The New York Charity Organization Society

The New York Charity Organization Society, founded in 1882, was a pioneering social reform group focused on coordinating and improving charity work in New York City. Its goal was to provide effective aid to the poor by promoting professional casework, reducing duplication of efforts, and encouraging local charities to work together. The organization emphasized personalized assessments of individuals' needs, advocating for more systematic and humane support. Over time, it helped shape modern social work practices and laid the groundwork for government social services, aiming to address poverty more efficiently and ethically.