YMCA of San Diego County
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
THE YMCA OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY IS A NONPROFIT WITH A MISSION TO NURTURE A HEALTHY SPIRIT, MIND, AND BODY SO ALL CAN THRIVE WHILE HONORING OUR FAITH-BASED HERITAGE.
- Income
- $371.8 million
- Spending
- $374.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 93%
- Reserves
- 1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 69%
- Employees
- 7,022
- Volunteers
- 664
- Highest pay
- $812,650, president/ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 58 out of 100. Higher than 51% of charities in its peer group (human services, over $100m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.0 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 32% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 17% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1593% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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 2538 of 40 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
10 of 10Gave 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
0 of 10Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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)
- $307.8 million spent. YOUTH DEVELOPMENT: AT THE Y, WE CREATE A SAFE PLACE WHERE YOUTH ACHIEVEMENT MEANS MORE THAN JUST LEARNING THEIR ABC'S. YOUTH FORM MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS AND A SENSE OF BELONGING THAT DEVELOPS SPORTSMANSHIP, LEADERSHIP, CONFIDENCE, HEALTHY HABITS, AND VALUES THAT WILL ENABLE THEM TO BE OUR ENGAGED AND CONTRIBUTING ADULTS OF TOMORROW. THIS PROGRAM AREA INCLUDES CHILD CARE AND CAMPING. THE YMCA OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY OPERATES 219 CHILD AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY WHERE THE MISSION IS REALIZED WITH 150,680 TOUCHPOINTS FOR YOUTH UNDER AGE 18.(CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)CHILD CARE: 170 OF THESE PROGRAMS ARE BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS WHERE KIDS RECEIVE ACADEMIC ASSISTANCE, PARTICIPATE IN CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT, HEALTH AND WELLNESS, HOMEWORK SUPPORT, LITERACY, STEM (SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATH), SERVICE LEARNING, AND SOCIAL COMPETENCE AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION. PRESCHOOL PROGRAMS OFFERED AT 8 LOCATIONS PROVIDE CRITICAL DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT FOR THE BRAIN AND BODY, BUILD SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL SKILLS, AND MEET FAMILY CHILDCARE NEEDS SO PARENTS CAN WORK. CAMPING: THE PROGRAM CATEGORIES WITHIN CAMPING INCLUDE DAY CAMPING, RESIDENT CAMPING, ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION, FAMILY CAMPS, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, & INTERSESSION PROGRAMS. YMCA CAMPING PROGRAMS UTILIZE INDOOR AND OUTDOOR SETTINGS, WORK WITH PEOPLE IN SMALL GROUPS, AND INCLUDE LOTS OF ACTIVITIES ALL TO BUILD CHARACTER, SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL SKILLS, SELF-EFFICACY, ACHIEVEMENT, AND BELONGING. PROGRAMS ARE OFFERED AT FEES AS AFFORDABLE TO THE COMMUNITY AS POSSIBLE. WE ALSO SUPPORT ACCESS TO CAMP THROUGH FUND-RAISING EFFORTS SUCH AS THE "KIDS TO CAMP" CAMPAIGN AND OUR ENDOWMENT EARNINGS, WHICH PROVIDES THE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO FAMILIES WHO OTHERWISE COULD NOT AFFORD CAMP. IN 2025, 42,000 DAY CAMP INTERACTIONS AT TRADITIONAL BRANCHES. IN ADDITION, OVER 19,080 CAMPERS EXPERIENCED IMMERSIVE OUTDOOR PROGRAMMING THROUGH ADVENTURE GUIDES AND/OR RESIDENT CAMP.
- $33.9 million spent. HEALTHY LIVING: BECAUSE THE Y IS FOR EVERYONE, WE BRING TOGETHER CHILDREN, ADULTS AND FAMILIES OF ALL ABILITIES LIKE NO OTHER ORGANIZATION CAN. AS A RESULT, HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY ARE RECEIVING THE SUPPORT, GUIDANCE AND RESOURCES NEEDED TO ACHIEVE GREATER HEALTH AND WELL-BEING FOR THEIR SPIRIT, MIND AND BODY DURING FISCAL YEAR 2025. FOR THE YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2025, OUR Y IMPACTED THE LIVES OF 340,496 INDIVIDUALS, WITH AN ASTONISHING 553,494 PERSONAL WELL-BEING TOUCHPOINTS. AS THE LARGEST YMCA IN THE NATION, WE PROUDLY REACH NEARLY 10% OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY'S POPULATION, FOSTERING A HEALTHIER AND MORE CONNECTED COMMUNITY. TOGETHER, WE REMAIN COMMITTED TO NURTURING HOPE, RESILIENCE, AND THE POTENTIAL OF EVERY INDIVIDUAL.(CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)PREVENTION IS THE KEY WORD FOR PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND HEALTH AT THE Y. EXERCISE IS A WAY OF LIFE THAT REQUIRES EDUCATION IN GOOD NUTRITION, PROPER EXERCISE, AVOIDANCE OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE, DEALING WITH STRESS AND REDUCING THE PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH CHRONIC DISEASES. Y EXERCISE PROGRAMS INCLUDE STRENGTH TRAINING, GROUP CLASSES, WALKING CLUBS, MARTIAL ARTS, RUNNING CLUBS, YOGA, STRETCH, SOCCER, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, WATER FITNESS, TENNIS/PICKLE BALL, VOLLEYBALL, BASKETBALL, DANCE, MIND/BODY FITNESS, AND PRENATAL CLASSES FOR EXPECTING MOTHERS MANY OF THESE PROGRAMS ARE AVAILABLE TO YMCA MEMBERS AS WELL AS THE PUBLIC.
