Young Womens Christian Association of the Central Carolinas Inc

Programs

1. Grounds for ChangeGrounds for Change is a campaign supporting the development of Wheatley Place, an affordable housing community under construction on the front lawn of YWCA. We have contracted with DreamKey Partners to build 80 affordable housing units. These units will be reserved for households earning 30% 60% area median income. They are desperately needed as one solution to Charlottes ever-growing affordable housing crisis. This non-recurring payment is the first installment towards a commitment of $5.2 million of restricted funds towards this project.

   $3,144,450 spent
   51% of program spending

2. Youth ProgramsThe Organizations Youth Programs provides high-quality out-of-school programs to students K-5 throughout Mecklenburg and Union Counties. The Organizations goal is to provide each student with an exemplary academic experience filled with fun, personal growth and parent participation by utilizing the following core competencies: Literacy Focus, Parent Engagement, Cultural Identity and Enrichment. We support children in their schoolwork while offering instruction and engagement grounded in historically responsive literacy (HRL). HRL cultivates the genius within students and creates spaces of empowerment and confidence. During the 2024-2025 school year, 66% of students increased or maintained their reading level if already on grade level while enrolled.

   $884,928 spent
   14% of program spending

3. Health & FitnessThe Organizations Sarah Belk Gambrell Health and Fitness Center provides health and fitness activities to over 1,200 community members, including participants in the Organizations transitional housing programs and Youth Programs. The Center features a heated indoor pool, weight and cardio facilities, water and land-based fitness classes and access to personal training services. In addition, specialty programming including fee-based swim lessons and a fee-based swim team generate additional income for the center.

   $855,827 spent
   14% of program spending

4. Women In Transition provides safe, affordable housing and comprehensive support services for women each day who have experienced homelessness or housing insecurity. Participants must earn less than 60% of Area Median Income ($47,220 for a family of one) at program entry. Participants work 1:1 with a participant advocate to create a plan upon entering the program which includes the goals the participant sets and how progress of those goals will be measured. Every participant has one housing and one budget goal but can identify other goals related to health and wellness, career/employment, sobriety/recovery, etc. WIT provides housing for up to 66 women every day and serves over 100 annually. In 2024-25, 74% of program graduates exited the program into permanent housing, and 91% established/maintained financial stability.

   $800,714 spent
   13% of program spending

5. Families Together provides safe, affordable housing and comprehensive support services for families with children that have experienced homelessness or housing insecurity. Families must earn between 20% and 50% of Area Median Income upon program entry ($22,480 to $56,200 for a four-person family). Participants work 1:1 with a participant advocate to create a plan upon entering the program which includes the goals the participant sets and how progress of those goals will be measured. Every participant has one housing and one budget goal but can identify other goals related to health and wellness, career/employment, sobriety/recovery, etc. FT provides individual housing for up to 10 families at a time, a population of 45-50 individuals each day and 55-80 over the course of a year. In 2024-25, 71% of families that graduated from the program exited into permanent housing, and 100% established/maintained financial stability.

   $362,900 spent
   6% of program spending

6. Racial Justice & AdvocacyThe Organizations Racial Justice and Advocacy efforts are designed to educate and engage the community on topics of racial and social justice and mobilize them to dismantle systems of oppression. At the core of the Organizations mission eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all is the belief that no one should suffer from institutional and structural racism. Laws, policies and practices that perpetuate the criminalization of people of color are devastating to communities. Sessions developed by the Organization and in conjunction with community partners use topic experts to clearly define the issues and bring inequities to the forefront for concerned citizens. In 2024-25, programs were offered in-person, and the Racial Justice and Advocacy forums and annual Until Justice Just Is event engaged roughly 188 community members.

   $118,353 spent
   2% of program spending

The 6 programs described on its FY2024 Form 990, listed largest first by expense. Program spending in total: $6,167,172.