Young Mens Christian Association of Metropolitan Atlanta Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE YMCA OF METROPOLITAN ATLANTA, INC., REFLECTING ITS JUDEO-CHRISTIAN HERITAGE, IS AN ASSOCIATION OF VOLUNTEERS, MEMBERS AND STAFF OPEN TO AND SERVING ALL, PROVIDING PROGRAMS AND SERVICES WHICH DEVELOP SPIRIT, MIND AND BODY. THE Y'S VISION IS TO BE THE ORGANIZATION IN METRO ATLANTA RECOGNIZED FOR BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER TO CHAMPION COMMUNITIES WHERE EVERYONE BELONGS. WE BELIEVE ALL PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY CHILDREN, DESERVE AN EQUAL CHANCE TO REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL AND SHOULD PREPARE THEMSELVES TO CONNECT TO AND SERVE COMMUNITY. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IS AVAILABLE BASED ON NEED. THE YMCA ACTIVELY SEEKS TO IDENTIFY AND INVOLVE THOSE IN NEED. IN ALL OF OUR CORE PROGRAMS, WE ARE DEDICATED TO USING A RESEARCH-TO-PRACTICE MODEL WHERE WE STRIVE TO MAKE A MEANINGFUL IMPACT IN HEALTH, EDUCATION AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, AND WE MEASURE THE IMPACT IN THOSE AREAS.
- Income
- $121.2 million
- Spending
- $137.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 82%
- Reserves
- -8.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 60%
- Employees
- 3,993
- Volunteers
- 3,500
- Highest pay
- $503,078, chief executive officer
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 44 out of 100. Higher than 19% of charities in its peer group (human services, over $100m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 31% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 13% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 3% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1582% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 10% of charities in its peer group (human services, over $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2542 of 42 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
0 of 10Did not give 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, 2024, 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)
- $69.0 million spent. HEALTHY LIVING AND WELL-BEING: THE YMCA OF METRO ATLANTA BEGAN IN 1858 WITH A VISION TO CREATE AN ORGANIZATION THAT WOULD WELCOME INDIVIDUALS AS THEY CAME TO ATLANTA AND PROVIDE A SAFE PLACE FOR GROWTH, COMMUNITY, AND FAITH. OVER THE YEARS, THE Y HAS GROWN TO MEET THE CITY'S NEEDS, TODAY SERVING HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF INDIVIDUALS THROUGH NUMEROUS MEMBERSHIP BRANCHES AND PROGRAM SITES ACROSS GREATER ATLANTA. SERVING THE ATLANTA METROPOLITAN REGION FOR MORE THAN 160 YEARS, THE Y HAS BEEN AN ESSENTIAL COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION, OFFERING HEALTH AND WELLBEING OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHILDREN, TEENS, ADULTS, AND SENIORS TO LEARN, GROW, SERVE, AND THRIVE. BY PROVIDING HIGH-QUALITY PROGRAMS THAT HISTORICALLY ENGAGED 250,000 CHILDREN, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES THROUGH EVERY STAGE OF DEVELOPMENT, THE Y STRENGTHENS INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES THROUGH EDUCATION, WELLNESS, AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, ESPECIALLY IN OUR CITY'S MOST UNDER-RESOURCED COMMUNITIES. THE YMCA OF METRO ATLANTA CONTINUES TO LEVERAGE PARTNERSHIPS TO DELIVER AND EXPAND EXISTING HUNGER RELIEF EFFORTS TO SUPPORT MORE THAN 8,000 FAMILIES WEEKLY, WITH MANY PEOPLE SERVED NOT HAVING ANY PREVIOUS AFFILIATION WITH THE Y. IN ADDITION TO LEVERAGING FACILITIES FOR DRIVE-THROUGH MEAL PICK-UP PROGRAMS, THE Y TOOK FOOD OUT TO THE COMMUNITY-TO MOBILE HOME PARKS, LOW-INCOME APARTMENT COMPLEXES, SENIOR HIGH RISES, AND EXTENDED STAY HOTELS THROUGHOUT METRO ATLANTA. Y FACILITIES, PROGRAM SITES, AND CAMP LOCATIONS SERVED AS FOOD DISTRIBUTION AND PACKING CENTERS, AND DEPOTS FOR MOBILE MEALS. IN TOTAL, WE PROVIDED NEARLY 510,000 MUCH-NEEDED MEALS AND SNACKS IN 2024. THE POSITIVE COMMUNITY IMPACT OF THE YMCA OF METRO ATLANTA'S PROGRAMS IS DEPENDENT UPON OUR ABILITY TO ENGAGE THOSE WITH THE GREATEST NEEDS. THE WHY IT MATTERS ANNUAL CAMPAIGN ALLOWS US TO MEET THIS GOAL BY PROVIDING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO ENSURE CHILDREN, ADULTS, AND FAMILIES-REGARDLESS OF BACKGROUND, ZIP CODE, OR ABILITY TO PAY-HAVE ACCESS TO Y FACILITIES AND PROGRAMS. FOR PROGRAM ENROLLMENT, WE WORK WITH MEMBERS, COMMUNITY LEADERS, AND PARTNERS TO DELIVER OUR PROGRAMS. SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES ARE REGULARLY SHARED ON COMMUNITY MESSAGE BOARDS AND GATHERINGS TO BROADEN OUR REACH AND TO ENSURE THOSE LESS FAMILIAR WITH OUR PROGRAMS LEARN ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE AT LITTLE OR NO COST. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IS AWARDED ON A SLIDING SCALE BASED ON INCOME, NUMBER OF DEPENDENTS, AND OTHER FACTORS. ALL Y FACILITIES ALLOCATE SUPPORT IN THIS MANNER, AS OVERSEEN BY BRANCH EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP. ADDITIONALLY, WE ENGAGE UNDER-RESOURCED COMMUNITIES THROUGH WATER SAFETY INITIATIVES AND HUNGER RELIEF PROGRAMS.
