The Artists' Fund Society of the City of New York was a benevolent society founded on February 5, 1859, to assist members and their families in cases of illness, old age, and death, and to provide aid to non-member artists in distress.
The society traces its origin to painter William Ranney's death in 1857, which left his wife and two children destitute.
Painters from the New York City area contributed works to auction to aid his destitute family.
[1] The society began with 25 members who, from 1860 through 1889, were required to annually contribute a piece of art work to be exhibited and sold at auction.
Its leadership consisted of a "Board of Control" composed of a president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer and five other members.