Annual Fund 2025-2026

The Kentucky YMCA Youth Association (KY YMCA) is more than an extracurricular activity—it is a powerful engine of youth empowerment, civic engagement, and leadership development. Our mission is to develop engaged citizens and servant leaders, inspired to make a difference in their schools, communities, Commonwealth, and beyond. Through immersive, student-led experiences like the Kentucky Youth Assembly (KYA), Kentucky United Nations Assembly (KUNA), Leadership Training Conference (LTC), and Go For It (GFI), the KY YMCA reaches thousands of middle and high school students across the state each year, providing them with the skills, support, and inspiration to lead with compassion and purpose.

The Annual Fund is the lifeblood of this mission. It bridges the gap between program costs and accessibility, ensuring that no student is turned away due to financial hardship. Nearly one in four of our students receives financial assistance to attend a KY YMCA program. These scholarships are not simply monetary gifts—they are investments in future legislators, diplomats, advocates, and community builders.

Your support of the Annual Fund fuels the heart of our programming. It allows us to maintain low student-to-staff ratios, expand to underserved counties, and provide high-quality materials and venues that elevate the student experience. It supports the training and development of our young adult volunteers and alumni who return year after year to mentor the next generation of changemakers. It enables innovation, helping us adapt and grow in response to the evolving needs of Kentucky youth, particularly in areas like mental health, social-emotional learning, and peer connection.

Importantly, the KY YMCA provides a rare platform where every voice matters. In our mock governments and global assemblies, students author legislation on real issues that affect their communities—from mental health funding to food insecurity. They engage in civil discourse, practice diplomacy, and learn to listen with empathy. The experience is transformative. Alumni consistently report increased confidence, improved public speaking skills, and a greater sense of purpose and civic responsibility.

At a time when youth face rising anxiety, political division, and uncertainty about the future, the KY YMCA offers something vital: hope, belonging, and a place to lead. We believe that when students are empowered to act, they not only envision a better world—they create it.

Your gift to the Annual Fund helps us continue this essential work. It affirms that every young person, regardless of background, deserves the chance to grow as a leader. It tells Kentucky’s youth that their voices matter. Please consider making a contribution to ensure that we can keep building strong leaders for Kentucky’s future.

Together, we can empower thousands more students to lead with courage, compassion, and conviction. Thank you for supporting the KY YMCA.

The Kentucky YMCA Youth Association is a Section 501(c) (3) charitable organization, EIN 61-0444841. All donations are deemed tax-deductible absent any limitations on deductibility applicable to a particular taxpayer. No goods or services were provided in exchange for your contribution.

In 2025, KY YMCA earned certifications from the Better Business Bureau and Guidestar, and were verified under the Community Reinvestment Act.