Young Mens Christian Association of Greater Des Moines
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE Y'S PROGRAMS FOCUS ON IMPROVING PEOPLE'S SPIRITUAL, INTELLECTUAL, AND PHYSICAL WELL-BEING TO SUPPORT PEOPLE AS THEY ACTUALIZE THEIR FULLEST POTENTIAL. THE YMCA SERVES COMMUNITY MEMBERS OF ALL ABILITIES, AGES, CULTURAL BACKGROUNDS, RACES, ETHNICITY, GENDER, GENDER IDENTITY, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, FAITH, IDEOLOGY, INCOME, AND NATIONAL ORIGIN. NO ONE IS TURNED AWAY. WE OFFER FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE WHEN THERE IS A DEMONSTRATED NEED.
- Income
- $16.0 million
- Spending
- $16.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 83%
- Reserves
- -7.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 72%
- Employees
- 869
- Volunteers
- 1,631
- Highest pay
- $205,066, president/ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 48 out of 100.
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 39% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 1% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1583% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 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 2523 of 23 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 August 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. HEALTHY LIVING: THE Y BELIEVES THAT HEALTHY LIVING ENCOMPASSES MULTIPLE FACETS OF HEALTH IN AN INDIVIDUAL AND COMMUNITY CONTEXT, NOT JUST PHYSICAL ACTIVITY. FOLLOWING THE SOCIAL DETERMINATES OF HEALTH, THE Y'S PROGRAMS STRENGTHEN THE HEALTH OF INDIVIDUALS AND THE COMMUNITY. WE PARTNER WITH MANY HEALTH EXPERTS AND PROVIDERS TO OFFER A VAST ARRAY OF HEALTH PROGRAMMING THAT PROMOTES WELLNESS, DISEASE PREVENTION, AND HEALTH MANAGEMENT. IN 2025, THE YMCA OF GREATER DES MOINES ENGAGED OVER 2,800 SENIORS IN ACTIVITIES AT THE Y LIKE OUR ACTIVE OLDER ADULT PROGRAMMING. OUR SILVER SNEAKER PROGRAM PARTNERS WITH INSURERS TO OFFER FREE EXERCISE AND PROGRAMS FOR SENIOR PARTICIPANTS. WE HOST VARIOUS FITNESS CLASSES LIKE YOGA, CYCLING, AND WATER AEROBICS. MANY ACTIVE OLDER ADULTS IN THE E-GYM PROGRAM WHICH ENCOURAGES PEOPLE TO ENGAGE IN HEALTHY PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES IN AN INTERACTIVE GOAL-SETTING FORMAT. FAMILY CONNECTEDNESS IS CRUCIAL FOR ADULT AND YOUTH WELL-BEING AND HEALTH. WE PROVIDE FAMILY-CENTERED PROGRAMMING TO ENCOURAGE FAMILIES TO BRING AND ENGAGE LOVED ONES IN ACTIVITIES TOGETHER. ADDITIONALLY, OUR PROGRAMS FOSTER CONNECTIONS AMONGST PARTICIPANTS TO INSTILL LIFELONG FRIENDSHIPS AND SOCIAL SUPPORT AS PEOPLE WORK TOWARD THEIR PHYSICAL HEALTH GOALS.
- $4.7 million spent. SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY: SINCE 1868, THE YMCA OF GREATER DES MOINES HAS BEEN ADDRESSING AND RESPONDING TO THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY. THE Y UNDERSTANDS THE CHALLENGES THAT KEEP INDIVIDUALS FROM REACHING THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. WE RESPOND WITH SERVICES AND SUPPORT PEOPLE TO BE SELF-RELIANT, PRODUCTIVE, AND CONNECTED TO THE COMMUNITY. WE RESPOND TO THE ISSUES OF THE COMMUNITY THROUGH VARIOUS PROGRAMS THAT FOCUS ON CRITICAL AREAS LIKE CHILDCARE AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, COMMUNITY HEALTH AND WELL-BEING, AND HOUSING FOR THOSE EXPERIENCING OR AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS.THE YMCA OF GREATER DES MOINES ADDRESSES CRITICAL SOCIAL ISSUES THROUGH PROGRAMS LIKE ACTIVE OLDER ADULTS, WHICH IMPROVE SENIORS' SOCIAL CONNECTEDNESS, COGNITIVE, AND PHYSICAL HEALTH. OUR SAFETY AROUND WATER PROGRAM IS A DROWNING PREVENTION PROGRAM THAT TEACHES UNDERSERVED CHILDREN ABOUT WATER SAFETY SO THAT WE ACHIEVE A DROWN-PROOF COMMUNITY. OVER 2,100 YOUTH AND ADULTS LEARNED TO SWIM AT THE Y THIS PAST YEAR. OUTDOOR EDUCATION PROGRAMS AT OUR Y CAMP IN BOONE SERVE CHILDREN FROM DIVERSE COMMUNITIES TO ENGAGE AND CONNECT YOUTH TO NATURE APPRECIATION. OUR Y SUPPORTIVE HOUSING CAMPUS HOUSES INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS WHILE CONNECTING THEM TO SOCIAL SUPPORT AND RESOURCES SO THEY ACHIEVE HOUSING STABILITY AND THRIVE. WE CHAMPION DIVERSITY AT THE Y. OUR PROGRAMS SUPPORT PEOPLE FROM VARIOUS BACKGROUNDS AND ENCOURAGE ALL MEMBERS TO SHARE THEIR VOICES, FOSTER CONNECTION, AND CELEBRATE THE DIVERSITY OF OUR COMMUNITY. THE GENEROSITY OF OTHERS IS AT THE CORE OF THE YMCA'S EXISTENCE. THROUGH THE SUPPORT OF THOUSANDS OF VOLUNTEERS AND PUBLIC AND PRIVATE DONORS, WE CAN MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.
