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Summit Area YMCA

EIN 22-1487392 · Summit, NJ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak40 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 51 cents.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE SUMMIT AREA YMCA IS TO STRENGTHEN THE FOUNDATIONS OF COMMUNITY BY NURTURING AND DEVELOPING THE POTENTIAL OF EVERY CHILD, PROMOTING HEALTHY LIVING AND FOSTERING A SENSE OF SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY IN THE COMMUNITY.

Income
$19.9 million
Spending
$18.7 million
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
-4.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 91%
Employees
747
Volunteers
548
Highest pay
$269,314, 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

Weak: 40 out of 100. Higher than 10% 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

    10 of 20

    It owes 30% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 51 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

    20 of 20 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. $9.0 million spent. YOUTH DEVELOPMENT - WE OFFER CAMP TO CHILDCARE TO AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES TO SPORTS FOR CHILDREN AND TEENS. CHILDCARE AND EARLY LEARNING PROGRAMS AT THE Y FOCUS ON CHILD DEVELOPMENT BY BUILDING FOUNDATIONAL SKILLS, FOSTERING HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS, AND BOOSTING SELF-RELIANCE. WE PROVIDE A SAFE, NURTURING ENVIRONMENT FOR 750+ CHILDREN AGED SIX WEEKS TO 12 YEARS TO LEARN, GROW AND DEVELOP SOCIAL SKILLS IN OUR CHILDCARE PROGRAMS. OUR LEADERSHIP AND ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS HELP STUDENTS BUILD SKILLS AND CONFIDENCE. THE SUMMIT AREA YMCA OFFERS DAY CAMPS THAT ARE SAFE, EXCITING PLACES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO EXPLORE THE OUTDOORS, BUILD SELF-ESTEEM, DEVELOP INTERPERSONAL SKILLS, AND BUILD RELATIONSHIPS.
  2. $6.0 million spent. HEALTHY LIVING - AT THE SUMMIT AREA YMCA, WE BELIEVE HEALTH AND FITNESS ARE VITAL COMPONENTS OF INDIVIDUAL WELL-BEING. WE AIM TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS BY PROVIDING PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES THAT PROMOTE OVERALL WELLNESS, NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE ON YOUR JOURNEY TOWARD BETTER HEALTH. WE BELIEVE WHEN PEOPLE FEEL THEIR BEST AND HAVE FULFILLING LIFESTYLES, THEIR COMMUNITIES BECOME STRONGER, TOO. THE Y BRINGS FAMILIES CLOSER TOGETHER, ENCOURAGES HEALTHY HABITS, AND FOSTERS CONNECTIONS THROUGH EXERCISE, SPORTS, FUN, AND SHARED INTERESTS. THE SUMMIT AREA YMCA CONTINUES TO DEMONSTRATE ITS COMMITMENT TO BRINGING HEALTHY LIVING WITHIN REACH OF ALL PEOPLE AND INSPIRING EACH OTHER TO BE THE BEST VERSION OF OURSELVES. IN 2025, WE SERVED OVER 10,000 MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY WITHIN OUR FITNESS CENTERS, GROUP FITNESS CLASSES, POOLS, SPORTS LEAGUES, WELLNESS EVENTS, CHRONIC DISEASE PREVENTION AND RECOVERY PROGRAMS. OUR FACILITIES PROVIDE AN ENVIRONMENT FOCUSED ON BUILDING PERSONAL STRENGTH, ENDURANCE, AND CONFIDENCE. WE PROVIDE A WIDE RANGE OF RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES AND WE STRIVE TO STRENGTHEN THE BOND BETWEEN TRADITIONAL HEALTHCARE AND COMMUNITY-BASED PREVENTATIVE STRATEGIES TO HELP PREVENT CHRONIC DISEASE AND IMPROVE OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES.
  3. $299,213 spent. SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY - IN ADDITION TO WELLNESS, CHILDCARE, EDUCATION, AND CAMP, THE Y PROVIDES A WIDE RANGE OF ACCESSIBLE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE. WE WORK TO PROVIDE KIDS, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES WITH THE RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES THEY NEED TO LEARN, GROW, AND THRIVE. WE WELCOME PEOPLE OF ALL GENERATIONS AND BACKGROUNDS AND OUR OFFERINGS OF FREE COMMUNITY RESOURCES AND PROGRAMMING IS EXTENSIVE. ADDITIONALLY, WE PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES FOR Y PROGRAMS, ESSENTIAL RESOURCES, MEALS, AND SUPPLIES. THE YMCA ALSO BRINGS DIVERSE PEOPLE TOGETHER TO TACKLE SOCIAL ISSUES. WE ADDRESS THE SOCIETY'S MOST CRITICAL NEEDS BY DEVELOPING COMMUNITY-BASED SOLUTIONS AND INSPIRING A SPIRIT OF SERVICE. BY MOTIVATING PEOPLE, CREATING A CULTURE OF VOLUNTEERISM, AND PARTNERING WITH OTHER LIKE-MINDED ORGANIZATIONS TO ADDRESS COMMUNITY NEEDS, WE STRIVE TO CREATE MORE COHESIVE COMMUNITIES.

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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since August 1953.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.