Mission and Programs

Mission

Building a community where all people, especially the young, are encouraged to develop their fullest potential in spirit, mind and body.

Programs

In the 131 years since the YMCA's founding in Seattle, the organization has maintained an unwavering commitment to positive values, while evolving to meet the needs of a growing population. Current programs encompass a wide array of services to encourage all community members to develop their fullest potential in spirit, mind and body. Just a small sampling of program areas include: child care (preschool and before and after school) for nearly 2,600 children each day * day camp and summer enrichment for more than 2,000 children per day * year-round camping programs at YMCA Camp Orkila and YMCA Camp Colman, serving more than 11,900 people each year * a wide range of teen leadership, youth and young adult development programs, reaching more than 23,100 participants * community learning centers serving more than 5,050 elementary and middle school students * innovative education, employment, violence reduction and transitional housing programs for 6,100 at-risk youth and young adults * treatment foster care and mental health services * youth sports focused on teamwork and skill development for 10,000 participants * environmental service programs * mentoring (youth and young adult) * family programs (parent-child groups, family resource centers and support groups, family nights, family camps and "Family Prime Time" programs), reaching 62,760 participants per year *Family financial literacy classes offered in partnership with WaMu, serve more than 630 participants per year. * swimming lessons for all ages * "Total Health" fitness and wellness programs to help anyone develop healthier habits to meet their fitness goals * arthritis aquatics programs * "Silver Sneakers" classes for older adults * health and wellness for all ages and abilities

Program / Activities (NTEE Code)

YMCA, YWCA, YWHA, YMHA
Youth Development Programs
Leadership Development

Accomplishments for Fiscal Year Ending 12/31/2007

1. Raised more than $4.3 million in pledges to the YMCA Partners With Youth Campaign to help ensure that children, teens and families have access to supportive services despite the financial challenges they may face.
2. The Downtown Seattle YMCA launched the YMCA Center for Young Adults in 2007 to provide more resources for young adults ages 18-23 who have experienced forster care or homelessness. The Center served 788 young people in 2007, surpassing its expected yearly enrollment in just three months. The Center is part of the YMCA's Transitions program, which helps these young people with sustainable housing, independent living skills and educational and career resources.
3. YMCA Community Learning Centers provide key support to kids. With the help of YMCA youth development directors at area middle schools, 215 students who had previously failed the WASL exam passed in 2007.

1. Successful youth: Children, regardless of where they live or income level, struggle to develop the positive values, ethic of civic responsibility and educational skills necessary to be fully prepared for adulthood. The YMCA's youth development approach demonstrates notable success in bolstering developmental assets related to school success and character, as shown in surveys done with students who participate in our middle school community learning centers, as well as United Way outcome surveys.
2. Strong families: Families are under increasing stress, not connected to supportive communities and unsure of where to go for help in balancing work, family and civic responsibilities. YMCAs offer a community gathering place where diverse families participate with and learn from each other, in welcoming environments where they can experience an array of activities and access supportive resources.
3. Healthy lifestyles: We are raising the least fit, least healthy generation of children in our nation's history. The associated health care and social costs threaten to overwhelm the community's ability to respond. The YMCA is the historical leader for building health in spirit, mind and body for all ages. In our new facilities, we will help turn the tide by expanding research-based lifestyle health programs that emphasize and support families' involvement in improving their children's activity and nutrition levels.

The YMCA of Greater Seattle creates a Strategic Plan Update each year with quantitative and qualitative measures to prove that we are "walking our talk" in delivering programs to meet community needs. Surveys of participants and parents also gauge our effectiveness.

