January 2023
1. Mission and Guiding Principles
2. YMCA of Greater Richmond Profile
3. History
4. 2021 Impact Report
5. DEI Strategic Plan
6. Volunteering at the YMCA
7. Annual Case for Support
8. 2023 Financial Overview
9. Organizational Chart
10. Board Member Expectations
11. Service Pathway
To put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all.
The YMCA is for youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility.
We live and teach the values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility.
We embrace the diversity of our community and welcome people of all faiths, races, ages, abilities and incomes.
We strive to achieve the highest standards of quality programs and services.
We help people experience the joy of sharing their time, talent and treasure to help others.
We live our mission by engaging in a lifestyle that develops a healthy spirit, mind and body.
We create a sense of belonging throughout the YMCA, in our neighborhoods and the community.
OFFICIAL NAME YMCA of Greater Richmond
LOCATION 2 W. Franklin Street
Richmond, VA 23220
As of 2/1 2023
201 W. 7th Street, Suite 110 Richmond, VA 23224
FACILITIES 16 Branch Locations
1 Day Camp
1 Aquatic Center
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Krissy Gathright, Board Chair
Chris Shockley, Chair Elect
John Lancaster, Treasurer
Jill Goldfine, Secretary
Gordon Fruetel, Immediate Past Board Chair
35 Additional Board members
STAFF
Abby Rogers, President/CEO
Megan O’Neill, EVP/COO
David Wyman, SVP/CFO
265 full time 2,000 part time
ONE MISSION
To Put Christian Principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all.
1844 YMCA founded in London, England
1851 YMCA began in North America
1854 Richmond YMCA organized at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
1885 Organized Railroad YMCA, Main Street
1886 First YMCA building in Richmond, 6th and Main Streets
1887 First black member YMCA organized at Ebenezer Baptist Church
1909 New building, 7th and Grace Streets
1942 New building, 2 West Franklin Street
1955 All units merged into Metropolitan YMCA; began South Richmond/Chesterfield branch (name later changed to Manchester branch)
1959 Began Tuckahoe branch
1965 Purchased Camp Shawonodasee from the Boy Scouts of America to become the new Camp Thunderbird
1974-5 Opened 3 YMCA buildings: North Richmond, Manchester, Tuckahoe
1980 Chester branch chartered
1983 Chickahominy branch chartered
1989 Opened Chickahominy YMCA facility
1990 Opened Chester YMCA facility; Patrick Henry branch chartered
1994 Shady Grove and Midlothian branches chartered
1995 Southside Virginia YMCA merges with YMCA of Greater Richmond; opened outdoor pool and youth center at Midlothian branch
1996 Site secured for Shady Grove branch; expansions began at Chickahominy, Tuckahoe, YMCA Camp Thunderbird and Midlothian
1997 Opened Navas Lodge at YMCA Camp Thunderbird
1998 Expanding Horizons, Changing Lives capital campaign celebrates $14.1 million, 114 percent of campaign goal; Shady Grove branch opened; new facility expansions at Chickahominy and Tuckahoe branches opened; Southside Virginia branch rededicated; groundbreaking for Chester branch expansion
1999 Groundbreaking for Downtown expansion (Capital One Outreach and Education Center); Midlothian branch grand opening
2000 Chester, Downtown and Manchester expansions open; Vision 2010 strategic plan unveiled
2001 Groundbreaking for North Richmond branch expansion; groundbreaking for Patrick Henry branch; Shady Grove branch expansion opened
2002 Completed expansion and renovation of North Richmond YMCA Community Center; grand opening and dedication of Patrick Henry Family YMCA facility; Chester Family YMCA, Downtown YMCA and Association office renovations completed; sites secured and campaigns underway for YMCA facilities in Goochland and Powhatan counties; Barry Taylor joined Association as President and CEO
2003 Groundbreaking and site work underway for two new facilities: Elizabeth Randolph Lewis Powhatan YMCA and Goochland Family YMCA; groundbreaking for Shady Grove Family YMCA expansion; grand opening and dedication of
Manchester Family YMCA Skate Park
2004 Elizabeth Randolph Lewis Powhatan YMCA and Goochland Family YMCA open; Shady Grove Family YMCA expansion opens; 150th anniversary celebrated by almost 900 members, volunteers, donors, and staff on November 30
2005 John Rolfe Family YMCA and James Center YMCA open; rolled out a new Vision 2010 strategic plan; first woman appointed Board Emeritus; Capital Campaign underway for Midlothian YMCA expansion
2006 Strengthened program and membership delivery systems
2007 Celebrated 15th year of YMCA Bright Beginnings, resulting in over 20,400 children served since inception. YMCA diversity initiative promotes the YMCA as an institution that “Celebrates culture by embracing diversity.”
