Young Mens Christian Association of the Iowa Mississippi Valley
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF THE YMCA IS TO PUT JUDEO-CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLES INTO PRACTICE THROUGH PROGRAMS THAT BUILD HEALTHY SPIRIT, MIND, AND BODY FOR ALL. THE CAUSE OF THE Y IS TO STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY. THIS WORK IS ACHIEVED THROUGH THREE FOCUS AREAS: YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, HEALTHY LIVING AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY.
- Income
- $18.5 million
- Spending
- $14.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 88%
- Reserves
- 10.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 76%
- Employees
- 945
- Volunteers
- 425
- Highest pay
- $276,051, 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
Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 89% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 10.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 7% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 24% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 10% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1588% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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 2539 of 39 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)
- $6.8 million spent. HEALTHY LIVING WITH THREE STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITIES CONSTRUCTED IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS ANCHORING OUR EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE TO MEMBERS OF THE ASSOCIATION AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY, OUR YMCA CONTINUES TO SERVE AS ONE OF THE LEADING ORGANIZATIONS IN OUR REGION. IN 2025, WE PROVIDED SCHOLARSHIPS AND DIFFERENT LEVELS OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO 15,485 TOTAL MEMBERS OUT OF THE OVER 90,000 PEOPLE OF ALL AGES, BACKGROUNDS, SOCIO-ECONOMIC LEVELS AND RELIGIONS WE SERVED THROUGH MEMBERSHIP AND PROGRAMS. SENIOR MEMBERSHIP SUBSIDIES HAVE BECOME AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF OUR SERVICE LINE TO OUR COMMUNITY. ON AVERAGE, WE COVER HALF OF THE MONTHLY CHARGES FOR OLDER ADULTS WHO RECEIVE MEMBERSHIP THROUGH THEIR INSURANCE PROVIDERS. IN 2025, WE PROVIDED DIRECT SUBSIDIES TO 3,635 SENIOR MEMBERS, WHICH INCLUDES COVERAGE TO HEALTH PLANS THAT PROVIDE FEES, TO ENSURE THAT THE OLDER ADULTS OF OUR COMMUNITY HAD A SAFE AND CARING ENVIRONMENT TO BE HEALTHY. A CRUCIAL DRIVER OF MEMBER SATISFACTION IS ACCESS TO UNLIMITED GROUP EXERCISE CLASSES. WE PROVIDED OVER 13,000 TOTAL CLASSES AS OPPORTUNITIES TO JOIN TOGETHER IN PERSON WITH OTHERS. WE HAD OVER 190,000 PARTICIPATIONS IN LAND AND WATER EXERCISE CLASSES. WE ALSO FIND IT TO BE MISSION-CRITICAL THAT WE NOT ONLY SELL MEMBERSHIPS TO FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY, BUT THAT WE ALSO ALIGN OUR MEMBERSHIP DELIVERY TO INCREASE USAGE. A PRIMARY TOOL TO ACCOMPLISH THIS COMPONENT OF OUR MEMBERSHIP IS TO COVER THE COSTS (UP TO $100 PER MEMBER) SO EACH NEW MEMBER WILL RECEIVE TWO SESSIONS OF FACE-TO-FACE COACHING AND TRAINING BY A CERTIFIED TRAINER. OUR DATA SHOWS THAT BY THIS INVESTMENT IN A TRAINER, MEMBERS USAGE INCREASES AND RETENTION NEARLY DOUBLES SO THAT THE MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN OUR COMMUNITY ARE GETTING HEALTHIER BECAUSE OF THE PRESENCE OF OUR Y.