Chief Executive Profile

Robert B. Gilbertson, Jr., was named president and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Seattle on November 28, 2006, and officially began his role on January 29, 2007. Bob was president and CEO of the Tampa Metropolitan Area YMCA for more than two decades, consistently leading it to outstanding program and capital development achievement while overseeing an annual operating budget that has grown from $1 million to $33.7 million. In addition to reaching top association-wide membership satisfaction scores among YMCAs in the United States, his leadership was critical in increasing membership from 5,000 to 130,000 and raising the money to build and open 12 new branches in the Tampa area. Gilbertson's work at the YMCA, highly regarded and widely innovative, has contributed immensely to the organization. He started a professional services firm, Triangle2 Partners, which generates close to $3 million in client fees and provides services to more than 80 YMCAs and other not-for-profit organizations across the United States. He also led a community-wide collaborative effort to privatize the child welfare system in Hillsborough County, resulting in the formation of a new 501(c) 3 charity with an annual operating budget of $52 million serving 4,500 neglected or abused children. Gilbertson is a trustee on the National YMCA Retirement Board and serves on the national steering committee for the YMCA's work with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other partners to more effectively address rising rates of obesity and preventable disease. Gilbertson started his YMCA career in 1974 as a program director with the Frankfort, Kentucky, YMCA in 1974 as a program director and then became senior program director of the Spartanburg, South Carolina, YMCA in 1976. In 1981, he transferred to the Tampa Metropolitan Area YMCA, where he served for two years as director of operations until he became CEO in 1983. Gilbertson attended the University of Tennessee and graduated with a bachelor's degree from George Williams College in 1974.

Additional Comments

For more information about the significance of the YMCA's impact on the development of the Seattle community, visit www.historylink.org and search for keyword "YMCA"

Financial Data
From the organization's FORM 990

Revenue and Expenses: Fiscal Year Ending December 31, 2007

Revenue			Expenses
Contributions $18,744,481 Government Grants $0 Program Services $26,064,012 Investments $4,769,674 Special Events $670 Sales $142,606 Other $15,011,043			Program Services $45,990,572 Administration $4,669,980 Other $1,618,218 Total Expenditures $52,278,770
Total Revenue	$64,732,486		NET GAIN/LOSS	$12,453,716

Balance Sheet: Fiscal Year Ending December 31, 2007

Notes
The balance sheet gives a snapshot of the financial health of an organization at a particular point in time. An organization's total assets should generally exceed its total liabilities, or it cannot long survive, but the types of assets and liabilities also must be considered. For instance, an organization's current assets (cash, receivables, securities, etc.) should be sufficient to cover its current liabilities (payables, deferred revenue, current year loan and note payments). Otherwise, the organization may face solvency problems. On the other hand, an organization whose cash and equivalents greatly exceed its current liabilities might not be putting its money to best use.

Assets	Jan 1, 2007	Dec 31, 2007	Change
Cash & Equivalent	$9,202,375	$34,732,704	$25,530,329
Accounts Receivable	$729,035	$1,157,386	$428,351
Pledges & Grants Receivable	$4,314,281	$8,474,638	$4,160,357
Receivables/Other	$3,411,373	$3,301,238	$(110,135)
Inventories for Sale or Use	$67,860	$93,368	$25,508
Investments/Securities	$29,364,248	$31,817,025	$2,452,777
Investments/Other	$9,109,203	$9,109,157	$(46)
Fixed Assets	$42,606,060	$47,919,043	$5,312,983
Other	$2,409,212	$2,759,922	$350,710
Total Assets	$101,213,647	$139,364,481	$38,150,834
Liabilities	Jan 1, 2007	Dec 31, 2007	Change
Accounts Payable	$2,145,836	$3,467,418	$1,321,582
Grants Payable	$0	$0	$0
Deferred Revenue	$2,888,223	$3,229,488	$341,265
Loans and Notes	$47,600	$0	$(47,600)
Tax-Exempt Bond Liabilities	$3,950,000	$30,000,000	$26,050,000
Other	$861,151	$972,753	$111,602
Total Liabilities	$9,892,810	$37,669,659	$27,776,849
FUND BALANCE	$91,320,837	$101,694,822	$10,373,985

Comments from the organization
The YMCA of Greater Seattle is financially efficient, stretching its resources through collaborations, use of volunteers and diversified funding sources to meet ever-growing community needs. In our annual Partners With Youth Campaign, 95 cents of every donated dollar goes directly to programs and services.

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