2008 Patrick Henry capital campaign underway; acquired additional property on West Grace Street for a Downtown YMCA campus; changed terminology of the 2010 strategic plan to Vision 2015 strategic plan; established a YMCA GuyForce program
2009 Amended and restated Bylaws and Articles of Incorporation; Patrick Henry and Midlothian YMCA groundbreakings; Midlothian expansion complete; Manchester officially moves forward with a capital campaign
2010 Opened consolidated Patrick Henry Family YMCA; broke ground for Swift Creek Family YMCA to serve more families in Chesterfield County
2011 Opened Patrick Henry Family YMCA gymnasium; Opened Manchester Family YMCA Aquatic Center; Opened Atlee Station Family YMCA—2nd location serving Hanover County
2012 Opened Swift Creek Family YMCA
2013 Welcomed our new President and CEO, Tim Joyce
2014 Launch of 2025 Strategic Plan
2015 Celebrated 160th anniversary
Opened the new Tommy J. West Aquatics Center at the Shady Grove Family YMCA in May
Launched For All. For Good $40 million comprehensive campaign
2016 Offered free summer memberships to area teens
2017
Relaunched membership structure which opened the YMCAs to the highest membership base ever had (36,000+)
2018 Opened the new, re-chartered James Center Y as the 10th Street YMCA; began renovations on the historic Northside YMCA and Petersburg YMCA for the largest investment in social equity in 25 years; secured land for future development of the Atlee Station Family YMCA
2019 Opened the newly renovated Northside YMCA and Petersburg YMCA; began construction on the Henrico County YMCA
Aquatics Center
2020 Opened the Frank J. Thornton YMCA Aquatic Center
2021 Welcomed our new President and CEO, Abigail Farris Rogers
2022 Opened the newly renovated Manchester YMCA, including the Welcome Center that serves as a hub for new and current residents in the community; Groundbreaking for expansion and renovation of Tuckahoe YMCA.
“I CANNOT DO ALL THE GOOD THAT THE WORLD NEEDS. BUT THE WORLD NEEDS ALL THE GOOD THAT I CAN DO.”
- JANA STANFIELD
I am so happy to share with you the 2021 Impact Report for the YMCA OF GREATER RICHMOND. This was a year of recovery and transition as the Y resumed, adapted and expanded our programs and services to serve our neighbors. At every step, the Y has leaned in to listen and respond to the changing needs of our community.
For the last 168 years, the YMCA OF GREATER RICHMOND has invested in children, families and adults in the Richmond region. From the pool to the classroom to the wellness floor, we have worked hard to create spaces where everyone feels they belong. Today, we are committed to standing alongside families in our community, in the places and spaces they need us, to offer access to the connections and support we all need to thrive.
So much of this trajectory of the Y can be attributed to the sharp vision of our CEO, Abby Rogers, who took the helm in January 2021. Whether renovating our Manchester Y and Welcome Center, expanding Community Health and Social Needs Navigation or developing the Y’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Strategic Plan, her vision has been driven by the goal of creating opportunity for all.
As outgoing Board Chair, I feel deeply confident in the bright future of the Y. I could not be prouder of our staff for their steadfast dedication and resilience. And I could not be more grateful to our members, donors and friends who continue to trust in and support this work.
