Are you interested in having a YMCA in your community? We believe any community would be enhanced by the presence of a YMCA. However, through the experience of starting more than 2,663 YMCAs across the United States, we can tell you that some basic guidelines are necessary to ensure the success of developing new YMCAs in new communities:

1. A large group of influential citizens who are willing to provide volunteer help in organizing a new YMCA is a major and necessary ingredient.
   
2. A service area of more than 25,000 people within a seven-mile radius is needed to ensure a sufficient base (there are some exceptions to this guideline).
   
3. If there is a YMCA currently within 50 miles of your community, it is best to work with the existing YMCA to start a "branch" rather than attempt to organize an independent/corporate YMCA (each local corporate YMCA is incorporated by the state as a nonprofit charitable organization with its own volunteer board of directors).
   
4. A "start-up fund" (sometimes called seed money) of $450,000 to $500,000 needs to be raised to allow YMCA staff to focus on developing programs and services during the first three years rather than spending most of their time fundraising. Three-year pledges for contributions from approximately 50 to 150 households and businesses typically are the funding source.
   
5. Newly organized YMCAs get their best start by hiring an experienced YMCA senior director who provides the YMCA operating culture.
   

6. A digest of the Four Tested Steps for starting a new YMCA is:

   • Orienting an interested group of 25+ citizens to the YMCA
   • Doing feasibility testing studies with the guidance of a YMCA consultant
   • Conducting a community-based Founders Campaign to secure the seed money
   • Hiring an experienced YMCA executive director, organizing a board of directors and starting programs for youth and families.
     
     
7. A new YMCA typically begins operating programs from donated storefront office space for three to seven years. This provides time and community network building sufficient to start fundraising to build a YMCA facility which usually includes a swimming pool, gymnasium, exercise areas, weight training rooms, gymnastics areas, locker rooms, offices, meeting rooms, etc.

If you would like to receive an informational package to help you and other community leaders better understand the above guidelines, please call the YMCA of the USA at 800-872-9622.