- $8.2 million spent. SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY: THANKS TO THE GENEROSITY OF VOLUNTEERS AND PUBLIC AND PRIVATE DONORS WHO GIVE TO THE Y, OUR COMMUNITY IS STRONGER EVERY DAY. WE WORK SIDE-BY-SIDE WITH OUR NEIGHBORS TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE, REGARDLESS OF AGE, INCOME OR BACKGROUND, HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN, GROW AND THRIVE. THIS PROGRAM AREA INCLUDES GROUP SERVICES, ENRICHMENT, OUTREACH PROGRAMS, SKATE PARKS, YOUTH SHELTERS, HOUSING AND TRANSITIONAL LIVING PROGRAMS, COUNSELING, INCLUSION, RESPITE CARE, DRUG/GANG PREVENTION, AND MORE. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)YMCA CHILDCARE RESOURCE SERVICE SERVES THE COMMUNITY THROUGH A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO FOSTER EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF CHILD CARE PROFESSIONALS, PROVIDE RESOURCES AND EDUCATION FOR PARENTS, AND HELP FAMILIES PAY FOR CHILD CARE. AS AN EXAMPLE OF THE PROGRAMS PROVIDED IS OUR CHILD CARE RESOURCE SERVICES, EMBODYING OUR Y'S UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO PROVIDE COUNTY-WIDE AFFORDABLE, SAFE CHILD CARE. IN FISCAL YEAR 24-25, MORE THAN 17,756 FAMILIES WERE SUPPORTED AS THEY WORK TO BUILD BRIGHTER FUTURES. 5,595 PROVIDERS CREATED NURTURING ENVIRONMENTS WHERE CHILDREN CAN THRIVE AND PARENTS HAVE PEACE OF MIND. WE PROVIDED 6,948 CHILD CARE REFERRALS, HELPING FAMILIES FIND THE CARE THEY SOUGHT. IN ADDITION TO ITS RESOURCES FOR CHILD CARE, THE Y OFFERS A RANGE OF PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE A SAFE AND NURTURING ENVIRONMENT FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. THESE INCLUDE PRESCHOOLS, WHICH HAVE PROVIDED A STRONG FOUNDATION FOR EARLY LEARNING TO 4,879 CHILDREN, AND THE CHARACTER BUILDERS BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL LICENSED CARE, WHICH OFFERED STRUCTURED ACTIVITIES IN A SAFE AND NURTURING ENVIRONMENT TO 26,717 STUDENTS LAST YEAR. THE EXPANDED LEARNING PROGRAM, WHICH EXTENDS EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES BY PROVIDING 100% SUBSIDIZED CARE BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL, MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH FEDERAL AND STATE GOVERNMENT FUNDING, HAS POSITIVELY IMPACTED THE LIVES OF 17,500 STUDENTS IN FISCAL YEAR 2024-25.AT YMCA YOUTH AND FAMILY SERVICES (YFS), THE PURPOSE IS CLEAR: TO LEAD WITH COMPASSION. THIS PAST YEAR, OUR YFS TEAM FULFILLED OUR Y'S VISION TO BE THE CATALYST TO TRANSFORM LIVES AND COMMUNITIES IN NUMEROUS WAYS.LIVES IMPACTED: 15,443 INDIVIDUALS BENEFITED FROM PROGRAMS OFFERING CONNECTION, HOPE, AND BELONGING. DIRECT SERVICES: 3,707 PEOPLE RECEIVED CRITICAL, HANDS-ON SUPPORT. RESOURCE LINKAGE: 2,789 INDIVIDUALS CONNECTED TO ESSENTIAL PROGRAMS AND SERVICES. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: 8,822 COMMUNITY MEMBERS PARTICIPATED IN DIALOGUE AND COLLABORATION FOR A SHARED VISION OF THE FUTURE. FAMILY SUPPORT: 582 FAMILIES ACCESSED FAMILY PRESERVATION SERVICES. 1,362 INDIVIDUALS RECEIVED MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SUPPORT. YOUTH EMPOWERMENT: 1,763 YOUNG PEOPLE GAINED HOUSING, EDUCATION, AND EMPLOYMENT SERVICES TO INSPIRE PERSONAL SUCCESS.EVERY STATISTIC REPRESENTS A LIFE IMPACTED AND A STEP TOWARD BUILDING STRONGER COMMUNITIES.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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 November 6, 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 June 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 April 1928.
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 November 4, 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.