Nothing is impossible when we partner to continue to be Here. For Good.
Be well,
GORDON FRUETEL 2021 BOARD CHAIR YMCA OF GREATER RICHMOND
the YMCA OF GREATER RICHMOND has been committed to community development, working with our neighbors to bring about transformational change together.
Today, nearly 200,000 children and adults engage with our programs each year through our branches and community sites in neighborhoods throughout the greater Richmond area. We provide $6.5 million annually in financial assistance to children, families and adults, so the Y remains open to all. The YMCA is Here. For Good.
“COVID-19 was challenging. Morale was low. Teens were emotionally tired and feeling hopeless,” reflects Josh. The Chester Leaders' Club has always been a tight-knit group. Although these middle and high school teens come from different neighborhoods and schools in the surrounding area, the negative impact of pandemic-related school closures and social disruption was a common theme.
In 2021, able to again meet each week at the Y, these teens shared their emotional challenges and through service projects like Community Clean-up, Trunk-or-Treat, Community Food Distribution, Y Cross Country volunteering and the Kiwanis Chester Christmas Parade, they regained their sense of purpose. The camaraderie and shared experiences have had an extraordinary effect on their mental health and outlook. These young leaders can again envision the bright futures on their horizons.
Josh has seen positive changes in all these young leaders including 3 formerly quiet, timid teens who bravely stepped into Executive Leadership positions in the Fall. “They used to express to me a sense of loneliness, but now are known throughout the other clubs for their genuine spirit,” boasts Josh. “All these things they struggled with – and still do from time to time – are what drive them to be even more a part of Leaders’ Club…to make sure that other teens in our Club and throughout the Y do not feel the way they did in 2020.”
When Josh Young, Teen Director for Leaders’ Club at the Chester Family YMCA, brought his club back together in person last year he was worried.
“I am so proud of them.”
Imagine having a deep fear of swimming and living in a country where you speak little of the language, when, on a hot summer day in Virginia, your children ask you to take them swimming. Should you go? What if they need assistance in the pool? How would you help? Could you even communicate on behalf of your children?
This was the motivation for four brave women watching their children play and swim at the SHADY GROVE FAMILY YMCA. When Aquatics Director Autumn Floyd offered to teach them to swim, it wasn’t an easy decision to make. The women were afraid and only one could speak English well enough to offer translation. Autumn successfully coaxed them into the water in October 2021, and, despite their fears, they trusted her.
They trusted that they would be safe at their Y.
Autumn was patient, the women invested time and focused on her directions, and their mutual trust and relationship grew. “They learned what I was saying through body language and I too learned their sarcasm and silliness through tone and body language. We have all grown from this experience,” reflects Autumn.
It is the intentionally welcoming, inclusive environment at the Y that opened this opportunity; allowing four women the comfortable space, attention and care they needed to learn a new skill that will ultimately lead to the health and safety of their entire family.
These are the ways the Y lifts members of our community, meeting them wherever they are along their journey, to help them thrive.
Language barrier no match for learning to swim at the Y
MORE THAN 3,000 KIDS WERE ENROLLED IN AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS 2 out of 3 children received financial assistance.
NEARLY 200,000 CHILDREN AND ADULTS ENGAGED WITH Y PROGRAMS.
9,000 KIDS PARTICIPATED IN YOUTH SPORTS 15% received financial assistance.
NEARLY 500 TEENS participated Y Leaders’ and Achievers Clubs.
Social Needs Navigation helped MORE THAN 350 INDIVIDUALS.
NEARLY 5,000 KIDS WERE IN CAMP.
MORE THAN 1,200 KIDS PARTICIPATED IN POWER SCHOLARS ACADEMY—more than ever before with two new school districts, Henrico and Goochland.
6,891 VOLUNTEERS across the Association DONATED 48,792 HOURS OF TIME.
MORE THAN 8,000 INDIVIDUALS participated in Aquatics Programs.
142 PARTICIPANTS took part in Aging Strong and Active Adult programming.
The fellowship that seniors experience at the Y helps keep them vibrant. We reintroduced our physical activity offerings, and we were intentional about including more time and space for social connection opportunities.