- $23.3 million spent. SCHOOL READINESS & YOUTH DEVELOPMENT: THE Y IS ONE OF THE LARGEST PROVIDERS OF EARLY LEARNING IN ATLANTA, HISTORICALLY SERVING APPROXIMATELY 3,000 CHILDREN, AGES SIX WEEKS TO FOUR YEARS OLD. NOT ONLY IS THE YS REACH BROAD, BUT THE YS PROGRAMS ARE BEST-IN-CLASS. THIS INITIATIVE IS ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH A FLEXIBLE, FOUR-PRONGED APPROACH: HEAD START AND EARLY HEAD START PROGRAMMING; GEORGIA PRE-KINDERGARTEN, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEMS; TRADITIONAL FEE-FOR-SERVICE PRESCHOOLS, SUBSIDIZED BY SCHOLARSHIPS; AND EARLY LEARNING READINESS, AND MOBILE PRESCHOOLS DESIGNED TO ENGAGE THOSE NOT SERVED BY MORE TRADITIONAL LEARNING MODELS. WHILE THE Y OF METRO ATLANTA DEPLOYS DIFFERENT MODELS FOR DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES AND ACCORDING TO AVAILABLE FUNDING AND SPACE, THEY ALL SHARE A COMMON PHILOSOPHY OF PREPARING CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES FOR KINDERGARTEN WITH PROVEN, RESEARCH-BASED METHODS. OUR EARLY LEARNING PROGRAM'S GOAL IS TO PREPARE OUR YOUNGEST LEARNERS FOR KINDERGARTEN AND LONG-TERM ACADEMIC SUCCESS THROUGH ACCESS TO HIGHLY TRAINED TEACHERS, RESEARCH-BASED CURRICULUM AND DYNAMIC LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS. TO ACHIEVE THIS GOAL, THE Y OF METRO ATLANTA HAS INTEGRATED THE FOLLOWING SIGNATURE EARLY LEARNING PROGRAMS: - READ RIGHT FROM THE START, CREATED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ATLANTA SPEECH SCHOOL, IS A PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOCUSED ON BUILDING THE LANGUAGE AND LITERACY TEACHING SKILLS OF EARLY LEARNING TEACHERS. IT ENRICHES Y EARLY LEARNING PROGRAMS WITH RESEARCH-BASED TRAINING AND PRACTICE-BASED COACHING AND MENTORING. - RECOGNIZING THAT EARLY EXPOSURE TO SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, ART, AND MATH (STEAM) IS CRITICAL TO HELPING CHILDREN DEVELOP SKILLS THROUGH EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING, THE Y'S EARLY LEARNING CURRICULUM IS INFUSED WITH STEAM CONCEPTS AND ACTIVITIES. THROUGH DEDICATED STEAM EXPERIENCES AND A DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE CURRICULUM, CHILDREN WILL LEARN THE SKILLS THEY NEED TO BECOME FUTURE STEAM LEADERS. - EARLY LEARNERS ALSO BENEFIT FROM START FOR LIFE, A RESEARCH-BASED WELLNESS PROGRAM DESIGNED TO ADDRESS THE ACTIVITY LEVELS OF PRESCHOOLERS DURING PLANNED PLAY TIME. THE PROGRAM DEVELOPS GROSS MOTOR SKILL MOVEMENT AND TEACHES CHILDREN TO MAKE HEALTHY CHOICES THROUGH POSITIVE SELF-MANAGEMENT SKILLS. THE YMCA OF METRO ATLANTA CHILDCARE AND EARLY LEARNING PROGRAMS ENGAGED APPROXIMATELY 3,000 YOUNG CHILDREN IN 2024.
