Not publicly disclosed |
| Cost | ||
| Annual dues | All three tiers publish both an initiation fee and dues. Resident and Under 40 dues are billed monthly; non-resident dues are billed quarterly. | Not publicly disclosedverified September 2026 · source ↗ |
| Monthly dues | $575 a monthResident Membership, age 40 and oververified September 2026 · source ↗ | No dues or entrance-fee information appears anywhere on the club's public site. A membership brochure is linked from the home page as a PDF but could not be read in this research. |
| Initiation fee | $4,000 one-timeResident Membership, age 40 and over. No-APR financing of the initiation fee is available for up to one year under contract, with conditions.verified September 2026 · source ↗ | Not publicly disclosedverified September 2026 · source ↗ |
| Membership term | Monthly dues for resident and under-40 members; quarterly dues for non-resident members | Not documented |
| Structure | ||
| Meeting frequency | More than 400 member and signature events a year; clubhouse and gym accessible 24 hours | Clubhouse open daily for dining, athletics, the library and overnight stays; a variety of social events for members |
| Peer forums | Not documented | Not documented |
| Confidentiality | Not publicly disclosed | House rules bar use of the club name for publicity or press coverage without written House Committee approval, restrict photography, and prohibit using the club directory to solicit business or political activity from other members |
| 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 | No |
| Online community | No | No |
| Member directory | Not documented | Yes |
| Events | Yes | Yes |
| Programming | ||
| Educational programming | Partial | Partial |
| Leadership development | Partial | No |
| Retreats | No | No |
| Travel | Yes | Not documented |
| Family programming | Not documented | Not documented |
| Spouse and partner programming | Yes | Not documented |
| Next-generation programming | Yes | Not documented |
| Investment discussions | No | No |
| Investment opportunities | No | No |
| Philanthropic component | Partial | Not documented |
| Networking emphasis | High | Low |
| Social emphasis | High | High |
Next
Last verified: not yet reviewed
Report an error on this page
Sources
Drawn from the sources listed on each page: The Rainier Club · The University Club of New York