Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Young Mens Christian Association of Metropolitan Chattanooga

EIN 62-0475699 · Chattanooga, TN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE YMCA OF METROPOLITAN CHATTANOOGA IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT STRENGTHENS COMMUNITY BY NURTURING THE POTENTIAL OF KIDS, PROMOTES HEALTHY LIVING FOR ALL, AND FOSTERS SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY BY PUTTING CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLES INTO PRACTICE THROUGH PROGRAMS THAT BUILD A HEALTHY SPIRIT, MIND AND BODY FOR ALL.

Income
$28.4 million
Spending
$24.2 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 67%
Employees
1,363
Volunteers
2,300
Highest pay
$357,390, president/ceo

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

Strong: 93 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 12% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 15% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 16% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    38 of 38 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, 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)
  1. $13.1 million spent. HEALTHY LIVING - THE Y IS A LEADING VOICE ON HEALTH AND WELL-BEING. WE BRING FAMILIES CLOSER TOGETHER, ENCOURAGE GOOD HEALTH AND FOSTER CONNECTIONS THROUGH HEALTHY LIVING IN SPIRIT, MIND AND BODY. AS A RESULT OVER 50,000 PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY ARE RECEIVING THE SUPPORT, GUIDANCE, AND RESOURCES THEY NEED TO ACHIEVE GREATER HEALTH. THIS IS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT AS OUR NATION AND THE GREATER CHATTANOOGA AREA STRUGGLES WITH HEALTH DISPARITIES AND CHRONIC DISEASE, FAMILIES STRUGGLE WITH WORK/LIFE BALANCE, AND INDIVIDUALS SEARCH FOR PERSONAL FULFILLMENT. OUR PROGRAMS ARE ACCESSIBLE, AFFORDABLE, AND OPEN TO ALL FAITHS, BACKGROUNDS, ABILITIES AND INCOME LEVELS. SCHOLARSHIPS AND SUBSIDIES ARE OFFERED TO ALL INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IN NEED OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. IN 2024, WE PROVIDED $774,381 OF DIRECT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO INDIVIDUALS WHO OTHERWISE WOULD HAVE FACED ECONOMIC BARRIERS TO PARTICIPATION.
  2. $5.1 million spent. YOUTH DEVELOPMENT - OUR YMCA IS COMMITTED TO NURTURING THE POTENTIAL OF EVERY CHILD AND TEEN. WE BELIEVE THAT ALL KIDS DESERVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCOVER WHO THEY ARE AND WHAT THEY CAN ACHIEVE. THAT IS WHY WE HELP YOUNG PEOPLE CULTIVATE THE VALUES, SKILLS AND RELATIONSHIPS THAT LEAD TO POSITIVE BEHAVIORS, BETTER HEALTH, AND EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT. OUR YMCA PROGRAMS INCLUDE AFTERSCHOOL ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS AND DAY CAMPS FOR SCHOOL AGE KIDS, PARENT/CHILD PROGRAM SUCH AS ADVENTURE GUIDES, YOUTH SPORTS PROGRAMS, AQUATICS PROGRAMS AND RESIDENT CAMPING EXPERIENCES AS WELL AS JUVENILE DELINQUENCY PREVENTION PROGRAMS. THESE PROGRAMS OFFER A RANGE OF EXPERIENCES THAT ENRICH COGNITIVE, SOCIAL, PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL GROWTH. SCHOLARSHIP AND SUBSIDIES ARE OFFERED TO ALL INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IN NEED OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. IN 2024, WE PROVIDED $300,845 OF DIRECT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO THE INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED IN OUR YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS.
  3. $1.8 million spent. SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY - OUR YMCA BELIEVES IN GIVING BACK AND SUPPORTING OUR NEIGHBORS. WE HAVE BEEN LISTENING AND RESPONDING TO OUR COMMUNITY'S MOST CRITICAL NEEDS FOR MORE THAN 145 YEARS IN THE GREATER CHATTANOOGA AREA. Y PROGRAMS SUCH AS THE MOBILE MARKET FOR PEOPLE IN THE INNER CITY LIVING IN FOOD DESERTS, OUR FEEDING PROGRAM OF MORE THAN 300,000 MEALS EACH YEAR, AND OUR MOBILE FIT PROGRAM ENRICHES LIVES IN OUR AREA HOUSING PROJECT ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF HOW OUR Y IS DELIVERING PRECIOUS RESOURCES AND SUPPORT THAT HELP EFFECT CHANGE, BRIDGE GAPS, AND OVERCOME OBSTACLES. WE ALSO MOTIVATE AND PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY TO GIVE BACK THROUGH VOLUNTEERISM AND PHILANTHROPIC GIVING. IN 2024, WE ENGAGED OVER 2,300 VOLUNTEERS IN OUR PROGRAMS AND OVER 2,300 DONORS TO OUR ANNUAL CAMPAIGN TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR THOSE WHO OTHERWISE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR PROGRAMS DUE TO ECONOMIC CONSTRAINTS.

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

  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 October 13, 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 2024.

    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 September 1937.

    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 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.