- $5.4 million spent. YOUTH DEVELOPMENT OUR Y BEGAN BY SERVING DISENGAGED YOUTH 167 YEARS AGO, AND THIS REMAINS A MAJOR FOCUS OF OUR COMMUNITY-BUILDING WORK. WE CONTINUE TO BE A LEADER IN QUALITY CHILD CARE AND PRESCHOOL IN THE THREE COUNTIES WE SERVE. 63 STUDENTS IN OUR HIGH-QUALITY CHILDCARE PROGRAM ARE ABLE TO DO SO BECAUSE OF ASSISTANCE FROM A SCHOLARSHIP OR THROUGH DHS FUNDING. OUR CONTINUED FOCUS ON SERVICES TO FAMILIES WITH YOUNG CHILDREN MADE ADDITIONAL IMPACTS IN OUR LOCAL ECONOMY. ALTHOUGH STAFFING LEVELS CONTINUED TO BE A CHALLENGE THAT LIMITED OUR CAPACITY, OUR CHILDCARE AND PRESCHOOL PROGRAMS WERE ABLE TO MAINTAIN OPERATIONS AT TWO EARLY LEARNING CENTERS, WHICH 60% WERE ON A FORM OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. WEEKS THROUGH KINDERGARTEN, AND WE SUCCESSFULLY REPORT THAT 100% OF OUR PARTICIPANTS GRADUATED PRESCHOOL AND TESTED "READY FOR KINDERGARTEN" WHICH IS A KEY INDICATOR IN EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES FOR A STUDENT'S LIFE. AS SOCIAL EMOTIONAL STRESS AND NEGATIVE BEHAVIORS CONTINUED TO CREATE OBSTACLES FOR STUDENTS AND STAFF IN OUR SCHOOLS, THE NEED FOR THE YMCA OUTREACH PROGRAMS HAVE BECOME MORE CRITICAL THAN EVER. INCREASED BURDENS ARE BEING PLACED ON EDUCATORS AND THE JUVENILE JUSTICE PROGRAM, TEAMS, AND THE YMCA OUTREACH PROGRAM IS PERFECTLY SUITED TO CONNECT AND ENGAGE STUDENTS, YOUNG ADULTS, AND FAMILIES TO THE MANY HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICE PROVIDERS AVAILABLE. THE Y'S OUTREACH PROGRAM IS LED BY ONE FULL-TIME PROFESSIONAL WHO HAS EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE IN EDUCATION. THEIR LIVED EXPERIENCES COMPARE WELL TO WHAT THE AT-RISK STUDENTS AND FAMILIES ARE EXPERIENCING, WHICH ENABLES THEM TO QUICKLY BUILD RELATIONSHIPS, GAIN TRUST, SET GOALS, PROVIDE INCENTIVES AND HOLD ACCOUNTABLE PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS. THE OUTCOMES WE MEASURE FOR PARTICIPANTS IN ACHIEVERS RELATE TO THEIR PERFORMANCE AT SCHOOL, WHICH INCLUDE 75% OF PARTICIPANTS IMPROVING GRADES, 72% IMPROVING ATTENDANCE, 90% OF AGE/GRADE LEVEL-APPROPRIATE PARTICIPANTS GRADUATING OR GETTING THEIR GED, OVER 70% IMPROVING TEST SCORES, ALMOST EVERY STUDENT IMPROVES SOCIAL EMOTIONAL HEALTH AND COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP. OUR YMCA, WITH STAFF LEADERSHIP AND DONOR SUPPORT, WAS ABLE TO OFFER SAFE SUMMER CAMP PROGRAMS AT SEVEN LOCATIONS, INCLUDING YMCA CAMP ABE LINCOLN, OUR 250-ACRE NATURE PROGRAMMING AREA. WE HAD 1,018 PARTICIPANTS IN DAY CAMPS AT YMCA CAMP ABE LINCOLN, AND YOUTH SPORTS CONTINUES TO BE A CRUCIAL COMPONENT OF OUR MISSION-DRIVEN PROGRAM LINE. IN TOTAL 7,352 YOUTH PARTICIPANTS USED SPORTS PROGRAMS AT OUR YMCA TO LEARN CONFIDENCE AND SOCIAL SKILLS, AS WELL AS BEGINNING HEALTHY HABITS THAT ARE INTENDED TO STAY WITH THEM FOR LIFE. WE ALSO BUILT CONNECTION AND ENGAGEMENT AND SAFE SWIMMING WITH 3,642 SWIM LESSONS. YOUNG KIDS ALSO INTERACTED AND PLAYED TOGETHER SIX DAYS A WEEK WITH ALMOST 43,102 VISITS TO OUR CHILD WATCH CENTERS IN OUR BRANCH FACILITIES.
- $88,384 spent. SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY VOLUNTEERS, DONORS AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT CONTINUE TO DRIVE OUR CHARITABLE MISSION FORWARD. TOGETHER, OUR COMMUNITY RESOURCES ENSURE THAT NO ONE IS TURNED AWAY DUE TO AN INABILITY TO PAY AS WE MAINTAIN OUR BRAND PROMISE OF SERVICE TO ALL. ONE OF THE BEST INDICATORS OF THE SUPPORT WE PROVIDE TO OUR LOCAL CHILDREN, ADULTS, FAMILIES AND SENIORS IS THE AMOUNT OF DIRECT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. IN 2025, WE PROVIDED $2.1MILLION THAT PROVIDED IMMEDIATE OPPORTUNITIES TO THOSE IN NEED. OUR ANNUAL FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN ENSURES WE CAN PROVIDE THE LEVEL OF ASSISTANCE REQUIRED BY THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY. IN 2025, 1,777 DONORS PROVIDED $1,130,343 IN PLEDGES AND DONATIONS. FOR 167 YEARS, VOLUNTEERS HAVE LED OUR YMCA TO ENSURE WE ARE ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY APPROPRIATELY, PRIORITIZING CHALLENGES, AND SETTING THE BEST STRATEGIC AGENDA. BOTH OUR CORPORATE YMCA, AND OUR BRANCHES, HAVE THEIR OWN VOLUNTEER LEADERSHIP TEAMS. WE WORK TO ENSURE THESE BOARDS ARE REFLECTIONS OF THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE, AND COVER A SPECTRUM OF LEADERS FROM DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF BUSINESS, EDUCATION, NONPROFIT AND FAITH-BASED COMMUNITIES.
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 July 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.