irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $1.38MHEALTH AND WELLNESS FOR YOUTH AND ADULTS: HELPING PEOPLE OF ALL AGES AND ABILITIES TO DEVELOP HEALTH IN SPIRIT, MIND AND BODY IS AT THE CORE OF THE YMCA MISSION. OUR PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO HELP PEOPLE CREATE REALISTIC GOALS FOR SELF-IMPROVEMENT AND EMPHASIZE DISEASE PREVENTION THROUGH REGULAR EXERCISE, PROPER NUTRITION, STRESS MANAGEMENT, AND HEALTH EDUCATION. SPORTS PROGRAMS FOR YOUTH, FAMILIES AND ADULTS PROMOTE TEAMWORK, INTERACTION, AND DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIAL AND PHYSICAL SKILLS.OUR AQUACIZE PROGRAM IS AN AQUATIC PROGRAM THAT KEEPS SENIORS ACTIVE AND FLEXIBLE; OUR AQUATIC PROGRAM(PROGRESSIVE SWIM) HELPS TO DEVELOP PHYSICAL SKILLS IN TODDLERS THROUGH SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN; OUR FAMILY SWIM PROGRAM GIVES ADULTS AND CHILDREN SHARE TIME IN THE POOL TO APPRECIATE ONE ANOTHER AND PROMOTE INTERGENERATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS. OUR SERVICES ARE OFFERED AT AFFORDABLE FEES FOR THE COMMUNITY SERVICE AREA, WITH REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS FOR THOSE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, AND WITH FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE FOR THOSE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, AND WITH FINANCIAL ASSISSTANCE AVAILABLE FOR THOSE WHO CANNOT AFFORD THE FULL FEE.IN LIGHT OF THE RISING OBESITY RATES IN THIS COUNTRY, OUR YMCA PARTICIPATES IN THE ACTIVATE AMERICA INITIATIVE AND ENGAGES IN A VARIETY OF EVENTS, PROGRAMS AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES DESIGNED TO HELP THE "AT RISK POPULATION" DEVELOP HABITS AND RELATIONSHIPS THAT LEAD TO MORE ACTIVE LIFESTYLES.
- #2 $0THE YMCA HAS ESTABLISHED A POLICY OF "NEVER REFUSING MEMBERSHIP AND/OR PROGRAM SERVICES SOLELY BASED ON THE APPLICANTS INABILITY TO MEET THE COST". THE ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM APPROVED 159 YOUTH AND FAMILY MEMBERSHIP ASSISTANCE REQUESTS VALUED AT $80,559.
named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Aquatics & Swimming Programs
Offers swim lessons for infants through adults, including group lessons for children aged 6 months to 12 years, adaptive lessons for children with developmental disabilities, and Masters swim program for adults. Includes free lessons through the NY SWIMS grant.
Barracudas Pre-Competitive Swim Team
Youth swim program preparing swimmers for club, modified, and varsity teams; focuses on endurance and technique but does not compete due to facility limitations.
Financial Assistance Program
Provides scholarships for youth and family memberships, ensuring no one is turned away due to inability to pay; supported through fundraising and donor contributions.
YMCA Golf Classic
Annual charity golf event supporting adaptive programming, summer camps, after-school programs, and youth initiatives for children ages 3–17.
activities · 11 groups
What they do
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Fitness Training and Group Exercise Programs 2 activities
- Community fitness and wellness programsOffers a wide range of group exercise classes including yoga, dance, HIIT, cycling, and pool-based workouts for all fitness levels. Provides evidence-based health intervention programs to reduce risks related to falls, diabetes, and high blood pressure, delivered in community centers, fire halls, and assisted living communities. Also offers virtual access to over 1,000 on-demand fitness and instructional videos through YMCA 360 at no cost to members.
- Personal training and fitness orientation servicesProvides personalized personal training services tailored to individual goals such as physical therapy recovery, event preparation, and general well-being, including health history and goal assessments. Offers free fitness orientation sessions for new members, with youth aged 10–17 required to complete up to three sessions covering equipment use, exercise safety, and workout planning in the Cardio Suite and Circuit Training Room.
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Competitive and Learn-to-Swim Programs 2 activities
- Free group swim lessons for childrenOffers free group swim lessons to children aged 6 months to 12 years, including structured programs such as A/B Combo, Preschool levels 1–3, School Age levels 1–6, and adaptive Support Swim levels 1–3 for children with developmental disabilities. Each child may participate in up to three 8-week sessions, with program availability based on community needs and capacity.
