Young Mens Christian Association of Metropolitan Milwaukee
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The Y is the nation's leading nonprofit committed to strengthening communities through Youth Development, Healthy Living and Social Responsibility.
- Income
- $14.5 million
- Spending
- $15.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 82%
- Reserves
- 0.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 82%
- Employees
- 661
- Volunteers
- 145
- Highest pay
- $177,236, 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: 49 out of 100. Higher than 26% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.2 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 28% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 2% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1582% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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 2520 of 21 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
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 (3)
- $8.5 million spent. YOUTH DEVELOPMENT - THE Y IS COMMITTED TO NURTURING THE POTENTIAL OF EVERY CHILD AND TEEN. AT THE Y, YOUTH DEVELOP VALUES AND REFINE SKILLS THAT LEAD TO MORE POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH PEERS, BETTER HEALTH, AND INCREASED EDUCATIONAL SUCCESS. THE Y SERVED MORE THAN 6,100 PRESCHOOLERS, CHILDREN, AND YOUTH. THE BENEFITS OF Y YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS ARE GREATER THAN JUST PHYSICAL HEALTH. BECAUSE OF THE Y, MORE YOUNG PEOPLE IN NEIGHBORHOODS ACROSS MILWAUKEE LEARNED THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING COMMUNITY MINDED AND CIVICALLY ENGAGED IN 2024. THE Y OFFERS EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS AT THE NORTHSIDE Y EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION CENTER. THE Y'S EARLY EDUCATION CENTER AND K4 & K5 WRAP SERVED 140 YOUTH BIRTH-TO-FIVE YEARS OF AGE. THE THE NORTHSIDE LOCATIONS RETAINED ITS FIVE-STAR RATING (THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE) FROM WISCONSIN'S YOUNGSTAR CHILDCARE RATING SYSTEM. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE WAS AVAILABLE FOR THOSE PRESCHOOL FAMILIES WHO COULD NOT AFFORD TO PAY. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O) SERVED 56 INFANTS AND TODDLERS FROM LOW-INCOME FAMILIES THROUGH THE FEDERAL EARLY HEAD START PROGRAM UNDER A SUB-GRANT. OUR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND SCHOOL-AGE PROGRAMS ARE STAFFED WITH PEOPLE WHO UNDERSTAND STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONES AND ENCOURAGE THE OPTIMAL COGNITIVE, PHYSICAL, AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT OF PARTICIPATING CHILDREN AND YOUTH. OUR YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS GIVE PARENTS AND FAMILY MEMBERS THE PEACE OF MIND TO GO TO WORK EACH DAY, KNOWING THEIR CHILDREN WILL KEEP LEARNING AND WILL BE SPENDING TIME IN SAFE, STIMULATING, AND PRODUCTIVE ENVIRONMENTS. THE Y OFTEN IS THE STARTING POINT FOR YOUTH TO LEARN ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF STAYING ACTIVE AND DEVELOPING HEALTHY HABITS: TRAITS THEY'LL PRACTICE AT HOME, IN SCHOOL, AND WITHIN THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITIES. MORE THAN 55 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, MANY FROM MILWAUKEE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, WERE SUPPORTED THROUGH THE ACHIEVERS AND TEEN PROGRAM DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR. CAMP MINIKANI, LOCATED 30 MINUTES AWAY FROM MILWAUKEE, SERVED 2,867 YOUTH IN THE SUMMER ALONG WITH MULTIPE SCHOOL GROUPS IN THE SCHOOL YEAR WHO CAME TO CAMP MINIKANI FOR PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT, ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION, OR TO EXPERIENCE THE MAGIC OF MINIKANI, WHICH CHALLENGES PARTICIPANTS TO GROW THEIR INNER STRENGTH ANDLEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES. OVER THE YEAR, THE Y DISTRIBUTED MORE THAN 100,000 FREE MEALS AND SNACKS TO YOUTH UNDER 18 YEARS OF AGE IN OUR YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS THROUGH THE CHILD AND ADULT CARE FOOD PROGRAM AND THE SUMMER FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM. THE Y HAS DELIVERED 4K WRAP AND SCHOOL AGE EDUCATION PROGRAMMING FOR MORE THAN 25 YEARS. IN THE 2024 SCHOOL YEAR, THE SCHOOL AGE PROGRAM OPERATED 28 LOCATIONS AND SERVED MORE THAN 1,431 YOUTH BEFORE SCHOOL, AFTER SCHOOL, AND DURING BREAKS. AQUATICS PROGRAMMING HELPED MORE THAN 400 YOUTH DEVELOP DROWNING PREVENTION SKILLS OR GAIN BEGINNING, INTERMEDIATE, AND ADVANCED SWIMMING COMPETENCIES. THE Y ALSO HOSTED ACTIVE ADAPTIVE PROGRAMMING FOR 140 CHILDREN OF DIVERSE ABILITIES.
