The West Cook Ymcas Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Only 42% of its spending went to programs.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
THE WEST COOK YMCA, ROOTED IN JUDEO-CHRISTIAN TRADITION, IS DEDICATED TO DEVELOPING THE SPIRIT-MIND-BODY OF ALL PERSONS, THROUGH QUALITY LEADERSHIP, PROGRAMS AND SERVICES, IN COOPERATION WITH COMMUNITY GROUPS FOR THE COMMON GOOD.
- Income
- $3.1 million
- Spending
- $3.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 42%
- Reserves
- -3.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 71%
- Employees
- 60
- Volunteers
- 8
- Highest pay
- $136,279, wcymca 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: 18 out of 100.
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 40% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 34% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1542% 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: 93 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 258 of 8 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
0 of 7Reports no 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, 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)
- $349,557 spent. YOUTH AND FAMILY DEVELOPMENT: OUR YMCA IS COMMITTED TO NURTURING THE POTENTIAL OF EVERY CHILD THROUGH COGNITIVE, PHYSICAL, AND SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT. IN ALL OUR YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS, WE STRIVE TO HELP EACH CHILD ACHIEVE A GREATER SENSE OF WELLBEING: SPECIFICALLY, IN THE AREAS OF SENSE OF BELONGING, ACHIEVEMENT, AND RELATIONSHIPS. WE BELIEVE THAT THESE THREE ELEMENTS ARE VITAL TO A YOUNG PERSON'S DEVELOPMENT AND CHARACTER AND CAN HELP THEM BE THE BEST VERSION OF THEMSELVES. OUR GOAL IS THAT THROUGH OUR RANGE OF PROGRAMS WE CAN SUPPORT YOUTH IN THEIR DEVELOPMENT PROGRESS. WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH THIS THROUGH OUR PROGRAMS AND PARTNERSHIPS. IN 2025, WE CONTINUED OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH SCHOOL DISTRICT D90 TO PROVIDE THE SIGNATURE PROGRAM AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM AND ENRICHMENT PROGRAM POWER SCHOLARS ACADEMY. THESE PROGRAMS SUPPORT SCHOLARS YEAR-ROUND TO ENSURE THEIR LEARNING IS SUPPORTED, PROVIDE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD SEL SKILLS, THE SUMMER PROGRAM SPECIFICALLY WORKS ON PREVENTING THE SUMMER LEARNING LOSS AIMED AT IMPROVING STUDENTS' ACADEMICS IN MATH AND LITERACY. IN THE SCHOOL YEAR, WE LAUNCHED OUR ADDITIONAL CLASSROOMS FOR THE SIGNATURE AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM, AN EVIDENCE-BASED PROGRAM AIMED AT PARTNERING WITH SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE ACADEMIC, SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL, AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY SUPPORT WITHIN THE SCHOOLS. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR NEIGHBORING SCHOOL DISTRICTS, WE WERE ABLE TO LAUNCH OUR SCHOOL'S OUT SPECIALS PROGRAM IN THE FALL TO PROVIDE CHILDCARE SERVICES FOR PARENTS WHO STILL NEED TO WORK WHILE THEIR KIDS WERE OUT OF SCHOOL FOR K-5TH GRADE STUDENTS.
- $127,183 spent. RESIDENCE PROGRAM: SINGLE-ROOM OCCUPANCY (SRO) UNITS HAVE SERVED A CRITICAL NEED OF PROVIDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR LOW-INCOME AND FORMERLY HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS FOR OVER A HUNDRED YEARS. SROS ARE INDIVIDUAL UNITS WITH SHARED BATHROOM FACILITIES. THE SROS ARE CRITICAL ASSETS WHICH PROVIDE PREVENTATIVE SERVICES FOR RESIDENTS TO MAINTAIN HOUSING AND STAVE OFF POVERTY AND/OR THE POTENTIAL LOSS OF EMPLOYMENT. MOST INDIVIDUALS THAT SEEK OUT SRO HOUSING HAVE INCOMES AT OR BELOW THE POVERTY LINE. THE WEST COOK YMCA IS THE ONLY SINGLE-ROOM OCCUPANCY PROGRAM IN THE WESTERN SUBURBS. IT ADDRESSES THE NEED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE OAK PARK AREA. AS A RESULT OF THIS PROGRAM, INDIVIDUALS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ACCESS AFFORDABLE HOUSING SO THAT THEY CAN EXPLORE MORE SUSTAINABLE/INDEPENDENT HOUSING. RESIDENTS ALSO HAVE ACCESS TO WELLNESS BENEFITS. IN 2025, THE WCY DID NOT ONBOARD NEW RESIDENTS WHILE WE FOCUSED ON MAINTAINING THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF OUR CURRENT RESIDENTS.
