Named for the founder of the city of Rochester and first president of the Rochester Athenaeum, the forerunner of RIT, the Nathaniel Rochester Society is a special group formed to recognize RIT's most generous supporters and to encourage a closer relationship between the Institute and members of the community.

Currently, NRS includes more than 1,200 RIT alumni, parents, friends, faculty, and staff in 44 states and nine foreign countries. Basic membership benefits include subscriptions to News & Events and University Magazine as well as opportunities to interact with fellow members, students, faculty, and staff at special events on and off campus, and through volunteer leadership committees.

A one-year membership is automatically extended to donors of $1000 or more. Those under the age of 40 qualify for 'Young Ambassadors' membership at half the traditional NRS membership amount.