Our Mission & Cause

 

Our mission is to support California YMCAs and leverage their collective impact through advocacy, technical assistance, and facilitating collaboration and partnerships.

 

At the Y, strengthening community is our cause. We believe that lasting personal and social change can only come about when we all work together to invest in our kids, our health and our neighbors. That's why we focus our work in three areas: youth development, healthy living and social responsibility.

 

The California State Alliance of YMCAs represents all California's independent charitable YMCAs in advocacy and collaboration. Our membership and our governing board of directors are comprised of the CEOs and executive leaders of these organizations. Our Alliance serves as our voice in shaping public policy, our platform for achieving collective impact, and our hub for statewide partnerships with government, business, charitable organizations and the people of California.

 

As a tax-exempt organization under section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code, our Alliance is incorporated to further the public and charitable purposes of YMCAs in California by:

  • advocating on behalf of children and families and promoting spiritual, social and mental development, healthy living and social responsibility of youth and adults, 

  • making California citizens and policy makers aware of California YMCAs’ mission and programs

  • gaining recognition as a leader on issues related to development, healthy living and social responsibility of youth and adults,

  • protecting the operating integrity of California YMCAs in order to carry out their public and charitable purposes, and

  • fostering statewide communication and cooperation among California YMCAs to address issues of importance to California YMCAs and their mission.