About :: Staff List :: Board List :: Mission:: FAQ

Select a question from the left column and the answer will display here.

Is the YMCA a non-profit organization?

Yes, the Y is a local, community-based non-profit organization formed by volunteers. A volunteer board provides direction to help the Y respond to community needs. Tax deductible contributions from the community make it possible to construct Y facilities as well as provide financial assistance so everyone can participate in Y membership and programs.

Can I use my Wood River Community YMCA membership anywhere?

The Wood River Community YMCA is an AWAY (Always Welcome at Y's) Y. We welcome current members of other Y's and offer them 5 free visits per calendar year. You may use your Y membership at other Ys when you travel. Just make sure you have your current membership card and ask about their AWAY policy. (Not all Y's are AWAY Y's.) If you'd like to find out more about other Y's, log onto www.ymca.net and put the zip code of the area you are traveling to in the search field.

In Idaho, you can use any Y as much as you want with a valid Y membership from within Idaho.

How do I become a member of the YMCA?

Visit the Y for a tour any time we're open. For detailed rate information and an introduction to all of our programs and activities, please visit our home page and use the quick links or the drop down menus to explore your areas of interest.

As a new member, you will have prorated dues for the first month to get started, and NO joining fee. The Y does not require a contract. Many memberships are available, so you are sure to find the type of membership that best meets your needs. We are committed to membership for all. And, no one is turned away due to an inability to pay - please ask about our financial assistance.

I'm moving to the Wood River Valley area. How do I transfer my YMCA membership to the Wood River Community YMCA?

You must join the Wood River Community YMCA. Please make sure you stop your membership at your current Y, before you move.

Are donations to the YMCA tax deductible?

Yes. Contributions to a Strong Kids Campaign, building campaign, and general donations for other purposes are tax-deductible. The YMCA is recognized as an IRS 501(c)3 charity.
Fees paid for membership dues or program enrollment are not tax-deductible.

What is the purpose of the Y?

For Youth Development; For Healthy Living; For Social Responsibility. Ys have been serving the American public for nearly 160 years, not as health clubs, but a cause-driven organization committed to nurturing the potential of kids, promoting healthy living and fostering a sense of social responsibility. Ys are collectively the largest non-profit community service organization in the United States. They are at the heart of community life in neighborhoods and towns across America. The Wood River Community Y is no exception. Can you imagine our community without the Y? Ys are joined together by a shared passion: To strengthen the foundation of the community.

How much money is raised annually?

To support our mission and our operating value that no one is turned away due to a lack of funds and thus ensure every individual has access, the Y raises money throughout the year to support program subsidy and scholarships. The Wood River Community Y currently conducts an annual giving campaign in February called “YPartners.” Every August, we host our annual “Classic” event. We also conduct a year-end appeal campaign. Combined, we raise over $600,000. With that said, the need is greater than the monies we are raising through these efforts. The Y’s Development Committee is also engaged in efforts to more fully develop our planned giving program through the “Heritage Club.” To date, we already have 17 members – quite an accomplishment for having opened our full facility less than three years ago.

What are the economic impacts of the Y?

The Y’s annual expense budget is $3 million dollars, with the exception of an equipment lease that is approximately $200,000 annually. The remaining $2.8 million dollars are earned and spent in the local community. If we made the conservative estimate that for every dollar spent, it produces $2 into the local economy, the economic impact of the Y is well over $5 million annually. Additionally, we are one of the valley’s largest employers with over 150 employees serving over 4,000 members.

Do any of the dollars raised go to support other Y’s across the country?

No. Each Y is an autonomous 501(c)3, non-profit organization. Ys are volunteer-found and volunteer-run charities. We do not have stockholders.

As it relates to the Y of the USA, our Y pays 1% of gross revenues, less any contributed revenue earned, for management and consulting services. The Wood River Community Y utilizes these services. Some projects include: A member and staff satisfaction survey, a cost analysis, a member and program audit/assessment, strategic planning counsel, Board retreat facilitation and more.

Have community members taken advantage of the financial assistance program?

That was the intention of the program – to have members take advantage of assistance so that our entire community has access! The Wood River Valley has unique demographics. While the outward appearance may be one of affluence, 75% of households earn less than $75,000 per year, 50% earned less than $50,000 and 33% earn less than $35,000. The Y’s membership reflects this community demographic – 60% of members benefit from the Financial Assistance Program. This program is a needs-based sliding fee scale. Members benefiting from the Program receive between 5% and 70% assistance on their membership; most receive around 30-50% off the membership rates. Members and participants utilizing the Financial Assistance program re-apply two times per year.

Does the Y carry debt?