We are on track to return to 2019 levels of 500 Aging Strong participants through leveraging community impact efforts and remodeled partnerships to fill the gaps that the pandemic shined a light on that affect many seniors like food security, transportation and technology.
Mrs. Margaret Harris participates regularly in the Aging Strong Café and is filled with lots of hope and goals for herself. She is a wife of 50 years and a crafter who teaches classes in her building. Mrs. Harris says she has raised many family members. She states that coming to “the Café is my time now” to spend time socializing with friends her own age. At nearly 70, Mrs. Harris is working closely with a reading teacher and one of our social needs navigators connected her to a speech therapist to help her complete her GED.
Mr. Marcellus Johnson was in a serious car accident 6 years ago and sustained permanent lower back injuries. He asked himself, “What am I doing to help myself recover?” After several years of physical therapy, acupuncture, epidurals and drug treatment, he felt like his recovery was at a stand-still and his quality of life
was low. Then, Mr. Johnson learned that swimming could play a key role in his recovery. He began going to the NORTHSIDE FAMILY YMCA to swim. He now swims 3 days a week and feels better than ever. His friends compliment his body toning and his doctors love his improvements, especially his most recent blood pressure reading of 127/76.
Social isolation is a leading factor of overall cognitive decline and morbidity for older adults, and nearly a quarter of seniors in our region are economically insecure or live alone.
Community Health is a pillar of YMCA OF GREATER RICHMOND’s mission work. Promoting health equity through accessible, inclusive programming is at our core…and today we are deeply committed to addressing the spectrum of interconnected needs of individuals and families throughout our region.
From meeting basic needs to reducing the risk factors for chronic disease to increasing overall physical and mental health, the Y is actively convening our own dedicated leaders as well as hundreds of community partners to elevate and expand this important work.
The YMCA-led Help1RVA was first developed in 2018 as a collaborative of providers offering access to services in food, housing, employment, healthcare, childcare, and more; addressing basic needs that are so often barriers to health and wellness. Little did we know how important this resource would quickly become.
During the pandemic the use of the YMCA’s Help1RVA system increased by 1,300 percent as community members searched for a variety of urgently needed services.
Y Social Needs Navigators work every day to serve as partners and advocates through the daunting process of connecting individuals and families with service providers, preparing documents, translating information, finding transportation, and so much more.
We hope you will watch this video featuring Y Social Needs Navigator, Teresa Lopez de Ocanas. You will see how your support of the Y is directly moving people from crisis to thriving through her work.
The Y is committed to serving beyond our walls. Our monthly mobile food pantries are serving 200 families in Ashland and 200 families in Chester at Greenleigh, Virginia’s largest mobile home community. ❱❱
The YMCA OF GREATER RICHMOND is opening its first Welcome Center in the MANCHESTER FAMILY YMCA . Along with nearly 30 partner organizations, the Welcome Center will offer a safe, welcoming, culturally-minded space for those new to our community, region or country. Programs will include English Language Learner (ELL) classes, legal and immigration services, parenting classes, citizenship preparation and a variety of community activities.
WELCOMING BEYOND OUR WALLS
Through expanded Community Health centers, individuals and families facing language, transportation, technology and other barriers can access the programs and services they need, right within their communities.
The Woodman West apartment community in Henrico is home to diverse and changing populations including Afghan and other refugees. The need for culturally thoughtful, trauma-informed access to programs and services is great, and the Y has stepped in to serve.
The SHADY GROVE FAMILY YMCA’s Community Engagement Director, Erum Rochester, is at the forefront of this work. Through time spent working
with residents building relationships within Woodman West, she has learned what residents need most, including enrichment programs for youth and English Language Learner (ELL) classes for both children and adults.
What families need isn’t just one service. For example, families often do not know about days when schools are closed. The impact this can have on a family is great, from children waiting for the bus after their parents have left for work to loss of wages as parents scramble to find care at the last minute. The Y is there as a trusted partner to help with communication, offer childcare, and provide tutoring to give families stability and hope for a thriving future.
