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Young Womens Christian Assn

EIN 81-0235416 · Helena, MT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood86 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

YWCA HELENA PREVENTS HOMELESSNESS, PROVIDES SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE HOUSING FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, AND PROVIDES SERVICES THAT RESTORES HOPE, SELF-SUFFICIENCY, AND HAPPY AND HEALTHY LIVES. TOGETHER WITH YWCA USA AND YWCAS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, WE ARE DEDICATED TO ELIMINATING RACISM, EMPOWERING WOMEN, AND PROMOTING PEACE, JUSTICE, FREEDOM, AND DIGNITY FOR ALL.

Income
$2.3 million
Spending
$1.3 million
Spent on programs
54%
Reserves
7.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 50%
Employees
18
Volunteers
160
Highest pay
$85,981, interim executive director

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

Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 43% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 11% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    54% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 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

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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. $437,777 spent. 2025 WINGS - THROUGH THE YWCA HELENA'S WOMEN INITIATING NEW GROWTH AND STABILITY (WINGS), WE AIM TO ADDRESS HOUSING INSECURITY, ADDICTION, MENTAL HEALTH, RECIDIVISM, AND FOOD INSECURITY, STEMMING FROM GENERATIONAL TRAUMA AND POVERTY. WHILE OUR 117-YEAR-OLD HISTORIC RESIDENCE AND SERVICES ARE IN LEWIS & CLARK COUNTY, OUR WINGS PROGRAM HAS STATEWIDE OUTREACH IN PROVIDING RESIDENTIAL AND INTENSIVE OUTPATIENT SERVICES FOR EXTREMELY LOW-INCOME WOMEN, WHO ARE DIAGNOSED WITH CO-OCCURING MENTAL HEALTH DISORDER, SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER (SUD) AND ARE AT IMMEDIATE RISK OF HOMELESSNESS. IN 2025, WE SERVED 32 WOMEN, 17 CHILDREN (IN FULL TIME RESIDENCY) AND 7 CHILDREN (IN PART TIME RESIDENCY AS PART OF THEIR REUNIFICATION PROCESS). INDIVIDUALS CAME FROM 13 COUNTIES ACROSS MONTANA OF WHICH 31% ARE FROM RURAL COMMUNITIES AND 41% ARE ENROLLED TRIBAL MEMBERS. ONE HUNDRED PERCENT OF OUR INTAKES CAME FROM INPATIENT TREATMENT AND 81% OF OUR RESIDENTS ARE JUSTICE SYSTEM INVOLVED; 100% OF THE WOMEN (19-67 YEARS OF AGE), LIVE BELOW THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL. WINGS CONTINUES TO BE THE ONLY PROGRAM IN OUR COMMUNITY SERVING WOMEN OF ANY AGE, ANY FAMILY STATUS, WHERE CHILDREN OF ANY AGE AND ANY GENDER CAN LIVE WITH THEIR MOTHERS. ONCE THE MOTHER IS STABILIZED IN HER RECOVERY, HER CHILDREN ARE WELCOME TO JOIN HER IN RESIDENCE. REUNIFICATION WITH HER CHILD(REN) IS SUPPORTED WITH PARENTING CLASSES AND SUPERVISED VISITS. WE HAVE FOUND REUNIFICATION IS VITAL TO HER RECOVERY. OF THE WOMEN SERVED IN 2025, 37% OF WOMEN LIVING IN THE HOME HAVING CHILDREN WITH THEM AT LEAST PART TIME. THREE WOMEN WERE PREGNANT OR POSTPARTUM.WOMEN ARE REQUIRED TO ATTEND MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE TREATMENT FIVE DAYS A WEEK. IN 2025, ALL CLIENTS RECEIVED AN AVERAGE OF 256 THERAPY ENCOUNTERS PER MONTH. SUCCESSFUL GRADUATES STAY AN AVERAGE OF 657 DAYS BEFORE MOVING INTO COMMUNITY HOUSING WITH SUSTAINED SOBRIETY. SIX WOMEN GRADUATED THE WINGS PROGRAM AND TRANSITIONED INTO COMMUNITY HOUSING IN 2025.
  2. $105,632 spent. 2025 CATERPILLARS - THE CATERPILLARS PROGRAM OFFERS A SERVICE FOR CHILDREN AND PARENTS WHO LIVE AT YWCA HELENA OR THOSE WHO LIVE IN THE COMMUNITY: THE CATERPILLARS PARENTING CENTER OFFERS SUPERVISED PARENTING, SAFE EXCHANGE, EVIDENCE-BASED PARENTING CLASSES, AND ONE-ON-ONE PARENTING COACHING. IN ADDITION TO OFFERING SUPPORT TO THE MOTHERS OF WINGS, ALL SERVICES ARE OPEN TO THE COMMUNITY AND OFTEN REFERRED TO BY PARTNERS IN THE COMMUNITY SUCH AS THE DISTRICT COURTS, OUR LOCAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTER, OTHER CLINICAL PROVIDERS, AND CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES. 90% OF THE WOMEN IN THE WINGS PROGRAM HAVE COMPLETED CIRCLE OF SECURITY A RELATIONSHIP-BASED PARENTING PROGRAM. IN 2025, CATERPILLARS STAFF PROVIDED 397 SUPERVISED VISITS AND SAFE EXCHANGES TO 126 CHILDREN OF WHICH 100% ARE 0-12 YEARS OF AGE. ON AVERAGE, FAMILIES RECEIVE SERVICES TWICE A WEEK, FOR A MINIMUM OF SIX MONTHS UP TO TWO YEARS.
  3. $151,780 spent. YWCA HELENA PROVIDES SAFE, AFFORDABLE, WRAP-AROUND SUPPORTIVE HOUSING FOR WOMEN AND THEIR CHILDREN. WE ACTIVELY PREVENT HOMELESSNESS AND SEEK TO DISRUPT GENERATIONAL CYCLES OF POVERTY, ABUSE, AND SUBSTANCE USE.

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 May 1948.

    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.

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