Executive Compensation at the YMCA (2021)

The YMCA (Young Men’s Christian Association) is a worldwide (119 countries) organization based in Geneva, Switzerland (World Alliance of the YMCA). Within the United States, there are approximately 2,560 YMCA’s serving 10,000 communities that rely on the YMCA of the USA (that is also known as the National Council of YMCA’s of the USA) that in turn relies on The World Alliance of the YMCA).  In the most simplistic terms, the YMCA is organized as follows:

World Alliance of the YMCA

125 National Associations (including The YMCA of the USA/National Council of YMCA’s of the USA)

Alliances (typically geographic) and Local Chapters (including 2,700 YMCA’s in the USA)

In the USA, each local chapter is a separate 501 (c) (3) that files its own IRS Form 990, as is the YMCA of the USA, a national resource organizaition based in Chicago, Illinois  that seeks to strengthen local YMCA’s through grants and program services.

The YMCA of the USA is overseen by a board of 28 independent voting members, of whom . 16 (57%) of whom are male while 12 (43%) are female.

The most recent IRS Form 990 (2021) for the YMCA of the USA reports the following key pieces of information with regards to compensation:

Total revenue was $145 million (compared to $118 million in 2020 and $140 million in 2019), most of which is derived from contributions, gifts, and grants and programs.

Expenses totaled $94 million (not including $2 million in depreciation) with the two largest expenses being  compensation and fees for services (primarily to support programs). Because the organization spent significantly less ($50 million less) than they raised, and had unrealized gains on investments partially offset by a loss on a sublease, net assets increased Fromm $130 million at the beginning of the year to $186 million at year-end.

194 employees received $28 million in compensation, which equates to an average compensation of $144,000 (compared to $113,000 in 2019). 91 individuals received more than $100,000 in compensation.

The 9 mostly highly compensated employees received $4.5 million (an average of $500,000):

• $855,104:  Kevin Washington, President and CEO (thru 8/21)
• $671,663:  Paul McEntire, EVP, Chief Operations Officer
• $449,623:  Rebecca Bowen, EVP, Chief Advancement Officer
• $435,140:  Karyn Kirk, EVP and General Counsel
• $624,355:  Nancy L Owens, SVP and CFO
• $369,656:  Robert Denton, SVP, Chief Government Affairs Officer
• $373,672:  Shawn Borzelleri, SVP, Service Delivery Program Development Officer
• $367,822:  Lynda Gonzales, SVP, Chief Global Diversity Equity and Inclusion Officer
• $288,858:  Suzanne McCormick, President and CEO, effective 9/21

Of the 9 most highly compensated employees, 4 are male while 5 are female.

The most highly compensated employee was Kevin Washington, who received $4 million in compensation over the past 5 years:

Kevin Washington

• 2021:  $855,104
• 2020:  $793,640
• 2019:  $786,138
• 2018:  $763,350
• 2017:  $829,255

64 independent contractors received more than $100,000 each with the five most highly compensated reported to be:

• $2,354,586:  VML, of Kansas City, MO for brand and customer experience
• $2,314,656:  Mouri Tech, of Irving Texas for database development and support services
• $1,000,000:  Open Y, of Minneapolis, MN for digital transformation of YMCA’s
• $  995,000:  McKinsey and Company, of NY, NY for membership business model
• $  934,500:  Praeisdum, of Arlington TX for child safety initiative

To find out the executive compensation of an alliance or local YMCA, the specific IRS Form 990 must be consulted.

To read the IRS Form 990 (2021) for the YMCA of the USA, click here.