- $3.8 million spent. HEALTHY LIVING - AT THE Y, WE KNOW THAT HEALTHY LIFESTYLES ARE ACHIEVED THROUGH NURTURING MIND, BODY AND SPIRIT. WELL-BEING AND FITNESS AT THE Y ARE SO MUCH MORE THAN JUST WORKING OUT. BEYOND EXERCISE FACILITIES, THE Y PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS TO PROMOTE SMARTER AND HEALTHIER DECISIONS. OUR COMMUNITY INTEGRATED HEALTH PROGRAMS INCREASED ACCESS TO CARE, LOWERED COSTS, IMPROVED PREVENTION AND REDUCTION OF CHRONIC DISEASE, AND REDUCED GAPS IN MILWAUKEE. IN ADDITION, THE Y RUNS PROGRAMS FOR INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS, SUFFERING FROM PARKINSON'S DISEASE, OR DEALING WITH THE AFTER-EFFECTS OF A STROKE. FITNESS CENTER ACTIVITIES, GROUP EXERCISE, HEALTHY LIFESTYLE PROGRAMMING, AND PERSONAL TRAINING OFFER IMPORTANT WAYS FOR PEOPLE OF ANY AGE TO ACHIEVE THEIR PERSONAL HEATH GOALS AND REDUCE SOCIAL ISOLATION BY DEVELOPING BONDS WITH THEIR PEERS. THROUGH PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES LIKE PARENT-CHILD SWIM AND PRESCHOOL CLASSES, AND FAMILY FUN NIGHTS, FAMILIES GROW CLOSER AND MORE CONNECTED. PERSONAL TRAINERS GUIDE AND SUPPORT. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O) THROUGH ACTIVE OLDER ADULTS AND SILVER SNEAKERS, THE Y HELPS SENIORS MAINTAIN A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE AND STRENGTHEN SOCIAL TIES.
- $147,798 spent. SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY - FROM JANUARY TO DECEMBER 2024, THE Y CONTINUED LIVING OUT ITS PROMISE TO CREATE, STRENGTHEN, AND REPLICATE PRACTICES THAT BRING ABOUT GREATER COMMUNITY COHESION, ADDRESS GAPS IN HEALTH OUTCOMES, AND PROMOTE SOCIAL WELL-BEING. OUR CHANGING COMMUNITIES IS REFLECTED AT ALL LEVELS, INCLUDING THE RECRUITMENT OF BOARD LEADERS AND STAFF, AND A VOLUNTEER SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY COMMITTEE PROVIDES INPUT INTO HOW THE Y DELIVERS ON ITS PROMISE. DURING THE YEAR. THE YMCA OF METROPOLITAN MILWAUKEE IS COMMITTED TO POSITIONING THE Y AS A COMMUNITY CONVENER AND COLLABORATOR TO ADDRESS CRITICAL SOCIAL ISSUES. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O) CORPORATE WELLNESS PROGRAMS WERE AN IMPORTANT PART OF THESE AWARENESS BUILDING ACTIVITIES. THE YMCA OF METROPOLITAN MILWAUKEE IS A UNIQUE ORGANIZATION, BECAUSE IT SERVES THE WHOLE FAMILY - FROM INFANTS, SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN, TEENS, YOUNG ADULTS, WORKING PARENTS, AND SENIORS. THE ORGANIZATION'S GOALS ARE TO PROMOTE CIVIC ENGAGEMENT FOR YOUTH, GIVE ACCESS TO ALL FOR HEALTHY LIVING OUTCOMES, AND PRACTICE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY IN GREATER MILWAUKEE. OUR Y ADVANCES TRUE COMMUNITY THROUGHOUT THE METROPOLITAN MILWAUKEE AREA. THE Y BRAND IS A GUIDE FOR HOW WE THINK, ACT, AND COMMUNICATE. OUR Y BEGAN IN MILWAUKEE 166 YEARS AGO, AND WE ACT LOCALLY THOUGH SHAPED BY NATIONAL BEST PRACTICES. MORE THAN $526,000 IN MEMBERSHIP AND PROGRAM SCHOLARSHIPS WERE PROVIDED IN 2024 TO MORE THAN 5,000 MILWAUKEE AREA CHILDREN, FAMILIES, AND ADULTS. MORE THAN 21 POLICY AND 400 PROGRAM VOLUNTEERS SERVED ON OUR EXECUTIVE AND CENTER BOARDS, PROVIDED SUPPORT TO OUR STAFF, OR MENTORED, COACHED, AND GUIDED YOUTH. THE WORK OF THESE VOLUNTEERS HELPED THE Y TO LIVE OUT ITS MISSION AND TO STRENGTHEN THE MILWAUKEE COMMUNITIES AND NEIGHBORHOODS WE SERVE.
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 October 13, 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 November 6, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since September 1942.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 November 4, 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.