Regional YMCA of Western CT

What it reported doing in 2024

Youth development: nurturing the potential of every child and teen is a core value for the regional ymca. Providing opportunities and encouragement for children to learn and grow, and discover what they can achieve, is what we do best! 361 children were served at our childcare centers in 2024, with $116,993 in financial assistance provided to struggling families. Ymca childcare program means that parents have a safe and welcoming place for their kids to go so that they can continue to work. Our preschool childcare, before & after school care, and school readiness programs offer a safe and nurturing environment and are designed to meet the individual needs of children and provide them with learning skills to help them in school. Our children's center in bethel operates year-round and serves children 3 to 12 years of age, offering 62 school readiness funded slots for 3 & 4 year olds, making preschool a more affordable option for many families and giving children the opportunity to be better prepared for kindergarten. Our center is naeyc accredited and licensed by the state of Connecticut; we follow all state regulations and naeyc criteria. O programs follow the hepa (healthy eating and physical activity) guidelines and classroom curriculums are designed with these concepts at the forefront. We have a children's garden with 25 raised garden boxes which are planted, cared for, and harvested by the children and teachers. O in addition to the extensive education and professional development opportunities that our teaching staff participates in year-round, staff were able to participate in numerous remote sessions. Other programs, such as leadership development, youth sports, youth swim lessons and day camps, offer a range of activities that allow children to have fun, build self-esteem, develop interpersonal skills, and make lasting friendships and memories. These programs provided $68,117 in financial assistance, affording opportunities for children that otherwise might not be available to them. Ymca camp greenknoll is an area leader in providing children with a safe, fun, and educational summer camp experience. In 2024, 865 children from pre-k through 10th grade spent the summer engaging in programs designed to challenge them both mentally and physically. Our camps provided $43,469 in fee assistance.o camp allowed these children to reconnect with old friends and make new ones and gave parents the ability to work knowing their children were active and being cared for in a safe place. O various activities were scheduled throughout the camp day. From games and sports, arts and crafts, and outdoor adventures to science and technology, activities such as these take children out of their comfort zone, push them to try new things, and foster a sense of confidence in completing difficult tasks. Our climbing tower and zip line, plus our low ropes elements and archery are just some of the fun and exciting activities that can enrich a child's experience and help them achieve their best selves. O ymca camp greenknoll went through some much-needed renovations which were introduced in 2023. Most notably is the introduction of our program village, which provides dedicated spaces for campers to explore their creative side through arts & crafts, woodworking, nature, and s.t.e.a.m projects. Additional areas were renovated as well in order to update the facilities for our campers. O at the y, we have heard so many parents (and kids) say that they made friends, and actually felt that they belonged within their group, something they may not feel at school. They feel they can be themselves while trying new things, learning new skills, and making new friends, all so important in building confidence and self-esteem. O but most importantly, camp greenknoll provides opportunities to reconnect with the simple joys of being a kid: swimming, laughing, singing, dancing, crafting, discovering, swinging, sliding, hiking, playing and more! Through our youth leade

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 88.7%; rating input score 89
• Program expense ratio: 85.1%; rating input score 85
• Fundraising efficiency: $20.3 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 59; 59th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 93.8%; rating input score 94; 20th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: Limited
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 7 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 88
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Other executive compensation review process: Fail
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -4.1%; rating input score 22; 22nd percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.11; rating input score 41; 41st percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.67; rating input score 14; 14th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 1.7%; rating input score 77; 77th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 0.4% per year; rating input score 100; 15th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: -0.9% per year; rating input score 0; 9th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 2% per year; rating input score 100; 20th percentile among comparable filings