The Yorkshire Society was formed as a non-political organisation to encourage people born or living in the County of Yorkshire to join to pursue the following objectives:-

To improve the beauty, attraction and amenities in the Yorkshire countryside, towns, villages, historic houses and monuments of all kinds by encouraging and assisting local branches of the Society to prepare, fund and carry through projects in their own areas.

To work with established organisations in their efforts to generate and promote tourism in the County.

To support efforts to study and solve some of the industrial, commercial and unemployment problems in the area.

To draw together in fellowship Yorkshire people by mounting regional and local events. To provide a forum for discussion, debate and "Society News".

The work of the society.

Includes Providing sponsorship for charities and charitable events. The Society co-sponsors the annual Yorkshire Awards alongside Yorkshire Television, Joshua Tetley, Asda, Aon, Bain Hogg, Yorkshire Electricity and Yorkshire Bank.

The Yorkshire Awards Dinner held in Autumn each year generates substantial funds for many charities. The Society's award category is the Yorkshire Lifetime Achievement Award. To date recipients have been Lawrence Batley, Ken Morrison, Victor Watson, Lord Harewood, Lord Mason, Professor Tom Kilburn, and Lord Rix.

The erecting of Yorkshire Rose plaques to famous Yorkshire men and women. To date plaques have commemorated Percy Shaw, inventor of cats eyes; Thomas Spencer, joint founder of Marks and Spencer; Henry Moore, Sculptor; Christopher Saxton, Cartographer to Queen Elizabeth 1; The former Lord St Oswald, First ever Vice President of the Society; Colonel North, for granting Kirkstall Abbey and grounds to the people; Viscount Herbert Henry Asquith, former Prime Minister; Sir Donald Bailey, inventor of the "Bailey Bridge"; Herbert Smith, aircraft designer; Benjamin Henry Latrobe, architect of the White House, Washington DC; Lord Wilson of Rievaulx, former Prime Minister; Benjamin Shaw, 'shoddy' manufacturer, Sir Martin Frobisher, explorer.

The Yorkshire Society also convenes the civic celebration of Yorkshire Day held on the 1st of August each year.