Status as a Charity
In 1957, the American Society of The Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem was incorporated in New York and recognized by the IRS as a public charity for the purpose of supporting the international humanitarian endeavors of The Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem. Queen Elizabeth II, the Sovereign Head of the Order, formally constituted the American Society as The Priory in the United States of America of The Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem in 1996.
In 2008, the Priory in the U.S. (previously located in New York City) permanently relocated to Washington, D.C. in order to advance its mission and more effectively partner with similar organizations and volunteers.
In 1999, The Order of St. John, which has over 25,000 members worldwide, was granted Special Consultative Status by the United Nations’ Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). Only 3,000 organizations are similarly recognized as non-governmental organizations (NGO). The Order worldwide encompasses two foundations: St. John Ambulance (www.orderofstjohn.org/st-john-ambulance), a leading first aid, transport and healthcare service whose global volunteers number nearly 300,000 in 42 countries, and the St. John of Jerusalem Eye Hospital.
These documents provide more information:
