Gateway Region Young Mens Christian Association
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
SEE SCHEDULE O
- Income
- $84.0 million
- Spending
- $83.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 85%
- Reserves
- -1.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 84%
- Employees
- 4,475
- Volunteers
- 2,908
- Highest pay
- $580,841, 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: 62 out of 100. Higher than 48% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 13% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 3% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1585% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 30 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 2530 of 30 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 (4)
- $36.7 million spent. THE Y IS COMMITTED TO IMPROVING AMERICA'S HEALTH AND WELL-BEING. WE BRING FAMILIES CLOSER TOGETHER, ENCOURAGE GOOD HEALTH AND FOSTER CONNECTIONS THROUGH FITNESS, SPORTS, FUN AND SHARED INTERESTS. FOR EXAMPLE, IN 2025, MORE THAN 3,300 PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY PARTICIPATED IN PERSONAL TRAINING PROGRAMS TO ACHIEVE GREATER HEALTH IN SPIRIT, MIND AND BODY. MORE THAN 21,600 SWIM LESSONS WERE GIVEN, TEACHING MANY CHILDREN AND ADULTS VALUABLE WATER SAFETY AND SWIMMING SKILLS. THE Y'S SIZE AND REACH AS A VITAL COMMUNITY ASSET UNIQUELY POSITIONS THE ORGANIZATION TO BRIDGE THE GAP IN THE DELIVERY OF SWIM LESSONS AND WATER SAFETY EDUCATION. ALSO, 21,000 PARTICIPANTS TOOK PART IN OUR YOUTH SPORTS PROGRAMS WHERE THEY GAINED CONFIDENCE AND LEARNED NEW SKILLS. OUR SERVICES INCLUDE PROVIDING EVIDENCE-BASED PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT PEOPLE IN CHANGING THEIR LIFESTYLES, FIGHTING CHRONIC DISEASES, MANAGING STRESS LEVELS AND ADOPTING FITNESS AND NUTRITION BEHAVIORS. FOR EXAMPLE, CLOSE TO 250 INDIVIDUALS PARTICIPATED IN A 12-MONTH, GROUP-BASED PROGRAM TO ENCOURAGE BEHAVIORAL CHANGE TO REDUCE THE RISK FOR DIABETES, WHILE MORE THAN 2,000 INDIVIDUALS PARTICIPATED IN EVIDENCE-BASED PROGRAMS COMBINING BLOOD PRESSURE SELF-MONITORING, NUTRITION EDUCATION SEMINARS, AND PERSONALIZED SUPPORT. ADDITIONALLY, LIVESTRONG AT THE YMCA ALLOWED 181 SURVIVORS TO PARTICIPATE IN A FREE 12-WEEK WELLNESS PROGRAM FOR ADULT CANCER SURVIVORS. AS AN EXAMPLE OF THE ARRAY OF PROGRAMS OFFERED THROUGH THE Y, 436 ADULTS ATTENDED MENTAL HEALTH WORKSHOPS HOSTED AT THE Y TO HELP ESTABLISH HEALTHY HABITS IN SUPPORT OF THEIR MENTAL HEALTH AND THAT OF THEIR CHILDREN, AND TO BE A MORE RESPONSIVE CAREGIVER. OUR PROGRAMS ARE ACCESSIBLE, AFFORDABLE AND OPEN TO ALL BACKGROUNDS, ABILITIES AND INCOME LEVELS. IN 2025, WE PROVIDED $2.5 MILLION IN FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO PEOPLE WHO OTHERWISE MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO AFFORD TO PARTICIPATE. FOR MORE THAN 25 YEARS, OUR Y HAS PROVIDED AN INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENT WHERE MEMBERS AND PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS OF ALL ABILITIES ARE ABLE TO TAKE PART EQUALLY. IN FACT, OUR Y IS ONE OF THE FEW IN THE COUNTRY TO HAVE A FULLY OPERATIONAL INCLUSION AND ADAPTIVE SUPPORT SERVICES DEPARTMENT WITH THE OVERALL GOAL OF "CONNECTING ALL ABILITIES." IN 2025, WE SERVED 1,521 CHILDREN AND ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES THROUGH FITNESS, CAMPS, CHILDCARE, SWIMMING AND OTHER PROGRAMS.
- $28.4 million spent. WITH YOUTH DEVELOPMENT AS ONE OF THE Y'S CORE FOCUS AREAS, THE Y PROVIDES A PLACE WHERE YOUTH CAN COME TO CULTIVATE THE SKILLS AND RELATIONSHIPS THAT LEAD TO POSITIVE BEHAVIORS, BETTER HEALTH, AND LIFELONG SUCCESS-AND HAVE FUN DOING IT. THE Y DOES JUST THAT THROUGH ITS SUMMER CAMP PROGRAMS. IN 2025, THE Y'S DAY CAMP PROGRAM WELCOMED 6,392 CAMP PARTICIPANTS, WHILE YMCA CAMP LAKEWOOD OVERNIGHT CAMP WELCOMED 1,666 YOUTH, ALLOWING YOUNG CAMPERS TO DISCOVER HIDDEN TALENTS, GAIN SELF-ESTEEM AND ACQUIRE NEW SKILLS IN A SAFE AND FUN ENVIRONMENT. IN ADDITION, YMCA TROUT LODGE HAS LONG BEEN A DESTINATION FOR FAMILIES TO RECONNECT, CREATE NEW MEMORIES AND DISCOVER THE JOY OF EMBRACING THE SIMPLE PLEASURES OF NATURE.
