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Young Mens Christian Association Joliet

EIN 36-2169197 · Shorewood, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair61 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PUT CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLES INTO PRACTICE BY DEVELOPING RELATIONSHIPS AMONG ALL PERSONS AND PROVIDING PROGRAMS THAT BUILD HEALTHY SPIRIT, MIND AND BODY. THE Y PROVIDES FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, TO ALL WHO ARE IN NEED. NO ONE IS TURNED AWAY FOR INABILITY TO PAY.

Income
$27.5 million
Spending
$17.6 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
-10.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 52%
Employees
1,259
Volunteers
1,042
Highest pay
$269,489, 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

Fair: 61 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 23% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 36% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 30% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    28 of 28 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 (4)
  1. $2.5 million spent. THE YMCA'S KID ZONE PROGRAM IS A RECREATION-BASED BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL CARE PROGRAM, SERVING APPROXIMATELY 2,000 CHILDREN, THAT OPERATES IN LOCAL SCHOOLS. THE ULTIMATE PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM IS TO MEET THE YMCA'S MISSION TO HELP THE CHILDREN WE SERVE GROW AND DEVELOP IN SPIRIT, MIND, AND BODY, WHILE SUPPORTING FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND HELPING TO MEET EDUCATIONAL NEEDS. CHILDREN ARE SUPERVISED BY TRAINED YMCA PROFESSIONALS WHO DEVELOP AND DELIVER A PROGRAM COMPRISED OF ACTIVE GAMES, CRAFTS, INDEPENDENT STUDY, AND HOMEWORK HELP. THE YMCA PROVIDES FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO ALL WHO QUALIFY AND COULD NOT OTHERWISE AFFORD CHILDCARE. (EXPENSES $ 8,058,001 INCLUDING GRANTS OF $)(REVENUE $ 7,700,744) ADDITIONAL YMCA PROGRAM OFFERINGS INCLUDE MEMBERSHIP, PRESCHOOL, BIRTHDAY PARTIES, SENIOR ACTIVITIES, AND WELLNESS CLASSES AND OPPORTUNITIES. ALSO INCLUDED IS CERTAIN EXPENSES THAT ARE NOT ALLOCATED TO SPECIFIC PROGRAMS, INCLUDING DEPRECIATION, INTEREST, MEMBERSHIP, AND FACILITY MAINTENANCE.
  2. $2.3 million spent. THE YMCA'S SUMMER DAY CAMP PROGRAM SERVES OVER 1,300 CHILDREN PER SUMMER AND TAKES PLACE IN EIGHT LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY. THE PROGRAM OFFERS CHILDREN A QUALITY SUMMER CAMP EXPERIENCE THAT IS BASED ON THE YMCA CORE VALUES OF CARING, HONESTY, RESPECT, AND RESPONSIBILITY. OUR SUMMER CAMP PROGRAM OFFERS A STRONG FOCUS ON YOUTH CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT, IN A SAFE, NURTURING ENVIRONMENT WHERE CHILDREN LEARN, DEVELOP, AND GROW UNDER THE WATCHFUL SUPERVISION OF TRAINED YMCA PROFESSIONALS. THE YMCA PROVIDES FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO ALL WHO QUALITY AND CANNOT OTHERWISE AFFORD YMCA SERVICES.
  3. $1.8 million spent. THE YMCA OFFERS A DIVERSE SELECTION OF AQUATICS PROGRAMMING FOR ALL AGES, WITH A FOCUS ON SWIM LESSONS AND DROWNING PREVENTION FOR YOUTH, IN WHICH APPROXIMATELY 2,500 CHILDREN PARTICIPATE IN THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. AS WITH ALL PROGRAMS OFFERED, THE PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM IS TO HELP CHILDREN GROW AND DEVELOP IN SPIRIT, MIND, AND BODY THROUGH THE YMCA'S CORE VALUES OF CARING, HONESTY, RESPECT, AND RESPONSIBILITY. CHILDREN ARE TAUGHT THE FUNDAMENTALS OF SWIMMING SKILLS AND WATER SAFETY , WITH AN EMPHASIS ON PERSONAL, PROGRESSIVE DEVELOPMENT, WHILE INSTILLING A LIFE-LONG LOVE OF THE ACTIVITY. THE YMCA PROVIDES FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO ALL CHILDREN WHO QUALIFY AND WOULD OTHERWISE BE UNABLE TO AFFORD TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAMS. (EXPENSES $ 8,058,001 INCLUDING GRANTS OF $)(REVENUE $ 7,700,744) ADDITIONAL YMCA PROGRAM OFFERINGS INCLUDE MEMBERSHIP, PRESCHOOL, BIRTHDAY PARTIES, SENIOR ACTIVITIES, AND WELLNESS CLASSES AND OPPORTUNITIES. ALSO INCLUDED IS CERTAIN EXPENSES THAT ARE NOT ALLOCATED TO SPECIFIC PROGRAMS, INCLUDING DEPRECIATION, INTEREST, MEMBERSHIP, AND FACILITY MAINTENANCE.
  4. $8.1 million spent. ADDITIONAL YMCA PROGRAM OFFERINGS INCLUDE MEMBERSHIP, PRESCHOOL, BIRTHDAY PARTIES, SENIOR ACTIVITIES, AND WELLNESS CLASSES AND OPPORTUNITIES. ALSO INCLUDED IS CERTAIN EXPENSES THAT ARE NOT ALLOCATED TO SPECIFIC PROGRAMS, INCLUDING DEPRECIATION, INTEREST, MEMBERSHIP, AND FACILITY MAINTENANCE.

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 September 1936.

    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.