Charting the Future
For Five Generations
Strengthening Community Through Access to Child Care, Health & Housing
Wherever the YMCA is present, people feel like they belong, families find support and communities grow stronger together. The YMCA of Central Ohio sits at the intersection of child care, health and housing, uniquely positioned to drive regional impact across Central Ohio. Serving 240,000 people annually across six counties, we are preparing to double our impact and expand access by 2035 to 500,000 individuals in the following areas: child care and youth development, community and individual health and housing and family stability.
Central Ohio is growing rapidly, but so are housing costs, homelessness, child care shortages and health disparities. Without action, these gaps will widen, leaving more individuals and families without access to what they need to thrive.
240,000 People served currently
500,000 Neighbors served by 2035
Vision
Strong communities where all people reach their full potential.
Mission
To serve the whole community through programs expressing Judeo-Christian principles that build a healthy spirit, mind and body.
Core Values
We do our work while honoring our core values of Caring, Honesty, Respect, and Responsibility.
Proven Expertise. Regional Scale.
For more than 170 years, the YMCA of Central Ohio has adapted to meet evolving community needs with the reach, operational expertise and scale to respond. Backed by trusted partnerships and a national network, our trained practitioners use evidence-based approaches and community-informed insights to address complex challenges and create lasting impact. We are positioned not just to respond to Central Ohio’s growth, but to help shape it.
Child Care & Youth Development
Early learning and child development
Child protection
Water safety and swim instruction
Community & Individual Health
Chronic disease prevention and management
Program curriculum design for all ages
Community center operations and facility design
Housing & Family Stability
Housing stability services
Case management
Charting the Future
Youth Development, healthy Living and Social Responsibility are three pillars that guide the YMCA's intentional steps to empower young people, improve individual and community health and inspire action and change in our communities.
Youth Development
75,000
75,000 youth served every year — providing safe, supportive spaces for learning, connection and growth at a time when more children than ever will need access to affordable, high-quality opportunities to reach their full potential.
Healthy Living
275,000
Welcome 275,000 members annually across 17 community centers, expanding access to individual and community health and wellness resources, belonging and support at the scale needed to meet our region’s surging population and growing critical needs.
Social Responsibility
2,000+
Continue to successfully house over 2,000 people annually through housing stabilization and housing-first programs, utilizing national best practices and proven models that address the root causes of homelessness while providing specialized assistance to those with the greatest barriers to obtaining housing independently.
Overall Impact
500,000
people impacted through community centers, youth development and housing stability.
Expanding Access. Strengthening Community.
Across Central Ohio, the YMCA is already moving this vision forward — expanding access, strengthening partnerships and investing in communities where growth and need intersect. These projects represent more than expansion. They are a transformational lifeline for five generations to accessible, affordable programs and services, and the foundation for doubling our impact by 2035.
Investing in Community Infrastructure
As Central Ohio grows, so will the YMCA. We are making strategic investments in our centers to expand access, strengthen wellness and youth development programs and meet rising community needs. These enhancements will allow us to effectively serve and connect five generations, while supporting families and seniors with their most pressing needs.
A New Collaborative Model for Student Success with Columbus State Community College
Our partnership with Columbus State Community College represents a transformational investment in student success and the future of our region.
This first-of-its-kind YMCA collaboration on a community college campus in the nation will establish a new 50,000-square-foot community center on the downtown campus, which will remove one of the most significant barriers to graduation — access to childcare — while creating opportunities for health, wellness and recreation that foster belonging and resilience among students, downtown residents and workers alike.
By supporting the whole student, especially working parents, this initiative will increase persistence and completion rates, strengthen family stability and contribute to a more vibrant urban core.
It is a powerful example of how the YMCA leverages bold partnerships to expand access and shape lasting regional impact.
Expanding Youth Development Opportunities
As youth development experts, we are committed to ensuring every child and family has access to high-quality child care and youth development opportunities, regardless of income, zip code or circumstance. As the largest child care provider in the region, we play a critical role in supporting children’s growth while enabling parents and caregivers to work, pursue education and strengthen their families.
Yet access to reliable, high-quality child care remains one of the most significant barriers to economic stability and educational success in our region. Over the next decade, we will expand financial access and program reach to ensure that cost is never the reason a child misses out on opportunity. From early learning and kindergarten readiness to after-school care and summer enrichment, the YMCA will continue to grow programs that spark curiosity, build confidence and support academic achievement. With the recent addition of a fourteenth school district to our before- and after-school care network, we are already expanding alongside our communities and by 2035, we will reach even more children and families across Central Ohio.
