Comparison · 14 material differences
The Battery 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 Battery: Under 30 membership is "available to applicants under 30 years old"; The University Club of New York: No published maximum age at joining.
- Gender: The Battery: No published gender; The University Club of New York: Open to men and women since 1987.
- Geographic restriction: The Battery: Out of Town membership is "available to members who don't have a home within a 100 mile drive of the club"; The University Club of New York: No published geographic restriction.
- Annual dues: The Battery: Not publicly disclosed. Separate rates exist for Member, Partner, Out of Town and Under 30, and the Battery Alliance upgrade is charged in addition, but no amounts are published.; The University Club of New York: Not publicly disclosed.
Side by side
| The Battery | The University Club of New York | |
|---|---|---|
| Profile | ||
| Type | Private club | Private club |
| Founded | 2013 (Founded by Michael and Xochi Birch, the founders of the social network Bebo, in a converted building at 717 Battery Street in San Francisco.) | 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 | San Francisco, United States | New York, United States |
| Geographic footprint | A single clubhouse in San Francisco, with reciprocal access to more than 70 private clubs in 23 countries through the optional Battery Alliance | Single clubhouse at One West 54th Street, Manhattan |
| Members | Not publicly disclosed | Not publicly disclosed |
| Chapters | 1 | Single clubhouse; no chapters |
| Primary audience | The club says it exists "to play host to bright minds with big ideas"; its own copy describes a clubhouse for the curious rather than a professional or income band | 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 | The club publishes no occupational or wealth criteria. Its own materials emphasise conversation, cultural programming and collective giving through Battery Powered rather than industry or seniority. | 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 30 membership is "available to applicants under 30 years old"verified September 2026 · source ↗ | No published maximum age at joining |
| 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 | Out of Town membership is "available to members who don't have a home within a 100 mile drive of the club"Distance is expressed as a driving distance from the clubhouse.verified September 2026 · source ↗ | No published geographic restriction |
| Invitation required | No | Not documented |
| Sponsor required | Yes | Not documented |
| Application process | The club sets out four steps: complete the online application form; obtain a nomination; attend an open house, described as "an afternoon at the club and a chance to meet both members and our team"; and then, on approval, receive a membership kit. The club states that "Membership is by introduction, and it begins with a conversation." Applicants choose between Member, Partner, Out of Town and Under 30 types, with The Battery Alliance available as an upgrade. | 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 no acceptance rate, waitlist size or member count. | Not publicly disclosed |
| Cost | ||
| Annual dues | Not publicly disclosed. Separate rates exist for Member, Partner, Out of Town and Under 30, and the Battery Alliance upgrade is charged in addition, but no amounts are published.verified September 2026 · source ↗ | Not publicly disclosedverified September 2026 · source ↗ |
| Initiation fee | Not publicly disclosed. The club's apply page lists membership types without prices and no figure appears in its Charter.verified September 2026 · source ↗ | Not publicly disclosedverified September 2026 · source ↗ |
| Membership term | The Charter contains sections on Membership Duration and Membership Renewal; specific terms are not published, and Lifetime Membership classes exist alongside renewable membership | Not documented |
| Structure | ||
| Meeting frequency | The clubhouse operates daily, with a member events calendar covering talks, tastings, music and social nights | 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 | House rules ask members not to take, post or tag people in photos, and to put phones and laptops away in public areas during social hours | 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 | Not documented | No |
| Member directory | Not documented | Yes |
| Events | Yes | Yes |
| Programming | ||
| Educational programming | Yes | Partial |
| Leadership development | No | No |
| Retreats | No | No |
| Travel | Yes | Not documented |
| Family programming | Partial | Not documented |
| Spouse and partner programming | Yes | Not documented |
| Next-generation programming | No | Not documented |
| Investment discussions | Not documented | No |
| Investment opportunities | No | No |
| Philanthropic component | Yes | Not documented |
| Networking emphasis | Medium | Low |
| Social emphasis | High | High |
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Last verified: not yet reviewed
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Sources
Drawn from the sources listed on each page: The Battery · The University Club of New York