At the start of 2021, with many children still learning virtually in our 15 Y Student Success Centers, opportunities for social interaction and carefree play were in short supply. But, as the weather warmed, life, laughter and learning returned to our fields, camps and after-school programs.
And we couldn’t be happier!
It started with Youth Sports. With safety measures in place, families felt most comfortable bringing children to outdoor activities, and our fields began to fill with the sounds of cheers again. Over the course of the year, we served more than 9,000 children, 10 percent more than before the pandemic began. ❱❱
After a taste of the sun and fun of spring sports, Y Summer Camp soared to serve nearly 5,000 children, 3 times the number from 2020. Kids have never been more ready to chant and dance at Opening Council, splash in the pool, cast a line in the lake and cheer at the Gaga pit.
But we know that the time away from in-person classes took a toll on kids’ learning. For so many, summer was a time for enrichment and fun, but also to recover lost learning. By expanding Y Power Scholars Academy beyond Richmond City to include sites in Henrico and Goochland, the Y served more than 1,200 students with free summer academic support. These children, who were most impacted by virtual learning, had the chance to start their 202122 academic year on a stronger foundation.
With a full return to in-person learning in the fall, families again relied on the Y to provide highquality, accessible and supportive
after-school care. Y counselors received special training in COVID-19-relevant trauma-informed care and were equipped with a new BellXcel, evidence-based curriculum that provides whole-child academic, enrichment, social-emotional learning and wellness programming. More than 3,000 students were in our care with 2 out of 3 families receiving financial assistance. With each new milestone, the Y continues to stand side-by-side with parents, caregivers, teachers, school districts and communities to ensure that our children are healthy, happy and prepared for a successful future.
The Y’s mission is reflected by the core values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility. These values inspire us to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to reach their full potential and be authentic in all aspects of diversity including ability, age, cultural background, economic status, ethnicity, faith, gender, gender identity, ideology, language, national origin, political view, race or sexual orientation. Together, we celebrate strong, inclusive communities FOR ALL.
For 167 years, our core values and “spirit, mind and body” focus, have grounded us to weather social change, expand membership, enhance our services, and thrive as a community organization that bridges divides and cultivates human relationships.
We are advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion through an intentional strategic plan, BELONG WITH THE YMCA, to emphasize to our members, employees, donors, stakeholders, and communities that the YMCA stands committed to creating strong, inclusive communities that reject discrimination in all forms. This plan turns ideas into action and underscores our dedication to equity. Through these strategies, the YMCA will become a more inclusive, diverse, multicultural organization embracing anti-racist principles that actively identify and break down systems that perpetuate inequities.
GOAL: To create an environment in which staff, members and other stakeholders experience an organization rich with multicultural inclusivity, the promotion of equity
across all walks of life and a genuine sense of belonging for people of all demographics and identities with intentional focus on underrepresented and historically marginalized communities.
PURPOSE: To assure that the YMCA is promoting equity and inclusion, ensuring that our promise to be “Open to All” remains at the forefront of our approach to staff, members, community partners, and our communities, and increasing collective awareness of the YMCA as an agent of social change.
We are dedicated to being an organization where the entire community can thrive. Belong with the YMCA creates space for transparency and open dialogue for our community and staff to engage, collaborate, and hold each other accountable to the Y’s work of fostering health equity, equity of opportunity, and equity in education and leadership for all residents of our region.
Our employees are the Y’s most important resource. We are dedicated to becoming the most welcoming, inclusive, equitable organization possible, where employees feel a genuine sense of belonging. Y staff will reflect and represent the diverse and multicultural communities where we all live, work and play, and our authentic relationships with one another will create a culture of compassion and empathy where everyone can thrive. Employee Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives focus on retention, recruitment, advancement and culture.
OBJECTIVE: To recruit, hire and retain diverse, multicultural staff, with a focus on BIPOC, underrepresented and historically marginalized communities that is reflective and representative of the communities in which we work at all levels of the organization.
