Young Womens Christian Association
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE YWCA CORTLAND IS DEDICATED TO ELIMINATING RACISM, EMPOWERING WOMEN, AND PROMOTING PEACE, JUSTICE, FREEDOM, AND DIGNITY FOR ALL. THERE ARE FOUR CORE MISSION-BASED PROGRAMS TO INCLUDE AID TO VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE, HEALTH AND FITNESS, CHILDCARE AND MENTORING.
- Income
- $3.6 million
- Spending
- $3.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 89%
- Reserves
- -0.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 44%
- Employees
- 142
- Volunteers
- 300
- Highest pay
- $88,385, executive direc
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
Fair: 54 out of 100. Higher than 23% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 23% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 7% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1589% 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2518 of 18 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
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
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)
- $1.6 million spent. Child Care Services: THE PROGRAM INCLUDES SUMMER CAMP, SCHOOL AGE CARE AND HERE WE GROW CHILD CARE CENTER, PROVIDING CARE TO CHILDREN 6 WEEKS - 14 YEARS. THE SUMMER CAMP PROVIDED CARE FOR 147 CHILDREN. THE SCHOOL AGE PROGRAM, LOCATED IN CORTLAND, HOMER & MCGRAW SCHOOLS CARED FOR 147 CHILDREN. IN SEPTEMBER 2024, THE PROGRAM RECEIVED A LEAPS GRANT THAT ALLOWED FOR A FREE AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM IN THE CORTLAND CITY SCHOOLS. THIS IS A NEW PROGRAM AND WILL BE MONITORED CLOSELY TO DETERMINE IT SUCCESS. HERE WE GROW CARED FOR 51 CHILDREN. DROP-IN AND LEARNING ADVENTURE REMAINS SUSPENDED THE YWCA AEI GRANT CONTINUES TO COLLABORATE WITH CAPCO TO PROVIDE TEACHING CREDENTIALS TO HELP WITH STAFF RECRUITMENT AS CHILD CARE STAFFING SHORTAGES REMAIN. WE STILL HAVE A YEARLY CONTRACT WITH THE COUNTY TO PROVIDE DAYCARE FOR LOW INCOME FAMILIES AND THE CORTLAND SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE UNIVERSAL PRE-K. THE SCHOOL AGE PROGRAM CONTINUES TO HAVE LESS CHILDREN IN THE CORTLAND SCHOOLS DUE TO SPACE ISSUES WITHIN THE SCHOOLS.
- $1.3 million spent. Aid to Victims of Violence (AVV) provides comprehensive victims services to include advocacy, crisis intervention, legal referrals, phone counseling, support groups, crime victims compensation assistance and prevention education and a 24/7 crisis hotline. This program offers both emergency and permanent supportive housing options for victims and survivors of Domestic Violence and their children. In 2022, the YWCA added 25 units of permanent supportive housing for women survivors and their children. The program was also awarded funding for another permanent supportive housing program of 30 units that will serve both men and women survivors of Domestic Violence and their children. This new housing project is currently paused until the developer can get issues with their funding resolved. This will most likely require the YWCA to resubmit our application with ESSHI. This is what we had to do with the completed supporting housing Grace Brown House project and the process went very smoothly. It is expected this program will open in 2-5 years.
- $277,787 spent. Health and Fitness program includes specialized land and aquatics classes for all ages. This program participates in insurance programs to support seniors through a silver sneakers classic and silver sneakers stability with frequent attendance of 20 or more students. Other classes include Yoga, Group X Classes, Aquatic Classes, swim lessons, weight room and personal training. The YWCA has a co-ed and womens only weight room with personal trainers. Gym and recreation classes include pickleball, gymnastics for ages 1-12, basketball and specialty classes. Innovative and creative staff have added more wellness centered programming to include meditation classes and retreats, equine meditation, and sound healing. The aquatic program offers a variety of water exercise classes including a range of movement classes which follow the arthritis foundation guidelines. Swimming lessons are for children from 6 months to 12 years. Private swim lessons bring in all ages from preschool to seniors. A recently added program, Social Seniors continues to grow with more participants joining weekly for socializing, games, and specialized speakers.
- $63,762 spent. Bridges for Kids (BFK) is an individual mentoring program that matches a trained adult volunteer with youth ages 5-12 experiencing stress by poverty, family violence, abuse, and neglect. The mentor meets with the child once a week. In addition, they offer enrichment activities designed to increase the childs self-confidence, resiliency skills. GEMS (Girls, Empowered, Motivated and Successful) is a support group offered in local schools during the scheduled lunch hour. In addition, an adult version of this program is offered at the recently opened Grace Brown House serving women who are survivors of Domestic Violence. Frequent recreational events are held for all children in program and/or on a waiting list. School supplies are distributed every season along with a Thanksgiving meal and holiday gifts. This program is heavily operated with one paid Program Director and over 300 volunteers, mostly SUNY Cortland students and interns.
- Social Development Programs - Address Leadership skills, concerns of women, career education and life long learning.
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since February 1973.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.