YMCA Buffalo Niagara
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
The Y is the leading nonprofit committed to strengthening community by connecting all people to their potential, purpose and each other. Working locally, we focus on empowering young people, improving health and well-being and inspiring action in and across communities.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
YMCA Programs & Services
YMCA Buffalo Niagara offers a wide array of programs including preschool, child care, camping, youth sports, swimming lessons, teen leadership development, wellness programs, community outreach, and senior programs.
Where we work
External reviews

Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Total dollar amount of subsidies to families for YMCA programs and services
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
YMCA Buffalo ensures that people of all socioeconomic backgrounds have equitable access to child care, wellness, and out of school programs.
Number of families provided with subsidies to participate in YMCA programs and services
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of meals served or provided
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Children and youth, Seniors
Related Program
YMCA Programs & Services
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
The Y is focused on combatting hunger and food insecurity. Depending on specific site, YMCA Buffalo Niagara provides breakfast, dinner, and/or weekend food to school age children and senior citizens.
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Reports and documents
Download strategic planLearn 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?
At the Y, we believe that to bring about meaningful change in individuals and communities, we must be focused and accountable. We measure success by how well we engage communities in our three areas of impact:
Youth Development – empowering young people to reach their full potential
Healthy Living – improving individual and community well-being
Social Responsibility – providing support and inspiring action in our communities
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
YMCA Buffalo Niagara's Board of Directors and senior staff have identified five key strategic priorities to begin work on in 2019:
• Youth Development - engage and inspire more youth, tweens, and teens through a diverse array of innovative and impactful experiences;
• Healthy Living - improve community health and well-being by serving and engaging more people;
• Social Responsibility - increase access to YMCA programs and services;
• Growth & Long Term Viability - position the Y to grow and serve more people;
• Organizational Capacity - improve organizational capacity through the development of cause driven leaders and the use of technology.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
YMCA Buffalo Niagara was founded in 1852 and has a long history of meeting and adapting to community needs. Today, YMCA Buffalo Niagara employs 125 full-time staff and more than 900 part-time staff to deliver programs and services. In addition, YMCA Buffalo Niagara has the capacity to meet its strategic goals due to strong:
• Leadership: The Y’s Board of Directors and Board of Trustees bring diverse expertise and resources to help develop, implement, and monitor the strategic plan.
• Financial Development: YMCA Buffalo Niagara receives grant funding and conducts an annual campaign to raise funds to fulfill its charitable mission. The Board of Directors is very active in securing funding to ensure sustainability.
• Fiscal Management: The Y has a history of being good stewards of financial resources, meeting or exceeding budget forecasts each year.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Founded in 1852, YMCA Buffalo Niagara is the second-oldest YMCA in the United States and one of the oldest institutions in Western New York.
As a charitable not-for-profit health and human services organization, YMCA Buffalo Niagara helps bring much needed services to the Western New York community. We do not turn anyone away due to an inability to pay—each year, thousands of people in Western New York benefit from financial assistance from the YMCA. More than 2,800 children and families annually benefit from our annual campaign, providing over $1.4 million in financial aid for people who wish to participate in YMCA programs such as child care, summer camp, or to purchase a membership.
YMCA Buffalo Niagara provides safe activities with academic enrichment for over 3,000 children daily during the school year and 2,000 during the summer. These youth development programs are curriculum-based and help students find a sense of belonging, build healthy relationships, and achieve new skills.
One of YMCA Buffalo Niagara's upcoming priorities is to develop a new facility to provide more membership and program access to the North Buffalo community. Additionally, the Y is currently developing new partnerships and collaborations to deliver more programs in under-served communities in Erie and Niagara counties.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization collecting feedback from the people you serve?
Electronic surveys (by email, tablet, etc.), Constituent (client or resident, etc.) advisory committees, Suggestion box/email,
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve,
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With whom is the organization sharing feedback?
Our staff, Our board,
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
We don't have any major challenges to collecting feedback,
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.
YMCA Buffalo Niagara
Board of directorsas of 04/13/2022
Mr. Jared Gross
Joy Aitchison
Key Bank
David Bauer
National Fuel
James Donathen
Phillips Lytle, LLP
David Duchscherer
Wendel
Jared Gross
BlueCross BlueShield WNY
Michael Hofer
Amerigroup WNY
Mark Lempko
Commercial Credit Group
Marc Martis
Rich Products
Stephen Nicholson
Merrill Lynch
Lynne Reilly
Independent Health - Pharmacy Benefits Division
Mark Phillips
(Retired)
Danielle Shainbrown
McGuire Development Company
Glenn Spencer
Accelerated Results, LLC
TJ Stewart
MDU Netech
Ann Swan
William E & Ann Swan Foundation
Breeann Wilson
Pure Podiatry
Brian Ziolo
BlueCross BlueShield WNY
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? Yes
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? GuideStar partnered on this section with CHANGE Philanthropy and Equity in the Center.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
No data
Gender identity
No data
No data
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data