- $433,249 spent. MEMBERSHIP - THE MEMBERSHIP DEPARTMENT IS THE GATEWAY TO THE Y, AS THEY ARE THE FIRST TO INTERACT WITH OUR CURRENT AND PROSPECTIVE MEMBERS. THE MEMBER ENGAGEMENT TEAM SERVES THE MEMBER BY HELPING THEM NAVIGATE THE Y'S SERVICES AND PROGRAMS TO BEST FIT THEIR NEEDS. WE ENSURE ALL FEEL WELCOMED, CONNECTED, AND ENGAGED AT THE Y. TEAM MEMBERS LISTEN AND UNDERSTAND THE COLLECTIVE NEEDS OF OUR MEMBERSHIP AND ADVOCATE ON THEIR BEHALF SO THAT THE Y IS ALWAYS STRIVING TO BEST ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY THROUGH PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THAT HELP CHANGE THE BEHAVIORS OF INDIVIDUALS AS THEY ACHIEVE THEIR HEALTH AND WELLNESS GOALS. IT IS THROUGH MEMBERSHIP THAT INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES HAVE ACCESS NOT ONLY TO THE Y FACILITY BUT TO THE MANY COMPLIMENTARY PROGRAMS AND AMENITIES AVAILABLE TO THEM.
- $400,649 spent. HEALTHY LIVING: THE Y IS A LEADING VOICE ON HEALTH AND WELL-BEING AS WELL AS THE INVENTOR OF GROUP SWIMMING LESSONS. WE BELIEVE THAT EVERY CHILD DESERVES TO KNOW HOW TO SWIM, AND HOW TO BE SAFE AROUND WATER. AQUATIC ACTIVITIES ARE HIGHLY EFFECTIVE METHODS OF SUPPORTING HEALTHY LIFESTYLES AND A GREAT SOURCE OF EXERCISE. OUR SWIMMING AND AQUATICS PROGRAMS NOT ONLY PROVIDE LIFE-SAVING WATER SKILLS TO YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULTS, BUT THEY ALSO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES TO GAIN SELF-CONFIDENCE AND BUILD A FOUNDATION IN PHYSICAL SKILLS WHICH CAN SUPPORT A PERSONAL HEALTH PROGRAM THAT CAN BE MAINTAINED AT ALL AGES AND FITNESS LEVELS FOR A LIFETIME ALL WHILE HAVING FUN IN THE WATER. BOTH YOUTH AND ADULTS GAIN A TREMENDOUS SENSE OF SELF CONFIDENCE AND SELF-WORTH WHEN LEARNING TO SWIM OR IMPROVING AQUATIC SKILLS. THE Y'S AREA OF FOCUS IS YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, HEALTHY LIVING, AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY. IN 2025, THE Y CONTINUED TO OFFER SWIMMING LESSONS AND COMPLIMENTARY DROWNING PREVENTION PROGRAMS. WE ALSO CONTINUE TO GROW THE COMPETITIVE SWIM TEAM AND THEY WERE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN SWIM MEETS DURING THE SEASONS. WE ALSO RE-LAUNCHED OUR IN-PERSON CHRONIC DISEASE PROGRAMMING INCLUDING OUR DIABETES PREVENTION PROGRAM AIMED AT CHANGING THE LIFESTYLE OF INDIVIDUALS AND REDUCING THEIR RISK FACTORS FOR DEVELOPING TYPE 2 DIABETES, WEIGHT LOSS PROGRAM, AND BLOOD PRESSURE SELF-MONITORING PROGRAM.
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 December 1944.
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.
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