- $4.5 million spent. AS PART OF THE Y'S YOUTH DEVELOPMENT FOCUS, THE Y CLUB BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL CHILD CARE PROGRAM IS HELD IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND ENGAGES STUDENTS IN PHYSICAL, LEARNING AND IMAGINATIVE ACTIVITIES THAT ENCOURAGE THEM TO EXPLORE WHO THEY ARE AND WHAT THEY CAN ACHIEVE. IN 2025, THE ASSOCIATION OFFERED PROGRAMS AT 76 Y CLUBS SERVING 2,383 PARTICIPANTS. IN ADDITION, THROUGH FOUR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION CENTERS, THE Y SERVED 255 PARTICIPANTS.
- $1.4 million spent. OUR Y IS COMMITTED TO NURTURING THE POTENTIAL OF EVERY CHILD AND TEEN. WE BELIEVE ALL KIDS HAVE GREAT POTENTIAL AND DESERVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCOVER WHO THEY ARE AND WHAT THEY CAN ACHIEVE. THAT'S WHY WE HELP YOUNG PEOPLE CULTIVATE THE VALUES, SKILLS AND RELATIONSHIPS THAT LEAD TO POSITIVE BEHAVIORS, BETTER HEALTH AND EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT.AS PART OF OUR YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS, THE GATEWAY REGION Y PROVIDES ACADEMIC PROGRAMS TO ENSURE THAT ALL YOUTH GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL READY FOR THE NEXT STEP IN THEIR LIVES. IN 2025, WE PROVIDED ONE-ON-ONE READING TUTORING TO 136 YOUTH AND ADULTS. PARTICIPATING YOUTH EXPERIENCE A TWO-GRADE LEVEL GROWTH AVERAGE PER YEAR. WE ALSO HAD 1,344 YOUTH PARTICIPATE IN STEAM (SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, ARTS, MATH) PROGRAMS, ENGAGING IN ACTIVITIES THAT NURTURE THEIR CURIOSITY, INSPIRE CREATIVITY, AND CULTIVATE THE ENGINEERING MINDSET. OUR PROGRAMS ARE LED BY INSTRUCTORS WHO ARE OFTEN WORKING IN STEAM FIELDS. OUR YOUTH AND GOVERNMENT (YAG) PROGRAM PROVIDED 340 STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS AND DEVELOP THE LEADERSHIP SKILLS NEEDED TO BECOME CITIZENS OF A PARTICIPATORY SOCIETY. NEW IN 2025, ELEVEN HIGH SCHOOL JUNIORS PARTICIPATED IN THE INAUGURAL GATEWAY REGION YMCA JUNIOR LEADERSHIP PROGRAM, AN EXPERIENTIAL LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE MEANT TO TEACH YOUTH IN THE ST. LOUIS METRO AREA WHAT IT MEANS TO BE AN INFORMED, CIVICALLY-ENGAGED LEADER WITHIN THE NON-PROFIT AND PUBLIC SECTORS.OUR Y BELIEVES IN GIVING BACK AND SUPPORTING OUR NEIGHBORS, AND ONE WAY WE DO THAT IS BY PROVIDING HEALTH ACCESS TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE. THE GATEWAY REGION YMCA MAINTAINS COMMUNITY GARDENS THAT CONTRIBUTE PRODUCE TO THE SURROUNDING AREAS THEY SERVE.LEADING INTO THE THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY, OUR Y COLLECTED 21,458 CANS OF FOOD THAT WERE DONATED TO AREA FOOD BANKS TO HELP THOSE IN NEED. OUR Y BRANCHES ALSO COLLECTED GIFTS FOR MORE THAN 1,000 FAMILIES IN NEED DURING OUR ANGEL TREE COMMUNITY COLLECTION CAMPAIGN.THE GATEWAY REGION YMCA WORLD SERVICE PROGRAM WORKS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH YS IN UKRAINE, BELIZE, BRAZIL, COLOMBIA, AND SOUTH AFRICA. CONTRIBUTIONS GIVEN TO OUR INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS ARE USED TO SUPPORT YOUTH-LED SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP, HEALTH EDUCATION AND TRAINING, CLIMATE CHANGE ACTION AND OTHER CIVIC ENGAGEMENT INITIATIVES THAT POSITION YOUNG PEOPLE TO LEAD THE CHANGE IN THEIR 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 October 13, 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 December 1937.
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 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.