To learn more or explore how you can be part of this effort, please contact: Melissa Garver Chief Development Officer YMCA of Central Ohio melissa.garver@ymcacolumbus.org | 614-389-3544
Creating Pathways to Lasting Housing Stability
With over a century in providing housing services, we know that housing stability is the foundation upon which health, education and economic mobility are built. When families have a stable home, every other opportunity becomes possible. We are committed to ensuring our most vulnerable neighbors have more than temporary relief; they have a stable home and a pathway to long-term success. Our long-term vision prioritizes accelerating families from crisis to housing and expanding supportive services that prevent future instability.
A recent grant from the Bezos Day 1 Families Fund of $5M is helping accelerate families from shelter to stable housing. Over the next decade, we will deepen partnerships, expand housing opportunities and invest in the resources required to ensure stability is not short-lived, but sustainable.
Community Partnerships
As Central Ohio continues to grow, so does the need for accessible, community-centered spaces that support health, connection and opportunity. YMCA Central Ohio’s campaign reflects our enduring commitment to expanding access and deepening our impact across multiple generations — today and for the next 171 years. We are preparing for an ambitious phase of growth, centered on innovative community partnerships and expanded reach. In collaboration with local organizations, schools, and civic leaders, the YMCA will bring vital programs and services directly to more neighborhoods, giving more families access to high-quality early learning, youth development and health wellness programs near where they live or work.
Investing in Community Health Infrastructure
The YMCA builds strong communities, and we envision a world where a Y is within reach of every resident. With over 170 years of experience and a national network of expertise, the YMCA of Central Ohio brings deep experience in developing impactful community-centered spaces that respond to evolving local needs.
Strategic investments in YMCA centers in high-growth communities such as Liberty Township, and future opportunities in Grove City and Pickerington, will:
- Expand access to high-quality programs and services for individuals and families at every stage of life
- Increase access to evidence-based chronic disease prevention and management programs
- Create more early learning opportunities for young children
- Develop more pathways for youth to stay active and engaged
- Strengthen opportunities for older adults to remain connected, healthy and supported within their communities
By expanding and enhancing these community hubs, the YMCA will be positioned to grow its reach and double the number of neighbors served, ensuring that as Central Ohio grows, access to health, learning and connection grows with it.
Shaping Central Ohio's Future
Central Ohio is growing at an unprecedented pace and on track to exceed 3 million residents by 2050, with much of that growth occurring in the next decade. Without intentional investment, however, that growth will deepen existing disparities in health, education and economic stability.
This moment demands a bold, coordinated action, and the YMCA of Central Ohio is uniquely positioned to respond by expanding access to child care, health and housing so that opportunity grows alongside our community. Achieving this will require strategic partnership and significant philanthropic investment.
Together, we can meet this moment. Outlined below are the key investment priorities shaping our $15 million comprehensive campaign to expand access and impact across Central Ohio:
- Opening doors for more access to high-quality youth development and child care programs, ensuring more young people and working families can learn, grow and thrive.
- Deepening and expanding cross-sector partnerships that address complex challenges across child care, health and housing—extending impact beyond what any one organization can achieve alone.
- Opening doors for more access to high-quality youth development and child care programs, ensuring more young people and working families can learn, grow and thrive.
- Investing in a resilient, sustainable future and impact for generations to come.
YMCA OF Central Ohio
Expertise You Can Trust. Impact You Can See.
Scale That Meets The Moment.
The YMCA of Central Ohio is a nonprofit organization strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. For more than 170 years, we’ve evolved with Central Ohio to meet changing needs, connecting people and resources through early learning, youth development, health and wellness, housing stability and community partnerships to help people of all ages and backgrounds thrive.
Want to learn more about the YMCA and how you can be part of the work?
Explore Our Impact See how the YMCA is making a difference across Central Ohio. View Annual Report → Become a Member Join the YMCA and connect with a community that supports your health and well-being. Join the YMCA → Support the Work Help expand access to programs, services and opportunities for our neighbors. Give Today → Explore Early Learning Discover how the YMCA supports children and families through early learning and child development. Learn More →