Down East Family YMCA
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
To build strong communities, families and individuals by fostering respect and promoting a healthy spirit, mind and body.
- Income
- $5.7 million
- Spending
- $5.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 98%
- Reserves
- -0.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 78%
- Employees
- 261
- Highest pay
- $102,201, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 48 out of 100.
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 33% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 12% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1598% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 95 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2517 of 17 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (5)
- $3.0 million spent. DEFY Child Care includes the Moore Early Learning Center, the Beechland Early Learning Center, The Island of Imagination Early Learning Center, Camp Discovery, and Hancock Grammar School Afterschool. In all, DEFY Child Care provides services to over 500 families each year. DEFY Child Care is the largest child care provider in Hancock County, and one of the only centers to provide care from 6 weeks through 6th grade. More than 30% of our families receive some level of assistance for childcare services. Our centers collaborate with State agencies, local non-profits, and local schools to provide excellent care and transitional support for children needing special services.
- $1.1 million spent. The Blue Hill YMCA is focused on improving healthy living, youth development, and social responsibility for the communities on and around the Blue Hill Peninsula. The YMCA offers a broad range of programs and services to a diverse population. The Aquatics department provides instructional swim lessons and competitive swimming for all ages, aquatic aerobics for adults and seniors, Special Olympic programming, and the States first water safety program specifically for middle school-aged lobstermen. The Fitness department provides a wide range of programming for all ages, including the collaboration with Northern Light Hospital to provide Cardiac Rehabilitation Phase 3 to over 30 seniors. More than 250 adults and seniors take advantage of fitness programming each week, and an additional 300 adults and seniors take advantage of fitness equipment and our indoor track for their fitness. The Y also acts as the recreation department for much of the Peninsula.
- $1.1 million spent. The Wiggins YMCA is focused on improving healthy living, youth development, and social responsibility for the City of Ellsworth and surrounding communities. The YMCA offers a broad range of programs and services to a diverse population. The Aquatics department provides instructional swim lessons and competitive swimming for all ages, aquatic aerobics for adults and seniors, Special Olymic programming, and aquatic therapy. The Fitness department provides a wide range of programming for all ages, including a collaboration with Northern Light Hospital to provide cardiac rehabilitation phase 3 to over 40 seniors. More than 300 adults and seniors take advantage of fitness equipmnet and our indoor track for their fitness. The YMCA also acts as the recreation department for the City of Ellsworth. More than 500 youth paticipated in our recreational sports and afterschool programming. Scholarships are provided to qualifying individuals ensuring that all can be served.
- $250,768 spent. The Bucksport YMCA is focused on improving healthy living, youth development, and social responsibility for the Town of Bucksport. The YMCA offers a broad range of programs and services to a diverse population. Through a collaboration with the Town of Bucksport, the Y provides year-round recreational sports and programming for kids from age 3 to 18. More than 350 youth participated in activities ranging from cheering to soccer, basketball, swim lessons and football. The Young Bucks Summer Camp provides child care services for families during the summer. More than 120 families enrolled in 2023, 30% of whom received scholarships. In the summer, the Y manages an outdoor pool, open to the public at no cost. More than 150 individuals take advantage of the pool each day during the summer. The Y provides a small fitness room and adult fitness programs throughout the year. Scholarships are provided to qualifying individuals ensuring that all can be served.
- $228,950 spent. DEFY collaborates with the City of Ellsworth to manage the Moore Community Center(MCC). MCC houses the Moore Early Learning Center, Friends in Action (senior resource organization), and the Ellsworth Community Music Institute. The center also has a qymnasium, atrium, cafeteria & kitchen, auditorium, boardroom, and several classrooms available for rent for community groups and organizations. The YMCA assumes the majority of occupation expenses for the center and works with many local non-profits and agencies to provide affordable space for the programs and or meetings.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since March 1987.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.