YWCA
We Are On A Mission
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Early Learning Program
A 5-Star licensed program providing safe, stimulating and affordable care for children from 6 weeks to 5 years old.
MotherLove
Provides mentoring and support for teens who are pregnant or parenting, helping them build skills as strong parents and successful students.
Empowerment Child Care
Provides free, high quality child care for women seeking jobs, education, and essential social services to improve their family’s economic security.
Getting Ahead In a Just Gettin' By World
Empowers women living in poverty to build their resources for a more prosperous life for themselves, their families, and their communities.
Primary Enrichment Program
A 5-Star licensed After School and Summer Camp program providing quality care for children in grades K-5.
Preventive Health
Provides health outreach and access to exercise and healthy eating to underserved communities. Includes Diabetes Wellness and Prevention and Salsa Sabor y Salud.
YWCA Fitness Club
Offers strength training, cardio equipment, a cycling studio, and a variety of fitness classes including yoga, pump, Zumba, and water aerobics.
Aquatics
Offers swim lessons, lap and family swims, and lifeguard training in our indoor, solar-heated pool.
Where we work
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Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
We seek to fulfill our mission of eliminating of racism and the empowering women through advocacy and programs that nurture children, create opportunities for women and promote health.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
We serve over 2,500 families each year through eight programs.
Our licensed 5-Star Early Learning and Primary Enrichment programs provide safe, high quality, affordable child care, Pre-K, after-school and summer camp programs for a culturally and economically diverse population of children.
The Women's Empowerment program serves women working to achieve economic security and well-being, and includes our free Empowerment Child Care Center, MotherLove, and Getting Ahead in a Just Gettin' By World.
The YWCA addresses health disparities through our Health and Wellness Department, which includes the YWCA Fitness Club gym, Aquatics, and Preventive Health programs.
In addition, the YWCA works with staff, program participants, Board Members, and community partners to advocate for legislation that promotes empowering women and eliminating racism at the local, state, and national level.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
The YWCA is a 501C3 led by a strong, engaged, all-female Board of Directors. For 2017-18, the Board of Directors has 21 positions. The YW board has an active committee structure that oversees sustainability, finance, programs, and advocacy. Participation on the YW board offers many women in this community unique leadership training opportunities, and furthers our mission of empowering of women. Arguably one of the most diverse organizations in Asheville, the YW has seven managerial positions, all of which are held by women. Five of the seven positions are currently held by women of color. Each program director is responsible for the planning, coordination, and evaluation of their particular program.
Starting in the Fall of 2013 with extensive stakeholder research and concluding with the passage at the April 2014 board meeting, the YWCA adopted a bold and exciting five year strategic plan. The following five goal statements, developed by staff and board, are guiding the agency's work.
Eliminating Racism: We are dedicated to educating and protecting against institutional and other forms of racism through public engagement. We will work inside and outside the YWCA with change makers and community partners through action, advocacy, service delivery and healing.
Empowering Women: The YWCA is where every woman is empowered to transform her life in the areas of finance, education, and health. In addition, she is equipped with the tools to advance and lead.
Creating a Great Place to Work: We are an outstanding example for the community of a place people want to work and volunteer because we are inclusive and respect the contributions of the team, rise to the demands of the work, encourage each person who walks through our doors to be a leader, and support them on their journey.
Building a Sustainable Future: We have a sustainable and transparent financial foundation that engages our community of supporters, enables our work and supports our ability to respond to changes in need and new opportunities.
Optimizing Communication: The YWCA uses meaningful and open dialogue to promote awareness of the YWCA and to engage the community, staff and the people we serve in fulfilling our mission.
Finally, the YW's 108- year history and strong financial, leadership, and programmatic indicators predict the YW's future sustainability. Current critical indicators of financial stability for the YWCA of Asheville are: 1) no long-term debt, 2) strong current ratio of assets to liabilities, and 3) a diverse stream of revenue including program fees (60%), United Way, state grants, and individual and corporate donations. The YW has a small endowment and cash reserve equivalent to three months of operation.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Every year our programs deliver measurable outcomes for our participants. Here are just a few of our successes from 2015-16:
MotherLove served 75 teens. In the past 10 years 96% of MotherLove participants graduated high school; statewide only 36% of teen mothers graduate high school
Empowerment Child Care served 147 families for a total of 9,489 hours of no cost child care. Of those families, 34 secured full time jobs, 7 secured part time jobs, 4 earned degrees, 23 successfully completed school semesters, 25 obtained child care subsidies and secured full time child care, and 5 started their own business.
Getting Ahead served 43 women all of whom were living in poverty. Most are track to meet their goals. So far, 6 participants have accessed financial counseling, 2 have paid off a combined total of 4 credit cards, 1 has dramatically increased her credit score, 2 participants have acquired safe, affordable housing, 2 more are on the road to home ownership,1 secured a conventional loan to purchase a car, 8 have increased their incomes, 3 have completed or are enrolled in educational programs, 3 enrolled in training with Goodwill, and finally 1 participant let her employer know that they were not paying a living wage, which led to increased income for all entry level workers at that company!
The Early Learning Program served 74 children ages 0-5, who gained the skills and enrichment they need to get an excellent start on their education cultural development, and social skills.
The Primary Enrichment Program served 125 children through After School and/or Summer Camp where they received homework assistance and participated in enrichment activities to help them become lifelong learners.
Preventive Health served 114 Diabetes Wellness and Prevention participants and 17 Salsa Sabor y Salud participants. The Health Outreach program educated over 450 minority and low-income persons on breast cancer, diabetes, healthy eating, and physical activity.
Over the past 4 years the YW completed a Financial Sustainability Plan with Gary Landwirth, a business plan for Club W with Greg Walker Wilson and a Strategic Plan led by Giant Leap Consulting. We have received training in the Circle Forward method of management and have had board and staff retreats on the subjects of working across differences, unconscious bias, and racial justice.The board has also had a board best practice training with Judy Futch, which we replicated for new members this July 2015.
Additionally, we invested in a fundraising model to increase individual gifts through regular tours and an annual luncheon. In the past three years we have raised over $650,000 in cash and five year pledges.
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
YWCA
Board of directorsas of 2/23/2018
Lyndia Chiles
Retired Educator
Lu Young
Lyndia Chiles
Leslie Fay
Marian Arledge
Becky Stone
Cameron Raley
Heidi Reiber
Jessica Gaskin
Laurey Stradley
Muriel Singer
Viola Spells
Nona Workman
Kendall Oliver
Wendy Haner
Cathleen Adams
Bobbie Short
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? No