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Young Mens Christian Association of East Tennessee Inc

EIN 62-0475700 · Knoxville, TN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair58 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PUT CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLES INTO PRACTICE THROUGH PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES THAT DEVELOP THE SPIRIT, MIND AND BODY OF YOUTH, ADULTS AND FAMILIES IN KNOXVILLE, TN AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES. THE YMCA ENCOURAGES GROWTH FOR YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, FOR HEALTHY LIVING AND FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY. YMCA ACTIVITIES ARE PROGRESSIVE AND CHALLENGE INDIVIDUALS TO LEARN, GROW AND THRIVE. REACHING OUT TO THE COMMUNITY IS AS IMPORTANT AS DEVELOPING MEMBERSHIP AT YMCA FACILITIES. WE WILL REMAIN FISCALLY SOUND TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE SERVICES TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.

Income
$16.9 million
Spending
$17.1 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
0.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 77%
Employees
909
Volunteers
106
Highest pay
$343,352, 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: 58 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 24% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% 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 25

    24 of 24 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. $3.5 million spent. YOUTH DEVELOPMENT - THE YMCA EMPOWERS YOUNG PEOPLE TO REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL BY BUILDING CONFIDENCE, CHARACTER, AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS IN YOUTH AND TEENS. THE ORGANIZATION CREATES SAFE, WELCOMING, AND INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENTS THAT SUPPORT LEARNING, PERSONAL GROWTH, ACADEMIC SUCCESS, AND SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT WHILE ENCOURAGING RESPONSIBILITY, HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. EXPENSES INCLUDE SUBSIDIES, DISCOUNTS, AND DIRECT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE THAT ENABLE 88 PERCENT OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE WE SERVE TO PARTICIPATE.
  2. $8.2 million spent. HEALTHY LIVING - THE YMCA PROMOTES HEALTH LIVING FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES BY STRENGTHENING SPIRIT, MIND, AND BODY THROUGH WELLNESS PROGRAMS, RECREATION, FITNESS OPPORTUNITIES, AND NUTRITION EDUCATION. THE ORGANIZATION SUPPORTS MENTAL WELL-BEING AND PROMOTES HEALTHY LIFESTYLES FOR PEOPLE OF ALL AGES AND ABILITIES, CREATING SPACES WHERE INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES FEEL CONNECTED, SUPPORTED, AND ENCOURAGED. IN 2025, WE PROVIDED OVER $797,029 IN FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO PEOPLE WHO OTHERWISE MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO AFFORD TO PARTICIPATE.
  3. $1.7 million spent. SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY - THE YMCA DEMONSTRATES SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY BY ADVANCING EQUITY, REMOVING BARRIERS TO PARTICIPATION, AND PROVIDING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND INCLUSIVE ACCESS TO PROGRAMS AND SERVICES. THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS, VOLUNTEERISM, CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, AND COMPASSIONATE SERVICE, THE YMCA RESPONDS TO EMERGING COMMUNITY NEEDS AND STRENGTHENS COMMUNITIES FOR ALL PEOPLE.THE YMCA BELIEVES EVERY PERSON DESERVES THE OPPORTUNITY TO ACHIEVE, CONNECT AND BELONG. IN 2025, WE ENGAGED OVER 79,000 MEMBERS, PARTICIPANTS, AND VOLUNTEERS IN ACTIVITIES THAT STRENGTHEN OUR COMMUNITY AND PAVE THE WAY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS TO THRIVE.

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 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 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 January 1938.

    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.