The Y cannot afford to service from the operating budget. We do have a bridge loan for construction costs that is paid with cash received from capital campaign pledge receivables, not from operating cash. Timely payments ensure we can meet our loan obligations.

How much money do you receive from the City of Ketchum, City of Sun Valley and the county on an annual basis?

The most important support provided by the City of Ketchum is a long-term lease ($1/year for 99 years) for a portion (less than 30%) of the Park & Ride lot as a building site. You may recall, the City of Ketchum had intended to provide an additional $3 million dollars for construction. The City was unable fulfill that obligation and thus, the Board of Directors made the decision to phase the construction of the original design scope – the fiduciary responsible thing to do under the circumstances.

The Wood River Community Y at one time had a contract for services with the City of Sun Valley for providing wellness and aquatics programming to the community including Sun Valley residents. The Y currently does not pursue that contract.

The Y receives no county or tax payer support for its annual operations. Our revenue sources include: Membership and program revenue (75% of total revenues) and contributed revenue (25% of total revenues). Being a 501(c)3 offers the opportunity to the Y to fundraise. Municipality-run facilities generally require 20-40% of their total budget to be supported through taxes.

How do kids get from the south valley to the Y?

By partnering with Mountain Rides and Blaine County Schools, the Y has been bringing kids, adults and Y employees from all over the valley to the Y on a daily basis throughout the day and evening.

Y members and staff present their membership card of staff I.D. to the driver on Mountain Rides and they can ride to and from the Y free of charge. Thanks to a partnership with Mountain Rides, the Y is able to offer this amenity to our members at a reduced rate paid for by the Y.

Blaine County School District joined in on the partnership by funded a Mountain Rides afternoon route to ensure elementary school-aged children could access the transportation to the Y after school. The School District allows middle and high school student to ride the school-provided bus that takes students home following the school day that live our Warm Springs. They make a stop directly in front of the Y every day. The School District also buses kids from Hemingway Elementary to the Y daily, many of whom participate in the Y’s after-school “Kids Club” program.

And don’t forget, the Y brings programs out to the community with programs such as our “Y on Wheels,” which is held at both Carey and Woodside Elementary School and our childcare program at Hailey Elementary (which also serves students from Bellevue and Woodside Elementary)

Does the Y membership reflect our community’s diversity?

Our membership is reflective of the community. Isn’t it wonderful that we have a place where people from ALL walks of life can feel welcome? The Y is one of few places in the valley that is truly available for everyone.

Don’t most Y have a full-sized basketball courts?

Many Ys across the country have full-sized basketball courts. When you have seen one Y, you have seen one Y? Why? Y’s are built based on a community’s needs. Those needs are then translated to programs and those programs then define what facilities are built? The Wood River Community Y commissioned a professionally conducted market research study and discovered an excess of full size courts throughout the valley; many of which are sitting unoccupied for a significant periods of time throughout the day. We chose instead, to build a smaller size court which enabled us to build additional amenities that our community desired (Kids Gym, Teen Lounge, Media Center and so on).

Why did you build an indoor pool versus outdoor pool?

An indoor pool provides for year-round use which offers effective utilization twelve months out of the year. The pool can be open prior to sunrise and stay open past sunset. Indoor pools are much safer for guarding, coaching and teaching programs. Our Aquatic Center interfaces with the outdoors with three large size doors that can open up to the pool patio. We have plumbing installed in the ground under the grass section for a future outdoor spray ground.

Will you still build the ice rink since Hailey may build one?

We applaud and support Hailey Ice’s efforts to bring this amenity to the valley. Pending the outcome, it may influence the Y’s decision what an additional phase to the building would offer. Right now, our fiscal responsibility is to bring the current full facility to a self-sustaining position.

I wish your locker rooms were bigger.

So do we! All in all, it is a good problem to have – you are fulfilling our mission in more ways than we had every dreamed. With that said, until we have the funds for a significant locker room renovation, we have made modifications to our locker room policies. Adults can use the girls and boys locker rooms until 1:30 in the afternoon. Check it out – you will have the place nearly to yourself! We also encourage families to use one of the two family changing locker rooms. They are complete with shower, sink, toilet and baby changing stations. You simply ask for a padlock versus a key at the Welcome Center. Additionally, we have fixed the showers on the pool deck and have added a privacy screen on the pool deck for changing little ones. This has worked well for a number of families.

Are there plans to open up other locations in the Wood River valley?

We do run programs throughout the entire county including in Carey, at Woodside Elementary and in Hailey. We partner with Blaine County Recreation District for joint pool passes during the summer months. If your company or group has interest in the Y offering a program or class at your place of business, church, pool or facility, let us know – we can come to you!