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Young Mens Christian Association Buffalo Niagara

EIN 16-0743231 · Buffalo, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood81 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

YMCA BUFFALO NIAGARA IS A CHARITABLE, COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATION COMMITTED TO PROVIDING PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO BUILD A HEALTHY SPIRIT, MIND AND BODY FOR ALL.

Income
$30.0 million
Spending
$26.6 million
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
3.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 81%
Employees
1,277
Volunteers
450
Highest pay
$295,392, president / ceo

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

Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 27% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 17 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

    33 of 33 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. $12.7 million spent. YOUTH DEVELOPMENT OUR YMCA IS COMMITTED TO NURTURING THE POTENTIAL OF EVERY CHILD AND TEEN. WE BELIEVE THAT ALL KIDS DESERVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCOVER WHO THEY ARE AND WHAT THEY CAN ACHIEVE. THAT IS WHY WE HELP YOUNG PEOPLE CULTIVATE THE VALUES, SKILLS AND RELATIONSHIPS THAT LEAD TO POSITIVE BEHAVIORS, BETTER HEALTH AND EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT. OUR YMCA PROGRAMS, SUCH AS SCHOOL AGE CHILD CARE, SUMMER CAMP AND PRESCHOOL EDUCATION, OFFER A RANGE OF EXPERIENCES THAT ENRICH COGNITIVE, SOCIAL, PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL GROWTH. IN 2025, YMCA BUFFALO NIAGARA PROVIDED $650,000 IN FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO FAMILIES TO ENABLE CHILDREN TO PARTAKE IN YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS WHO OTHERWISE MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO AFFORD TO PARTICIPATE. SCHOOL AGE CHILD CARE CONSISTS OF BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS, AS WELL AS VACATION CLUBS OFFERED DURING SCHOOL HOLIDAY PERIODS. THE GOALS OF THE PROGRAM ARE TO PROVIDE SAFE, AFFORDABLE, QUALITY SUBSTITUTE PARENTAL CARE FOR SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN OF WORKING PARENTS AND TO PROVIDE POSITIVE PHYSICAL, SOCIAL AND EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES FOR THE CHILDREN. PROGRAMS ARE OFFERED AT YMCA FACILITIES AND IN DOZENS OF SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT ERIE AND NIAGARA COUNTIES. SUMMER CAMPING PROGRAMS INCLUDE DAY AND RESIDENT CAMPING, AS WELL AS FAMILY CAMPING, OUTDOOR EDUCATION PROGRAMS, LEADERS/COUNSELORS IN TRAINING AND SPECIALTY CAMPS & TRIPS. RESIDENT CAMPING IS OFFERED AT YMCA BUFFALO NIAGARA'S CAMP WEONA AND CAMP KENAN WHILE DAY CAMP IS OFFERED AT THE SIX FULL FACILITY BRANCHES, THREE YMCA-OWNED DAY CAMP SITES AND SEVERAL COMMUNITY BASED LOCATIONS. EACH CAMP PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO FOSTER THE PHYSICAL, INTELLECTUAL, SOCIAL AND SPIRITUAL GROWTH OF THE CHILDREN PARTICIPATING. YMCA CAMP PROGRAMS ALSO MEET THE NEEDS OF PARENTS WHO ARE LOOKING FOR A SAFE, CONVENIENT AND AFFORDABLE FORM OF CHILD CARE WHILE SCHOOL IS NOT IN SESSION. PRESCHOOL EDUCATION PROGRAMS ARE OPERATED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SIX LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS. THESE PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO ENHANCE THE SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL, PHYSICAL AND COGNITIVE SKILLS OF PRESCHOOL CHILDREN. IN ADDITION, PRESCHOOL SPORTS, AQUATICS AND PARENT/CHILD PROGRAMS ARE OFFERED TO HELP BUILD SELF-ESTEEM, VALUES, PLAY SKILLS AND FAMILY BONDING.
  2. $10.2 million spent. HEALTHY LIVING THE YMCA IS COMMITTED TO IMPROVING AMERICA'S HEALTH, COMMUNITY BY COMMUNITY. WE BRING FAMILIES CLOSER TOGETHER, ENCOURAGE GOOD HEALTH AND FOSTER CONNECTIONS THROUGH FITNESS, SPORTS, FUN AND SHARED INTERESTS. AS A RESULT, OVER 48,000 PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY ARE RECEIVING THE SUPPORT, GUIDANCE AND RESOURCES THEY NEED TO ACHIEVE GREATER HEALTH IN SPIRIT, MIND AND BODY. THIS IS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT AS OUR NATION STRUGGLES WITH CHRONIC DISEASE AND OBESITY, FAMILIES STRUGGLE WITH WORK/LIFE BALANCE AND INDIVIDUALS SEARCH FOR PERSONAL FULFILLMENT. OUR PROGRAMS ARE ACCESSIBLE, AFFORDABLE AND OPEN TO PEOPLE OF ALL FAITHS, BACKGROUNDS, ABILITIES AND INCOME LEVELS. IN 2025, YMCA BUFFALO NIAGARA PROVIDED OVER $750,000 IN FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO PEOPLE WHO OTHERWISE MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO AFFORD TO PARTICIPATE IN HEALTHY LIVING ACTIVITIES. HEALTHY LIVING PROGRAMS INCLUDE FITNESS CLASSES, STRENGTH TRAINING, PRE AND POST-NATAL EXERCISE, FITNESS TESTING, LIFESTYLE ASSESSMENT, STRESS MANAGEMENT, HEALTH EDUCATION, NUTRITION EDUCATION, DISEASE PREVENTION, PERSONAL TRAINING, SELF-DEFENSE AND FAMILY RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES. PROGRAMS ARE OFFERED AT THE SIX YMCA FULL FACILITY BRANCHES IN THE BUFFALO-NIAGARA AREA, AS WELL AS IN VARIOUS COMMUNITYBASED LOCATIONS.
  3. $191,570 spent. SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY-FOR ADDITIONAL DESCRIPTION OF PROGRAM SERVICE SEE SCHEDULE O. SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY OUR YMCA BELIEVES IN GIVING BACK AND SUPPORTING OUR NEIGHBORS. WE HAVE BEEN LISTENING AND RESPONDING TO OUR COMMUNITY'S MOST CRITICAL SOCIAL NEEDS FOR MORE THAN 170 YEARS. YMCA PROGRAMS, SUCH AS THE SENIOR CITIZEN CENTER, Y ON THE FLY, THE TOGETHERHOOD VOLUNTEER INITIATIVE, RESPITE PROGRAM, AND CPR & FIRST AID TRAINING, ARE EXAMPLES OF HOW WE DELIVER TRAINING, RESOURCES AND SUPPORT THAT EMPOWER OUR NEIGHBORS TO EFFECT CHANGE, BRIDGE GAPS AND OVERCOME OBSTACLES. IN 2025, WE ENGAGED YMCA MEMBERS, PARTICIPANTS AND VOLUNTEERS IN ACTIVITIES THAT STRENGTHEN OUR COMMUNITY AND PAVE THE WAY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS TO THRIVE.

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 December 1954.

    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.

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.