Membership Opportunities


Types of Membership

  • What are the categories of membership?
    • For Penn graduates and immediate family members, there are four (4) categories of membership Resident, Suburban, Nonresident, and International. Resident members are those who live and/or work in New York City. Suburban members are those who live and/or work within a 50 mile radius of New York City. Non-resident/national members are those who live and/or work outside a 50-mile radius of New York City. International members are those who live and/or work outside the continental U.S.


Dues and Initiation Fees

  • How are membership dues calculated?
    • Membership dues are based primarily on age and geography, depending on your affiliation. Dues are pro-rated according to the Penn Club's fiscal year (July 1st to June 30th) in the month in which you join. To find out more about your applicable dues, call 212-403-6627

  • How is distance calculated?
    • The Club utilizes Mapquest to calculate the door-to-door mileage from the clubhouse address to the member candidate's exact address. The closer of a members' home or business address is used to calculate the distance. If a member has two home addresses, the closer of the two is used. To be fair to all members, the same mileage calculation options are used for all members -- please do not submit alternate routes or alternate mileage calculations from Google Maps, etc. to lobby for a different dues rate.

  • Is there a food and beverage minimum?
    • No. There are no minimums that our members must meet on an annual basis.

  • How are club services billed?
    • After the last day of each month, statements will be mailed to each member showing charges owed the Club. This amount is payable by check upon receipt and no later than the end of the month that the bill is received. Finance charges apply for late payment. When your check clears to the club's bank (not when it reflects deduction from your account), that is when your balance is cleared. Hence, if mailing in a check, please allow a few days for your check to clear. Members may sign up for FastPay for automatic payments from a US personal checking or savings account to pay for all charges incurred on their house account each month. FastPay is also available for annual dues renewal.

  • Is there tipping at the Club?
    • No. Club employees may not accept cash tips. A service fee is added to all dining, bar and banquet bills and, if a member so chooses, s/he can add an additional gratuity to the food and beverage check which will be billed to the member account.


Payment of Membership Dues

  • Can I pay my initial membership dues and initiation fee in installments?
    • No. Membership becomes effective upon full payment of the initiation fee and initial membership dues.

  • What credit cards do you accept for payment?
    • Annual membership dues and initiation fees may be paid by credit card. We accept Visa, Mastercard, and American Express. House charges must be paid for by check or via FastPay. This is not a house rule -- during IRS audits, the IRS requires the ability to review personal checks with member names and addresses showing proof of club use by members.

  • Do I need to include the payment with my application?
    • Yes. The Penn Club fiscal year runs from July 1st to June 30th. Membership dues are pro-rated based on the month in which you join. Initiation fees are not pro-rated. The annual dues and initiation fee must be received to process your application. Membership is non-refundable and non-transferable.

  • Is membership each year automatic? What about membership at the Palestra Fitness Center?
    • Yes, unless written notice is provided to the Club to cancel your gym membership or Penn Club membership, you will be billed for the new fiscal year's membership. When you receive that bill, you may notify the Club in writing if you have any changes to your account (e.g. new mailing address, gym membership cancellation, etc.). The Palestra Fitness Center membership dues are an annual contract, billed on a quarterly basis. Please note that if you utilize the club's facilities (e.g. gym, dining, rooms, etc.) and its member privileges (e.g. reciprocal clubs, notary services, etc.) during the new fiscal year, beginning July 1st, you are automatically renewing your membership and are committed to paying your dues for that year, including the gym dues (if you utilized the gym during the new fiscal year).

  • What happens when I move? Will I have to pay more or get a refund on my dues?
    • No, as a new member, your dues are based on your age and location at the time that your membership is fully processed (based on both work and home addresses, or both home addresses if more than one exists). As a renewing member, the dues are based on your age and location as of July 1st. For example, if you turn 29 on June 30th and moved from NY to PA, you will be billed as a 29 year old national member. When moving mid-year, members do not have to "top-up" their dues or receive a refund; members will be billed the new adjusted dues rate as of July 1st for the following fiscal year. For Penn faculty/staff or spousal members, your location does not affect your dues category.


The Application Process

  • How do I become a member of the Club?
    • You must complete and send in a membership application. To obtain an application and dues schedule CLICK HERE.

      If you wish to speak to someone directly at the Club, you may call the Membership Admissions Office at 212-403-6627.

  • Can I send in a facsimile copy of the application for processing?
    • Yes. Please complete the application with a dark pen and fax the completed application (including credit card information) to 212-403-6616. If you fax in your application, please also drop the signed, original application in the mail to the Membership/Admissions Office at the Penn Club.

  • Why do I need to provide sensitive information as part of the application?
    • When you apply for membership, it is akin to applying for a credit card or for credit at any financial institution. Credit is extended to you as a member. Everything at the Club is cashless, you sign for all your expenses to your house account. At the end of the month, you will receive a house statement. Just like a credit card statement, you will pay for the charges on your house statement via check. You have 30 days to pay for your charges, otherwise finance charges for late payment will apply.

  • How long does the approval process take?
    • Membership application approval process typically takes about two weeks.

  • If I decide to cancel my membership in the future will I have to pay the initiation fee over again?
    • Yes. Members who lose their membership due to nonpayment of charges or dues may, upon payment of the balance due and all associated charges, apply for readmission subject to Membership Committee approval and payment of the initiation/reinstatement fee.

  • Why do I have to abide by the House Rules?
    • The Penn Club of New York is a 501(c)(7) not-for-profit private social club. As such, we need to abide by certain statutory regulations to maintain its not-for-profit charter. Please review the House Rules and abide by them. All members, including major donors to Penn and staff of Penn, must abide by the statutory regulations. Asking the staff to bend the rules or make special accommodation for anyone, is asking us to break the law, which we are unable to do under any circumstances


Member Responsibilities

  • What are my responsibilities as a member? Are there minimum food and beverage charges I need to spend each month or quarter at the Club?
    • The Penn Club does not impose any food and beverage minimums on its members. However, members are responsible for supporting the Club whenever possible by dining at the clubhouse, bringing guests to introduce them to the Club, encouraging guests to become members, hosting private functions at the club house, staying over at the Club or putting up guests at the Club, utilizing the massage services and fitness center, participating in Club programs, and abiding by the House Rules. Financially, each member is only responsible for the timely payment of their annual dues and house charges. Members are also encouraged to participate actively in club activities; socializing and networking with fellow members is what a social club is all about -- we want you to be an active member so that we can grow our Club and keep it vibrant. It is a members' club, so if you wish to get involved in club leadership, there may be opportunities to do so.




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