- $19.7 million spent. AFTERSCHOOL & DAY CAMP: ALL OUT OF SCHOOL ACTIVITIES HAVE AN INTENTIONAL FOCUS OF FOSTERING SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT. CHILDREN AND YOUTH CAN TRY NEW ACTIVITIES AND EXPLORE IDEAS IN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT, SET AND MANAGE GOALS, AND BUILD UPON THEIR DEVELOPING PASSIONS. FOR EXAMPLE, ON THE ROPES COURSE, STUDENTS WORK TOGETHER AS A TEAM TO CHALLENGE AND SUPPORT EACH OTHER TO COMPLETE COURSE ELEMENTS. THROUGH GROUP ACTIVITIES, YOUTH BUILD SELF-AWARENESS, IMPROVE COMMUNICATIONS, AND LEARN CRITICAL RELATIONSHIP SKILLS. COUNSELORS GUIDE TEENS THROUGH SELF-REFLECTIVE CONVERSATIONS, ASK INTROSPECTIVE QUESTIONS AND ENCOURAGE THEM TO THINK ABOUT THEIR STRENGTHS AND AREAS FOR GROWTH WITHOUT JUDGMENT. AS A RESULT, CHILDREN AND TEENS IN Y OUT OF SCHOOL PROGRAMS GAIN THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS TO DEVELOP HEALTHY IDENTITIES, MANAGE EMOTIONS, EXPERIENCE AND SHOW EMPATHY FOR OTHERS, ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN SUPPORTIVE RELATIONSHIPS, AND MAKE RESPONSIBLE AND CARING DECISIONS. THE Y HAS PROVIDED HIGH-QUALITY AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS SINCE THE LATE 1970S. THESE PROGRAMS BEGAN AS A SAFE PLACE FOR CHILDREN TO GO DURING THE CRITICAL HOURS BETWEEN WHEN THE SCHOOL DAY ENDS AND WHEN THE TYPICAL WORKDAY ENDS. CURRENTLY AT MORE THAN 50 SCHOOLS ACROSS 8 SCHOOL SYSTEMS, THE YMCA OF METRO ATLANTA WORKS CLOSELY WITH SCHOOL PERSONNEL AND SCHOOL DISTRICT LEADERSHIP TO ENSURE OUR AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS MEET THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF STUDENTS AND PROVIDE PROGRAMMING THAT IS ADDITIVE, NOT DUPLICATIVE, WITH THE SCHOOL-DAY CURRICULUM. IN ADDITION TO HOMEWORK ASSISTANCE, WE PROVIDED HANDS-ON STEAM LEARNING, HEALTHY SNACKS, AND OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES TO OVER 10,000 STUDENTS IN 2024. AT 19 SUMMER DAY CAMP SITES AND TWO RESIDENTS CAMPS ACROSS THE GREATER ATLANTA AREA, THE Y REACHED OVER 5,700 YOUTH IN 2024, ENGAGING THEM IN FUN ACTIVITIES THAT DEVELOP VALUES, LEADERSHIP SKILLS, AND LIFE SKILLS, WHILE CREATING LASTING FRIENDSHIPS AND MEMORIES. FOCUSING ON SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT, YMCA OF METRO ATLANTA DAY CAMP ALSO PROVIDES AN EXCITING, SAFE COMMUNITY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO EXPLORE THE OUTDOORS AND BUILD SELF-CONFIDENCE WHILE GIVING WORKING PARENTS AN EASE OF MIND THAT THEIR CHILDREN ARE IN A SAFE AND CARING ENVIRONMENT DURING THE SUMMER OUT OF SCHOOL MONTHS. FEES ARE OFFERED ON A BELOW COST BASIS TO PARENTS THAT ARE UNABLE TO AFFORD FULL CAMP COSTS. MOST CAMP COUNSELORS ARE FORMER YMCA CAMPERS WHO OFTEN DECLINE ALTERNATIVE HIGHER-PAYING JOBS TO BECOME ROLE MODELS FOR YOUNGER CAMPERS THEREBY POSITIVELY IMPACTING A CHILD'S LIFE IN A SIMILAR MANNER AS THEY WERE IMPACTED DURING THEIR CAMP PARTICIPATION YEARS. IN 2024, 46% OF PARTICIPANTS IN BOTH PROGRAMS RECEIVED FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 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 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.