• By 2025, our employees will be at least 70 percent reflective of community demographics.
OBJECTIVE: Our employees feel a deep sense of belonging, support, and encouragement in a welcoming, respectful, nurturing, and affirming environment with equitable opportunities for advancement.
• By 2023, employee engagement will increase by 3.86.
• By 2025, employee satisfaction and sense of belonging will increase by 3.96.
OBJECTIVE: Increase YMCA employees’ opportunities for advancement through transparent, equitable practices.
OBJECTIVE: Increase understanding and awareness of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion culture work to Y staff through enhanced communication of internal and external messaging.
OBJECTIVE: YMCA members and community partners are aware of and understand the YMCA’s mission to create a more equitable community—focused on equity of education, leadership, and health.
OBJECTIVE: Ensure that YMCA messaging is culturally intelligent.
A vital component of our commitment to equity is that the YMCA is Open to All. This premise is foundational— part of our “DNA”—and we are dedicated to advancing health equity, equity of opportunity, and equity in education and leadership. We work in concert with others, engage alongside community members and partners, through authentic and trusting partnerships. Community Diversity, Equity and Inclusion focuses on investments in marginalized communities, advocacy for the organization’s mission, and commitment to community partnerships.
OBJECTIVE: To recruit diverse, multicultural board members, with a focus on BIPOC, underrepresented and historically marginalized communities, that are reflective and representative of the communities in which we serve.
• By 2023, YMCA branch Boards of Managers will be 65 percent reflective of the communities served.
• By 2025, YMCA branch Boards of Managers will be 70 percent reflective of the communities served.
OBJECTIVE: To ensure YMCA donors are aware of and understand the YMCA’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
OBJECTIVE: To forge community partnerships that support and promote equity, inclusion, and asset-based community engagement.
• The completion and expansion of capital projects in under-resourced communities will be a measurement of success.
OBJECTIVE: For all YMCA facilities to be welcoming spaces for the community to access resources that support families and individuals in reaching their full potential.
• By 2025, we will support 4,500 families and individuals through social needs navigation and Help1RVA.
OBJECTIVE: To ensure that all community members can access YMCA programs and services in a barrier-free, user-friendly manner.
Every day, children, teens, senior citizens and families come to the Y to learn, grow and thrive. But we need people like YOU to help us make their experience even better and create lasting impact on our community. We provide volunteer opportunities across the YMCA OF GREATER RICHMOND to fit your interests and schedule.
“
out of volunteering than I
back. It feels good to do good.
” - Robin Payne
The YMCA OF GREATER RICHMOND teaches more than 3,000 children water safety education and swim instruction each year. Volunteers help make this life-saving program possible. You can help! Volunteers are most needed Tuesdays – Thursdays from 10 a.m. – noon. Must be ages 13 or older.
This is a member-led volunteer service program that invites Y members to activate their social responsibility by participating in the Y’s cause to strengthen community. Togetherhood provides Y members with fun, convenient and rewarding ways to give back and support their neighbors. If you are interested in serving on a committee or as a volunteer for one of our service projects, please reach out to your local branch.
Help coach a team or be a Program Assistant with any YMCA Youth Sports programs. No previous experience required. Teams just can’t run without our coaches or assistants, so you can feel great about making a real difference! Hours are based on program times. Must be ages 14 or older.
You tell great stories. So help us share stories of how the Y impacts lives in our community. You will help Y programs remain open to all by telling others how we’re “so much more.” Hours are flexible. Ages 18+
Give back to your community and make friends too! Help ensure that Y wellness areas are welcoming and inviting. You’ll assist members with questions, maintain an organized, clean center and create a friendly, engaging space for all.
The YMCA Miracle League of Richmond is an exciting new partnership to provide children with intellectual, visual or physical challenges the opportunity to play baseball! To volunteer for this program, contact miracleleaguerva@ymcarichmond.org
Volunteer to brighten a child’s day! You can be a book reader, a homework helper, teach a special skill, play group games, lead group activities or introduce new creative learning experiences — just let us know! We’d love to match your talents to new opportunities for our children to learn and grow. Background checks and TB test required.
