YMCA of Greater Des Moines

What it reported doing in 2024

Youth development: the ymca of greater des moines believes that all children deserve the opportunity to discover who they are, what they can achieve, and to unlock their full potential. At the y, youth have access to many programs that support their academic, cognitive, physical, and social-emotional development. The y offers education and enrichment-based out-of-school-time programs that support educational growth while engaging children in activities that encourage them to learn, grow, and play. Our summer learning loss prevention program engaged low-income elementary students in 2025 to improve their reading and math ability while inspiring children to explore new interests and skills like stem, art, and social-emotional activities. Youth sports programming like basketball and flag football leagues inspire teamwork, leadership, and growth of youth in our community. Teen leadership programs like our grit, y achievers, and camp counselor in training programs teach teens leadership skills that set them up for success as they become young adults entering college/careers. The ymca's youth development programs build children's self-esteem, teamwork, leadership skills, and curiosity to help kids grow and become happy, healthy, and successful adults.in 2025, the ymca of greater des moines engaged thousands of children from infancy to 18. The y makes sure that every child has an opportunity to envision and pursue a positive future for themselves and their community through programs that build youth's confidence, build healthy-habit formation, and support children in learning about becoming and staying active. Girls on the run program supported more than 1,600 girls in unlocking their limitless potential through a program that integrates running into evidence-based social-emotional activities that build confidence, connection, competence, and character. Youth gain confidence as they work to acquire new skills like swimming, scoring points, teamwork, and positive relationships through our youth sports programs. At our y camp in boone, more than 2,400 youths were enrolled. These children form a supportive community where they learn independent and group-work skills dedicated to learning, experiencing, and appreciating nature and engage in physical, social, and educational activities. Additionally, we engage youth in our summer learning loss prevention program at two metro des moines school sites. A y after school program is operated in partnership with school districts at two elementary school sites located in polk county, serving more than 120 youth.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 87.8%; rating input score 88
• Program expense ratio: 82.8%; rating input score 83
• Fundraising efficiency: $10.68 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 40; 40th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 62nd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 3 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 50
  • Compensation committee: Pass
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Pass
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• 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; 66th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 8 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 89
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • 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: -1.9%; rating input score 24; 24th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 3.25; rating input score 77; 77th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.39; rating input score 38; 38th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 3.8%; rating input score 62; 62nd percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: -5.7% per year; rating input score 0; 3rd percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: -3.7% per year; rating input score 0; 3rd percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: -0.7% per year; rating input score 0; 8th percentile among comparable filings