Young Mens Christian Association of Ridgewood Nj
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Raising each dollar of donations cost 82 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 RIDGEWOOD YMCA, FOUNDED IN 1902, IS A 501(C)3 NONPROFIT, CHARITABLE, COMMUNITY SERVICE ORGANIZATION. BASED ON THE PRINCIPLES REFLECTED IN THE MISSION, THE RIDGEWOOD Y IS A WELCOMING PLACE WHERE MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN OF ALL AGES, ABILITIES, INCOMES, ETHNICITIES, RELIGIONS AND SEXUAL ORIENTATION ARE ACCEPTED, VALUED, AND NURTURED. OUR ORGANIZATION IS A LONG-STANDING PILLAR OF THE RIDGEWOOD COMMUNITY, AND CONTINUES TO ADDRESS THE MANY NEEDS OF THOSE WHO WALK THROUGH THE DOORS, INCLUDING: PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL WELLNESS; SOCIALIZATION AND COMPANIONSHIP; INDEPENDENCE AND SELF-SUFFICIENCY; AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOCAL AND GLOBAL SERVICE. ADDITIONALLY, THE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES WE OFFER REACH FAR BEYOND THE BORDERS OF RIDGEWOOD, SERVING RESIDENTS FROM OVER 40 SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES.
- Income
- $9.5 million
- Spending
- $10.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 83%
- Reserves
- -5.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 91%
- Employees
- 478
- Volunteers
- 425
- Highest pay
- $315,378, 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: 24 out of 100. Higher than 1% 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
5 of 20It owes 68% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 7% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 7% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1583% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 82 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
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2526 of 26 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
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
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, 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)
- $3.4 million spent. SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY: SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY HAS BEEN AT THE CORE OF OUR SERVICE FOR OVER 120 YEARS. THE PRINCIPLES ON WHICH WE WERE FOUNDED REFLECT A SENSE OF SERVICE, COMMUNITY, AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY. OUR PROGRAMS, COLLABORATIONS, AND PARTNERSHIPS BOTH LOCALLY AND ON A GLOBAL SCALE MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR THE RIDGEWOOD YMCA TO HAVE A WIDE-RANGING IMPACT ON OUR COMMUNITY, THROUGHOUT THE TRISTATE AREA, AND INTERNATIONALLY. AMONG OTHERS, THE FOLLOWING ARE EXAMPLES OF SERVICES OFFERED THROUGH OUR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY PROGRAMS. *FINANCIAL AID FOR MEMBERSHIPS, CAMPS, AND ALL OTHER PROGRAMS *CANCER SURVIVOR SUPPORT *CHRONIC DISEASE MANAGEMENT PROGRAMMING *CARETAKER SUPPORT GROUPS *SPEAKER SERIES AND HEALTH SEMINARS FROM INDUSTRY EXPERTS *RAINBOWS SUPPORT FOR CHILDHOOD GRIEF & TRAUMA *SWIM LESSONS FOR UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES *ADAPTIVE SWIM LESSONS FOR ALL AGES WITH SPECIAL NEEDS *WORLD SERVICE SUPPORT *SCHOLARSHIPS FOR FAMILIES OF DEPLOYED MILITARY PERSONNEL AND FIRST RESPONDERS *WEEKLY FOOD BOX DISTRIBUTION *BEYOND PANTRY, THE COMMUNITY PANTRY *OFFICIAL PARTNER OF SPECIAL OLYMPICS OF NEW JERSEY *PROGRAM ACCESS FOR GREAT FALLS YOUTH CENTER (NJCDC) *OUTDOOR EDUCATION AND RETREAT PROGRAMMING *LIFEGUARD TRAINING AND WATER SAFETY *SOCIAL CLUBS AND ADULT SUPPORT GROUPS *PARTNERING WITH AMERICAN RED CROSS TO HOST BLOOD DRIVES *CERTIFIED SNAP NAVIGATOR
- $3.4 million spent. YOUTH DEVELOPMENT: FOR OVER 120 YEARS THE RIDGEWOOD YMCA HAS BEEN AN ACTIVE HUB OF THE COMMUNITY, OFFERING A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS TO ASSIST IN THE SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL, AND PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT OF YOUNG PEOPLE. YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMING ADDRESSES ALL LEVELS OF COMPETENCE, RANGING FROM BEGINNER LESSONS TO ADVANCED COMPETITION, AND INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM CATEGORIES: *BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMMING *MULTICULTURAL STUDIES *EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT *COMPETITIVE SWIMMING *COMPETITIVE AAU BASKETBALL *YOUTH SPORTS INSTRUCTION *YOUTH SWIM LESSONS *SUMMER DAY CAMP *SUMMER OVERNIGHT CAMP *VACATION DAY CAMP *LICENSED PRESCHOOL PROGRAM *PARENTS' NIGHT OUT *BIRTHDAY PARTIES *PARENT AND CHILD CLASSES *OPEN SWIM FOR FAMILIES
- $1.6 million spent. HEALTHY LIVING: OUR MISSION AND VISION OF THE RIDGEWOOD YMCA HAS ALWAYS BEEN TO PROMOTE HEALTHY LIVING. WE WORK TO HELP THE COMMUNITY PREVENT ILLNESS, REACH THEIR GOALS, AND LEAD A HEALTHIER LIFE THROUGH THE FOLLOWING: *AQUATIC EXERCISE *PILATES, ZUMBA, CYCLING AND AEROBICS *YOGA, MEDITATION, AND TAI CHI *SELF DEFENSE *BOXING AND KICKBOXING *PERSONAL TRAINING *MASSAGE AND STRETCH THERAPY *DANCE FITNESS *WOMEN'S STRENGTH TRAINING *SMALL GROUP AND CIRCUIT TRAINING *INTRO SPORTS INSTRUCTION *ADULT BASKETBALL AND PICKLEBALL
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
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 2025.
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 October 1975.
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.