- $357,887 spent. YOUTH DEVELOPMENT: THE YMCA OF GREATER DES MOINES BELIEVES THAT ALL CHILDREN DESERVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCOVER WHO THEY ARE, WHAT THEY CAN ACHIEVE, AND TO UNLOCK THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. AT THE Y, YOUTH HAVE ACCESS TO MANY PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT THEIR ACADEMIC, COGNITIVE, PHYSICAL, AND SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT. THE Y OFFERS EDUCATION AND ENRICHMENT-BASED OUT-OF-SCHOOL-TIME PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT EDUCATIONAL GROWTH WHILE ENGAGING CHILDREN IN ACTIVITIES THAT ENCOURAGE THEM TO LEARN, GROW, AND PLAY. OUR SUMMER LEARNING LOSS PREVENTION PROGRAM ENGAGED LOW-INCOME ELEMENTARY STUDENTS IN 2025 TO IMPROVE THEIR READING AND MATH ABILITY WHILE INSPIRING CHILDREN TO EXPLORE NEW INTERESTS AND SKILLS LIKE STEM, ART, AND SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL ACTIVITIES. YOUTH SPORTS PROGRAMMING LIKE BASKETBALL AND FLAG FOOTBALL LEAGUES INSPIRE TEAMWORK, LEADERSHIP, AND GROWTH OF YOUTH IN OUR COMMUNITY. TEEN LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS LIKE OUR GRIT, Y ACHIEVERS, AND CAMP COUNSELOR IN TRAINING PROGRAMS TEACH TEENS LEADERSHIP SKILLS THAT SET THEM UP FOR SUCCESS AS THEY BECOME YOUNG ADULTS ENTERING COLLEGE/CAREERS. THE YMCA'S YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS BUILD CHILDREN'S SELF-ESTEEM, TEAMWORK, LEADERSHIP SKILLS, AND CURIOSITY TO HELP KIDS GROW AND BECOME HAPPY, HEALTHY, AND SUCCESSFUL ADULTS.IN 2025, THE YMCA OF GREATER DES MOINES ENGAGED THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN FROM INFANCY TO 18. THE Y MAKES SURE THAT EVERY CHILD HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENVISION AND PURSUE A POSITIVE FUTURE FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR COMMUNITY THROUGH PROGRAMS THAT BUILD YOUTH'S CONFIDENCE, BUILD HEALTHY-HABIT FORMATION, AND SUPPORT CHILDREN IN LEARNING ABOUT BECOMING AND STAYING ACTIVE. GIRLS ON THE RUN PROGRAM SUPPORTED MORE THAN 1,600 GIRLS IN UNLOCKING THEIR LIMITLESS POTENTIAL THROUGH A PROGRAM THAT INTEGRATES RUNNING INTO EVIDENCE-BASED SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL ACTIVITIES THAT BUILD CONFIDENCE, CONNECTION, COMPETENCE, AND CHARACTER. YOUTH GAIN CONFIDENCE AS THEY WORK TO ACQUIRE NEW SKILLS LIKE SWIMMING, SCORING POINTS, TEAMWORK, AND POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS THROUGH OUR YOUTH SPORTS PROGRAMS. AT OUR Y CAMP IN BOONE, MORE THAN 2,400 YOUTHS WERE ENROLLED. THESE CHILDREN FORM A SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY WHERE THEY LEARN INDEPENDENT AND GROUP-WORK SKILLS DEDICATED TO LEARNING, EXPERIENCING, AND APPRECIATING NATURE AND ENGAGE IN PHYSICAL, SOCIAL, AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES. ADDITIONALLY, WE ENGAGE YOUTH IN OUR SUMMER LEARNING LOSS PREVENTION PROGRAM AT TWO METRO DES MOINES SCHOOL SITES. A Y AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM IS OPERATED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SCHOOL DISTRICTS AT TWO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SITES LOCATED IN POLK COUNTY, SERVING MORE THAN 120 YOUTH.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 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 August 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 January 1938.
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.