- Red Cross safety certification programsProvides American Red Cross training and certification courses in lifeguarding (full training and review), waterfront modules, CPR, First Aid, babysitting certification for youth ages 11–15, and lifeguard management assessment. Private group sessions are available for groups of four or more, and a minimum of four participants is required for course delivery.
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Nonprofit Organizational Management 1 activity
- Administrative and outreach support operationsConducts administrative tasks including filing, data entry, and office organization. Supports outreach through donor thank-you calls, flyer distribution, community tabling, and promotion of fundraising campaigns and YMCA programs.
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Community Event-Based Giving Programs 1 activity
- Annual community events and fundraising activitiesHosts recurring annual events including Healthy Kids Day (for 34 years), Trunk-or-Treat, December family event with 5K and Fun Run, summer block party, golf outing, and Jingle Jog 5K. These events promote child well-being, provide family-friendly activities, and raise funds for membership and program scholarships.
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Before and After School Childcare 1 activity
- Child care and school-age enrichment programsOffers before-school, after-school, and full-day child care at multiple locations, including YMCA facilities and elementary schools. Programs include homework support, STEM projects, arts and crafts, outdoor play, social-emotional learning via the Second Step Curriculum, and snacks compliant with Y Healthy Food standards and CACFP. Full-day programs include one hour of swim time.
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Member-Focused Fitness and Wellness Facilities 1 activity
- Facility operations and public accessOperates YMCA facilities with scheduled public access hours for programs and services, including fitness areas, pools, and recreational courts. Offers facility tours, member greeting, wayfinding assistance, and maintains grounds through mowing, raking, litter removal, and trail maintenance at the Outdoor Education Center.
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Food Distribution and Hunger Relief 1 activity
- Mobile food pantry serviceOperates a mobile food pantry that serves families across two counties, providing food resources and support through the YMCA Food Hub with monitoring and assistance for access.
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Summer Day Camp Programs 1 activity
- Summer camp programs for children and teensOperates summer camps for children aged 3 to 16, including Pre-K Summer Blast for early childhood development, Camp Adventure for ages 5–12 with field trips and physical activity, and Activity Camp during school breaks with rotating themes in sports, arts, and science. Also offers a Counselor-in-Training (CIT) program for teens aged 13–16 focused on leadership and professional skill development.
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Volunteer Engagement and Capacity Support 1 activity
- Volunteer-supported program assistanceEngages volunteers to support youth swim lessons, enrichment programs (e.g., Kids in the Kitchen, Little Explorers), sports activities, childcare, homework help, birthday parties, facility setup, and special events through direct program assistance and supervision.
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Financial Aid and Scholarship Access Programs 1 activity
- Youth and family membership and program scholarshipsAdministers an annual scholarship program that provides financial assistance for youth and family memberships, after-school care, summer camp, and other youth programs. In recent years, the program has approved hundreds of requests annually, with total support valued between $63,000 and $92,000 per year.
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Youth Sports and Recreation Programs at Private Clubs 1 activity
- Youth sports and recreational activitiesHosts weekend youth sports programs for children starting at age 3, featuring skill-building classes, multi-sport sampler programs, and special events like Rollerskating and Nerf Nights. Also offers open recreational play for adults including pickup basketball, racquetball, pickleball, and table tennis, with some sessions open to non-members for a fee.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$2.18M
Contributions & grants$284K13%
Program service revenue$1.87M86%
Investment income$560%
Other revenue$26K
expenses
Total expenses$2.35M
Program expenses90%
Admin / overhead10%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$1.52M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$3.36M
Cash$411K
Investments$0
Liabilities$407K
Net assets$2.95M
Liquid reserves2.1 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +9.7%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHRISTIE THORNTON | CEO | 40 | $135K |
board members · 11
- CANDACE MAXIAN — DIRECTOR
- CHRIS WERNER — VICE CHAIR
- CHRISTOPHER MOTT — TREASURER
- DAVE HELMER — DIRECTOR
- JENNIFER WHITTAKER — DIRECTOR
- KEVIN MIETLICKI — DIRECTOR
- LUCIA TYLER — DIRECTOR
- MICHAEL BERLIN — DIRECTOR
- REBECCA JOFFREY — DIRECTOR
- RYAN WEESE — PRESIDENT
- SCOTT KEENAN — DIRECTOR
relationships · 40
Who they work with
- Activate America Partner — Partnered with the Activate America initiative to engage at-risk populations in programs promoting active lifestyles.