Love children? Help us make their time at the Y engaging and fun. Read stories, assist with arts and crafts, play games and provide quality, enriching care for children ages 6 weeks to 12 years old.
People who love to interact with others are perfect for this volunteer opportunity. Greeters welcome everyone who comes into the Y — creating a welcoming and friendly culture. Hours are flexible. Ages 14+ preferred.
We’re seeking volunteers to engage in a variety of community programs and outreach initiatives throughout the year, including: special events at summer outreach camps, YMCA Bright Beginnings back-to-school outreach program, YMCA Christmas Connections program and more. Just let us know your availability and what’s in your heart — and we’ll help to make the match.
For more information, email volunteer@ymcarichmond.org
“Whatever your talents and no matter the amount of time you have to give, we need you. The Y staff will find a way for you to share your passion, talents and gifts.” - Evalynn Miller
VP of Community Health Controller
Association Director of Risk Management
AVP of Marketing & Communications
AVP of Brand Strategy & Experience
SVP of Business Operations
SVP of Youth Development
SVP of Human Resources
Regional VP Operations
AVP of Equity Advancement
Abigail Farris Rogers CEO Shawn Morrison SVP of Philanthropy Barry Saunders SVP of Strategy/ Membership/Programs David Wyman SVP & CFO Lisa Ramirez SVP of Community Impact Megan O’Neill EVP/COOYour volunteer experience is important to us. This document should help clearly outline expectations, roles and responsibilities and identify the profile of an engaged volunteer. We want to thank you for your commitment and service to the Y and your community. You are the Y!
Expectations:
Attendance – be present!
• Strive to attend 80% of meetings a year (board and committee).
• Join and actively participate on a committee
• Attend at least 2 additional Y activities
Service – be involved!
• Be knowledgeable of programs and services by visiting them
• Contribute your personal gift and secure at least 2 others
• Become a leader in the Annual Giving Campaign
• Avail yourself to assisting leadership staff when called upon
Promote – be heard!
• Understand the goals of the organization and help involve at least 2 new people
• Enthusiastically support the Y, staff and volunteers
Roles and Responsibilities:
• Be an Ambassador – speak often and with enthusiasm
• Be an Advisor – share your personal and professional skills and talents
• Provide Access – open doors that will further the mission of the organization
• Provide Affluence – be able and willing to financially support the organizational needs through both a personal gift and obtainment of others
• Provide Assistance – volunteer your time and talent in programs
Engaged Member Profile:
• Committed – to the YMCA, its vision and mission, its principles and practices
• Connected – to the communities served by the YMCA
• Communicate – with comfort and ease around the YMCA its mission, cause and focus
• Constituency – board member reflects a segment of the community the Y is serving
• Capacity – support the efforts in helping fund the future of the organization
COMMITTED TO SERVING OUR COMMUNITY
The YMCA OF GREATER RICHMOND was formed in 1854 to serve the spiritual, mental and physical needs of our community. Our first permanent location opened in 1887 at the corner of 6th and Main Streets in downtown Richmond. Today, the YMCA OF GREATER RICHMOND has grown to a 19-branch association employing approximately 2,400 people annually and has more than 160,000 members. The Y’s presence is also found in 124 countries around the world.
Although the YMCA OF GREATER RICHMOND is advised by YMCA of the USA, a national resource office, we are an independent organization having our own corporate charter, by-laws, staff and facilities. There are no individual owners or shareholders. We exist only to serve the community and all operational surpluses are returned to serve that end. We are recognized by the state and national government as a registered nonprofit charitable 501(C)3 tax-exempt organization.
The association is governed by a board of directors. The YMCA OF GREATER RICHMOND operates 18 branches throughout the metro area. Most branches have its own executive director and board of management. Staff members interface with the branch board and implement the goals and objectives of the local branch.
