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Ocean Community YMCA

EIN 05-0268126 · Westerly, RI

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair61 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE OCEAN COMMUNITY YMCA IS A CAUSE-DRIVEN ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO STRENGTHENING COMMUNITY THROUGH YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, HEALTHY LIVING, AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY. WE ENSURE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO PROGRAMS THAT BUILD A HEALTHY SPIRIT, MIND, AND BODY FOR ALL.

Income
$12.7 million
Spending
$11.2 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
-3.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 79%
Employees
515
Volunteers
450
Highest pay
$269,051, president & ceo until 06/2025

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 61 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 30% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 12% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 18 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    21 of 21 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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 (3)
  1. $6.3 million spent. MEMBERSHIP - OCEAN COMMUNITY YMCA PROVIDED MEMBERSHIP ACCESS TO OVER 19,000 INDIVIDUALS, OFFERING A WELCOMING AND INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENT THAT SUPPORTS PHYSICAL, MENTAL, AND SOCIAL WELL-BEING. MEMBERSHIP INCLUDED ACCESS TO FITNESS FACILITIES, GROUP EXERCISE CLASSES, AQUATICS, AND WELLNESS PROGRAMMING DESIGNED TO PROMOTE HEALTHY LIFESTYLES FOR PEOPLE OF ALL AGES AND ABILITIES. THE OCEAN COMMUNITY YMCA DELIVERED MORE THAN 9,000 GROUP EXERCISE CLASSES ANNUALLY AND ENGAGED MEMBERS IN EVIDENCE-BASED HEALTH INITIATIVES, INCLUDING CHRONIC DISEASE PREVENTION AND SENIOR WELLNESS PROGRAMS. SEE CONTINUTATION ON SCHEDULE O.MEMBERSHIP PROGRAMS ALSO SERVED AS A GATEWAY TO DEEPER ENGAGEMENT, CONNECTING INDIVIDUALS TO VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES, YOUTH PROGRAMS, AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH SERVICES.TO ENSURE EQUITABLE ACCESS, THE YMCA PROVIDED $826,699 IN FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, WITH APPROXIMATELY 20% OF MEMBERS RECEIVING SOME LEVEL OF SUBSIDY FOR MEMBERSHIP AND PROGRAM ACCESS. THIS APPROACH ENSURES THAT INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES CAN PARTICIPATE REGARDLESS OF THEIR ABILITY TO PAY, REINFORCING THE YMCA'S COMMITMENT TO INCLUSIVITY AND COMMUNITY IMPACT.
  2. $1.4 million spent. OTHER PROGRAMS - OCEAN COMMUNITY YMCA ENGAGED OVER 9,500 INDIVIDUALS OF ALL AGES IN HEALTH AND WELLNESS PROGRAMS, INCLUDING CHRONIC DISEASE PREVENTION, PERSONAL TRAINING, FIRST AID/CPR TRAINING, AQUATICS, GYMNASTICS, PICKLEBALL, AND OTHER SPORTS PROGRAMS. SPECIALIZED PROGRAMS SUCH AS DIABETES PREVENTION AND LIVESTRONG SERVED MORE THAN 275 INDIVIDUALS, IMPROVING HEALTH AND REDUCING RISK FACTORS. SPORTS PROGRAMS PROMOTE TEAMWORK, INTERACTIONS, AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIAL AND PHYSICAL SKILLS. FAMILY PROGRAMS DEVELOP AND STRENGTHEN THE FAMILY UNIT BY IMPROVING QUALITY OF TIME THAT FAMILIES SPEND TOGETHER. ADAPTIVE PICKLEBALL CLASSES WERE OFFERED TO INCLUDE AN UNDERSERVED SEGMENT OF OUR COMMUNITY AND PROVIDE INCLUSION. SEE CONTINUTATION ON SCHEDULE O.DURING 2025, THE YMCA OVERSAW THE RENOVATION OF A PORTION OF THE WESTERLY LOCATION TO CREATE ADDITIONAL SPACE FOR E-SPORTS AND OTHER INNOVATIVE PROGRAMMING TO REACH NEW SECTORS OF OUR COMMUNITY AND FURTHER ENGAGE YOUTH AND TEENS WITH STEAM TECHNOLOGY. THIS NEW PROGRAMMING SPACE WILL ALLOW THE YMCA TO PROVIDE INNOVATIVE ACCESS TO STEAM CLASSES, E-SPORTS LEAGUES AND OTHER GROUP ACTIVITIES TO FOSTER COLLABORATION, COMMUNITY AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, AS WELL AS STRENGTHEN RELATIONSHIPS AND FURTHER OUR MISSION TO PROVIDE PROGRAMS THAT BUILD HEALTHY SPIRIT, MIND, AND BODY FOR ALL.
  3. $1.4 million spent. CAMP PROGRAMSOCEAN COMMUNITY YMCA PROVIDES ENRICHING AND EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES DURING THE SUMMER AT CAMP WATCHAUG AND CAMP COVE, WHICH TOGETHER SERVE THOUSANDS OF YOUTHS AND FAMILIES IN THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY. PROGRAMS INCLUDE BOTH INDOOR AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES AND INCLUDE SPECIALTY CAMPS IN WATER SPORTS SUCH AS SWIMMING, SAILING AND OTHER BOATING ACTIVITIES. ADDITIONALLY, OCEAN COMMUNITY YMCA NOW OFFERS 'ADAPTIVE' SUPPORT STAFF SUCH AS BEHAVIORAL SPECIALISTS AT BOTH CAMP SITES TO BETTER SERVE CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS AND ALLOW THEM TO ATTEND CAMP ALONGSIDE THEIR PEERS. CAMPERSHIP SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AVAILABLE AND NO CHILD IS TURNED AWAY DUE TO AN INABILITY TO PAY.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. 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 September 7, 2026.

  2. 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 September 30, 2026.

  3. 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since June 1942.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. 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 7, 2026.

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