- Adaptive Sports CNY Partner — Community organization that has participated in Healthy Kids Day with its own activity or information table
- Advantage Sport & Fitness Partner — Sponsor of the Jingle Jog 5K and Family Fun Mile
- Alzheimer's Association Partner — Community organization that has participated in Healthy Kids Day with its own activity or information table
- American Red Cross Partner — Collaborates to deliver certified lifeguard, waterfront, CPR, First Aid, and babysitting training programs.
- Biomedical Engineering Cornell Partner — Community organization that has participated in Healthy Kids Day with its own activity or information table
- CACFP Government — Receives support from CACFP to provide snacks in compliance with child nutrition standards.
- Catholic Charities Partner — Community organization that has participated in Healthy Kids Day with its own activity or information table
- Cayuga Climbs Partner — Community organization that has participated in Healthy Kids Day with its own activity or information table
- Cayuga Health System Partner — Sponsor of the Jingle Jog 5K and Family Fun Mile
- Cayuga Radio Group Partner — Sponsor of the Jingle Jog 5K and Family Fun Mile
- Child Development Council Partner — Community organization that has participated in Healthy Kids Day with its own activity or information table
- Code Red Robotics Partner — Community organization that has participated in Healthy Kids Day with its own activity or information table
- Cornell MPH Program Partner — Community organization that has participated in Healthy Kids Day with its own activity or information table
- Cortland County Family YMCA Partner — Co-hosts the 'Y' We Ride Bike Tour to support membership and program scholarships.
- Cortland County Family YMCA Partner — Co-hosts the Y We Ride bike tour and collaborates on fundraising for membership and program scholarships.
- Excellus Partner — Co-sponsor of the Healthy Kids Day event
- GIAC Partner — Community organization that has participated in Healthy Kids Day with its own activity or information table
- Ithaca College Partner — Trainer education affiliation; Panos D. holds degrees in music and business from Ithaca College.
- Ithaca Montessori School Partner — Community organization that has participated in Healthy Kids Day with its own activity or information table
- Ithaca Youth Bureau Partner — Community organization that has participated in Healthy Kids Day with its own activity or information table
- Liz Vitell Partner — Interim Health and Wellness Director who serves as a contact for program inquiries.
- Maestro Music Therapy Partner — Community organization that has participated in Healthy Kids Day with its own activity or information table
- New York State Department of Health Funder — Funds the free swim lessons program through the NY SWIMS Initiative
- No mas Lagrimas / No More Tears Partner — Community organization that has participated in Healthy Kids Day with its own activity or information table
- Northeast Pediatrics Partner — Community organization that has participated in Healthy Kids Day with its own activity or information table
- Outdoor Education Center Partner — Collaborates on maintenance and outdoor education activities.
- Planned Parenthood Partner — Community organization that has participated in Healthy Kids Day with its own activity or information table
- Racker Partner — Community organization that has participated in Healthy Kids Day with its own activity or information table
- SUNY Brockport Partner — Trainer education affiliation; Lucia S. holds a B.S. in Kinesiology from SUNY Brockport.
+ 10 more
strategies · 4
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Client-Centered Health Engagementmethodology: individualized_goal_settingBy using personalized goal-setting, individualized fitness planning, and obstacle identification, the YMCA helps participants overcome personal barriers to health, because tailored support increases motivation, adherence, and long-term behavior change.
- Community-Embedded Health Promotionmethodology: community_based_health_deliveryBy delivering evidence-based health and wellness programs directly in community spaces and aligning them with local rhythms (e.g., school calendars, holidays), the YMCA increases engagement among at-risk populations because accessible, contextually relevant programming lowers participation barriers.
- Safe Skill-Based Access Modelmethodology: skill_based_safety_classificationBy classifying children’s swim proficiency through a standardized test and assigning swim bands accordingly, the YMCA ensures safer pool environments because skill-based access reduces drowning risk and builds confidence through achievable milestones.
- Social-Emotional Learning Integrationmethodology: social_emotional_learningBy embedding evidence-based curricula like Second Step into youth programming, the YMCA fosters emotional regulation, empathy, and responsible decision-making, because structured social-emotional development enhances overall character and peer relationships.