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YMCA of Central Ky

EIN 61-0444842 · Lexington, KY

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair61 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

DRIVEN BY ITS FOUNDING MISSION, THE Y HAS SERVED AS A LEADING NONPROFIT IN CENTRAL KENTUCKY FOR 173 YEARS. THE Y EMPOWERS EVERYONE, NO MATTER WHO THEY ARE OR WHERE THEY'RE FROM, BY ENSURING ACCESS TO RESOURCES, RELATIONSHIPS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL TO LEARN, GROW AND THRIVE. BY BRINGING TOGETHER PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS, PERSPECTIVES AND GENERATIONS, THE Y'S GOAL IS TO IMPROVE OVERALL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING, IGNITE YOUTH EMPOWERMENT AND DEMONSTRATE THE IMPORTANCE OF CONNECTIONS IN AND ACROSS OUR COMMUNITIES.

Income
$22.5 million
Spending
$21.3 million
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
-2.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 83%
Employees
1,079
Volunteers
600
Highest pay
$282,835, 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: 61 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 29% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 9% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 15 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.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    30 of 30 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports 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)
  1. $12.7 million spent. YOUTH DEVELOPMENT: OUR YMCA IS COMMITTED TO NURTURING THE POTENTIAL OF EVERY CHILD AND TEEN IN CENTRAL KENTUCKY. FROM CRADLE TO CAREER, THE Y EMPOWERS YOUNG PEOPLE TO LEAD INSPIRED, SUCCESSFUL LIVES. FROM CAMP TO CHILD CARE TO AFTERSCHOOL ACTIVITIES TO SPORTS AND MORE, THE Y OFFERS HOLISTIC PROGRAMMING THAT ENHANCES, PROTECTS AND NURTURES THE UNIQUE DEVELOPMENT JOURNEY OF EVERY CHILD AND TEEN. HERE ARE SOME OF THE 2025 IMPACT HIGHLIGHTS OF OUR YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS AND SERVICES: 124 CHILDREN WERE SERVED 4,201 SNACKS THROUGH SUMMER FOOD PROGRAM AND 130 FOOD BAGS PROVIDED 36 FAMILIES OVER THANKSGIVING AND WINTER BREAKS. 53,787 (BRANCHES) CHECK-INS TO KIDS CORNERS BY HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS. 1,315 YOUTH ENJOYED MEMORABLE EXPERIENCES IN OUR SUMMER DAY CAMPS AT 10 SITES ACROSS FAYETTE AND FRANKLIN COUNTIES. 1,019 CHILDREN SERVED IN BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMMING AND 417 AT OUR EARLY LEARNING CENTERS (CENTER FOR CHILDREN). 136 TEENS PARTICIPATED IN THE BLACK ACHIEVERS PROGRAM AND $55,589 IN SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED TO SENIORS. 160 STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN THE YMCA'S POWER SCHOLARS ACADEMY DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS SHOWING AN AVERAGE OF TWO MONTHS GAIN IN READING AND MATH.
  2. $4.7 million spent. HEALTHY LIVING: THE YMCA AIMS TO IMPROVE OUR COMMUNITY'S HEALTH BY PROVIDING PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES THAT PROMOTE OVERALL WELL-BEING, NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE ON YOUR JOURNEY TOWARD BETTER HEALTH. FROM OUR WIDE RANGE OF FITNESS, PERSONAL TRAINING, SPORTS AND AQUATICS PROGRAMS, TO OUR GROUP SOCIAL ACTIVITIES, AS WELL AS FUN FAMILY AND COMMUNITY EVENTS, WE OFFER AN ARRAY OF OPTIONS FOCUSED ON STRENGTHENING SPIRIT, MIND AND BODY. HERE ARE SOME OF THE 2025 IMPACT HIGHLIGHTS OF OUR HEALTHY LIVING PROGRAMS AND SERVICES: 1,296,122 VISITS WERE MADE TO THE YMCA'S FIVE LOCATIONS. OVER 185,119 PARTICIPANTS ENGAGED IN VARIOUS GROUP EXERCISE CLASSES. 4,409 YOUTH ACTIVELY LEARNED ABOUT TEAMWORK THROUGH ENGAGING IN YOUTH SPORTS. 2,754 YOUTH GAINED CONFIDENCE AND LEARNED LIFE-SAVING SKILLS THROUGH PARTICIPATION IN SWIM LESSONS AND WATER SAFETY PROGRAMS. 1,683 INDIVIDUALS PARTICIPATED IN 5K RACES AND YOUTH AND ADULT TRIATHLONS. 250 INDIVIDUALS PARTICIPATED IN COMPETITIVE SWIM TEAMS AT TWO YMCA LOCATIONS. 90 INDIVIDUALS PARTICIPATED IN LIVESTRONG AT THE YMCA, A SMALL-GROUP CANCER SURVIVORSHIP PROGRAM WHICH EXPANDED FROM ONE TO THREE LOCATIONS.
  3. $1.0 million spent. SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY: THE YMCA BELIEVES OUR COMMUNITIES ARE STRONGEST WHEN EVERYONE IS INCLUDED AND HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. WE WELCOME AND CONNECT PEOPLE OF ALL GENERATIONS, BACKGROUNDS AND PERSPECTIVES, AND WE'RE COMMITTED TO ADDRESSING ISSUES THAT PEOPLE FACE TO CREATE POSITIVE CHANGE. HERE ARE SOME OF THE 2025 IMPACT HIGHLIGHTS DEMONSTRATING OUR COMMITMENT TO SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY: EMPLOYED 932 PART-TIME AND 145 FULL-TIME STAFF MEMBERS. DISTRIBUTED 3,500 BACKPACKS FILLED WITH SCHOOL SUPPLIES TO FAMILIES IN FAYETTE, FRANKLIN AND JESSAMINE COUNTIES. ALLOCATED $731,404 IN FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO SUPPORT CHILDREN, ADULTS, AND FAMILIES. APPROXIMATELY 283 KIDS AND ADULTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS ACTIVELY PARTICIPATED IN THE TOYOTA BLUEGRASS MIRACLE LEAGUE.

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

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since December 1964.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. 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.

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