The by-laws of the YMCA OF GREATER RICHMOND allow the association board of directors to establish branches and principles of governance. These guidelines have been established by the association to promote significant volunteer participation in the governance and support of the long-term health of the Y and its branches. The YMCA OF GREATER RICHMOND association board of directors maintains an at-large board of approximately 35 members. The association board of directors delegates branch oversight to branch boards of management.
The purpose of the branch boards of management is to align the work of the Y to the community it serves, as well as to the YMCA OF GREATER RICHMOND as a whole. Branch board members support branch programs and services by taking an active leadership role in giving and securing financial resources for the branch, enlisting volunteer participation and aligning community needs.
Branch boards provide input for the association’s strategic goals based on branch needs and within the framework of the association’s goals. Branch boards review and recommend annual branch objectives to achieve goals prepared by the branch executive director.
The finances of the YMCA OF GREATER RICHMOND are an association function. Branch boards should recommend and monitor budgets for the annual giving; encouraging endowments to interested donors.
Program needs are determined at the branch level consistent with community needs and the policies of the overall association. Branch boards may recommend new programming based on feedback from their strategic work.
The Y is one of many organizations working to strengthen our communities. Board members are encouraged through their other community involvement to assist the Y in establishing partnership opportunities.
The hiring and replacement of branch executives is the responsibility of the management of the association. Staff management will seek participation from branch board leadership in the selection of branch executive directors.
Branch boards should be large enough to reflect the major stakeholder groups of the branch, reflect the diversity of the community and provide professional technical assistance. It is important that our boards mirror the communities they serve. Our goal is to have at least 70% demographic representation.
In general, large YMCA boards have more people available to volunteer for task forces and fundraising projects. An active board consisting of 24 members is preferred to satisfy proper roles and duties.
Paid staff may not serve on any YMCA board.
Branch boards are typically structured around the board’s priorities and responsibilities as outlined above. The work of successful boards is accomplished through committees. Branch boards are encouraged to involve non-board members on committees, other than the board development committee, as a way to engage the membership and recruit new volunteers.
Board committees are:
• Board Development Committee
• Philanthropy Committee
• Mission Equity Advancement
• Attend and participate in branch board meetings
• Attend meetings of committees or task forces to which appointed
• Support the Y with an annual gift at a meaningful level
• Assume leadership when asked.
• Speak proudly and positively about the Y
• Represent the Y at community events and with organizations and individuals
• Be informed about YMCA programs and policies
• Learn about the needs in the community and gaps in senior population.
• Serve as chief staff officer for the branch
• Work in concert with the board of management
• Recommend appropriate goals and objectives to strengthen the branch
• Inform the board fully and accurately regarding program development and delivery
• Develop the annual operating budget and present it for branch board review and recommendation to the association board
• Recruit, direct, review and develop competent branch staff to deliver programs and services to the branch community
• Work with committees of the branch board in concert with the committee chairs and the branch board chair
These activities are the responsibility of both board and staff leadership. Diversity and representation is a critical component to a thriving board.
• Evaluate present board
• Identify nominees
• Recruit new members
• Nominate for election and approval
• Provide orientation for new members
• Mentor new members
• Plan succession of members and officers
• Apply term limits
• Recognize service
• Three-year term
• Three-term limitation unless an officer
• After three terms, off the board for a minimum of one year before serving again
• Approximately one-third of terms expire each year
• New members are elected by branch board
• Annual elections to be completed by November with terms beginning in January
• Non-board members may be invited to serve on a board committee
Elected for two-year terms starting in January
• Chair
• Vice Chair
• Commitee Chairs
• Regular attendance by members at board and committee meetings
• Active committees
• Balance of new and experienced board members
• Leadership in the annual support campaign
• Representation from key stakeholders
• Attendance at association and national events
Good stewardship depends on enlightened decision making. Effective communication between the branch executive, branch board chair and association board should always be maintained. Board members need to be knowledgeable about the Y’s status and needs if they are to make sound decisions that advance its mission. An effective board information system should focus on decision-making, stimulate participation and support an appropriate balance of responsibility between the branch board and staff.