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Young Mens Christian Association Cortland

EIN 15-0533570 · Cortland, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceGood89 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION AND PURPOSE OF THE YMCA IS TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY BY REACHING OUT TO EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY IN A SPIRIT OF INCLUSION AND FELLOWSHIP. YMCAS PUT CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLES INTO PRACTICE THROUGH PROGRAMS THAT BUILD HEALTHY SPIRIT, MIND, AND BODY FOR ALL. YMCA PROGRAMS FOCUS ON FOUR CORE VALUES - CARING, HONESTY, RESPECT, AND RESPONSIBILITY. WE SERVE MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN OF ALL AGES, RACES, ABILITIES, INCOMES, NATIONAL ORIGINS, AND RELIGIONS. WE PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO THOSE WHO NEED IT. WE IDENTIFY NEEDS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY AND RESPOND TO THEM SO THAT THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY BENEFITS FROM OUR EFFORTS.THE ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM APPROVED 122 YOUTH AND FAMILY MEMBERSHIP ASSISTANCE REQUESTS VALUED AT $27,536 INCLUDING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR AFTERSCHOOL, DAY CAMP AND OTHER YOUTH PROGRAMS.

Income
$881,145
Spending
$998,265
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
16.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 49%
Employees
112
Volunteers
11

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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 16.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 23% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 13% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 19% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Good: 89 out of 100. Higher than 75% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • 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, 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 (4)
  1. $12,957 spent. THE YMCA'S CHILDCARE PROGRAMS INCLUDE DROPIN CHILDCARE, UNIVERSAL PREKINDERGARTEN, WRAPAROUND AND JR. CAMP ADVENTURE. THESE PROGRAMS OFFER EXPERIENTIAL AND HANDS-ON LEARNING ACTIVITIES THAT PROVIDE CHALLENGE AND PROMOTE SPIRITUAL AWARENESS, MENTAL DEVELOPMENT, PHYSICAL WELL-BEING, SOCIAL GROWTH, AND SELF-RESPECT. IN A NURTURING AND STIMULATING ENVIRONMENT, CHILDREN DEVELOP THEIR PHYSICAL AND MENTAL CAPABILITIES, RECOGNIZE THE VALUE OF COOPERATION AND GAIN CONFIDENCE.
  2. $5,328 spent. THE CORTLAND YMCA STINGERS SWIM TEAM HAS BUILT UP A REGIONAL, STATE AND NATIONAL REPUTATION FOR EXCELLENCE IN SWIMMING. DESPITE CORTLAND'S SMALL SIZE, THE CORTLAND Y STINGERS HAVE CONVINCINGLY PROVEN THAT THEY CAN COMPETE AGAINST LARGER UPSTATE CITIES, NEW YORK CITY AND LONG ISLAND TEAMS. OUR SWIMMERS HAVE SET RECORDS AND WON STATE, REGIONAL AND NATIONAL TITLES. MANY CORTLAND SWIMMERS HAVE GONE ON TO COMPETE AT THE COLLEGIATE LEVEL ON SCHOLARSHIPS AT IVY LEAGUE, EASTERN, WESTERN AND MID-WESTERN UNIVERSITIES. MEMBERS OF THE CORTLAND Y STINGERS PROUDLY ENTER ANY MEET AS ONE OF THE TEAMS TO BEAT. AS IMPORTANTLY, ALL OUR SWIMMERS HAVE PROVEN TO BE WINNERS BY ACQUIRING, THROUGH THE PROGRAM, QUALITIES THAT WILL HELP THEM THROUGHOUT LIFE: SELF DISCIPLINE AND SELF-CONFIDENCE.
  3. $96,024 spent. PROGRESSIVE GYMNASTIC CLASSES HELD AT THE J M MCDONALD SPORTS COMPLEX FOR BEGINNERS THROUGH COMPETITIVE LEVEL. YMCA COMETS GYMNASTICS TEAM AND PRE-TEAM ARE COMPETITIVE TEAMS WHERE SKILLS ARE ACQUIRED THROUGH THE PROGRESSIVE LESSONS. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES CHALLENGE AND PROMOTES SPIRITUAL AWARENESS, MENTAL DEVELOPMENT, PHYSICAL WELL-BEING, SOCIAL GROWTH, AND SELF-RESPECT.
  4. $743,782 spent. YOUTH DEVELOPMENT: YMCA YOUTH PROGRAMS SUCH AS YOUTH AND GOVERNMENT AND LEAD, PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES THAT HELP TEENS DEVELOP SELF-ESTEEM, STRONG MORAL VALUES, LEADERSHIP SKILLS, AND A POSITIVE WORK ETHIC. THE SOCIAL INTERACTION, PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY, OPPORTUNITIES TO ASSIST OTHERS, AND EDUCATIONAL INVOLVEMENT ARE SOME OF THE GOALS AND IDEALS THAT EACH YOUTH PARTICIPATING IN YMCA PROGRAMS CAN WORK TO ACHIEVE.

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

  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 2024.

    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 March 1934.

    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.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: Young Mens Christian Association (Oklahoma City, OK), EIN 73-0579270. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

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