YMCA of Greater Boston

Foundations for Growth, Impact and Equity

Key themes and directional emphasis from our 2023 General Board Retreat helping to shape our work,
now and into the future.

Our Mission

The YMCA of Greater Boston is dedicated to improving the health of mind, body, and spirit of individuals and families in our communities. We provide welcoming, belonging, and opportunity for all.

Charting Our Future

The YMCA of Greater Boston is strategically setting a vision for the future by focusing on clarity and change management in approach to real estate, facilities, resource development, and organizational positioning. Through strategic planning, innovative partnerships, and targeted investments, we aim to maximize impact and sustainability, ensuring our ability to meet the moment and serve the community responsively and effectively into the future.

WHY US, WHY NOW

Why Us

The YMCA has relative strength and clarity but can always reinforce and improve flexibility and scale.

Our culture of continuous improvement and responsiveness are some of the YMCA of Greater Boston’s most vital attributes on our footprint throughout greater Boston.

While organizational assessment is continuous to get the “machinery” right, is more challenging, we will simultaneously “re-tool’ our offerings to meet the future where needed.

Why Now

As a significant solutions provider during a most recent generational crisis, and at many points during the nation's history as well as in daily life, we must explicitly confront one of today’s most significant threats to our society. A threat that is diminishing community, public spaces, solidarity, trusted information, belief in public institutions, and shared experience; the epidemic of loneliness and isolation that is being identified as a significant harm to public health. We find ourselves asking the questions:

1) How can the YMCA of Greater Boston leverage our strengths to unite people and show the vibrancy of diversity in all its forms?
2) Can we expand our thinking and create a starting framework for key strategic topics, resulting in a common starting point for a vast array of expertise areas and range of services and constituents?
OUR FRAMEWORK

Our Framework

We provide spaces and services that prioritize inclusivity, diversity, and affordability, ensuring equal access to market-leading expertise across a wide range of critical areas.

However, the allocation, usage, community service, and geographical distribution are not sufficiently equitable or logical to adequately address the present-day needs.

Align credibility and value proposition to meet the current challenges, establish a clear vision and necessary investment, and secure essential partnerships and funding.

Our attention is directed towards two primary objectives: firstly, clarifying our core values, increasing visibility, and structuring resource acquisition to propel our overarching value and vision plan forward; secondly, conceptualizing the desired attributes and location's fit for purpose, and devising effective strategies to bring this vision to fruition.
VISION FOR THE FUTURE

Capital Needs

Developing a capital prioritization framework that aligns with:
  • Neighborhood/constituency needs
  • Program requirements for facilities
  • Potential/anticipated future needs
  • Equity across centers
This ensures strategic allocation of resources across short-term and long-term timeframes while addressing community demands and promoting equity.

Refine Organizational Positioning and Resource Development


  • Aligning with priority partnerships and capital needs across near-term, mid-term, and long-term horizons.
  • Prioritizing messaging, issue influence, and impactful storytelling.
  • Considering appropriate YGB resources to support this strategy.
  • Understanding the investment implications, potential benefits, and challenges associated with proposed changes.

    • Embracing the Moment

    The Y of Greater Boston has identified and examined two major strategies, leveraging our strengths to meet the needs of the moment.

    Focus Area #1
    Resource Development &
    Organizational Positioning

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    Resource Development & Organizational Positioning


    Increase philanthropic support and amplify our position as a solutions provider to the everyday needs of our diverse communities.
    The YMCA of Greater Boston aims to boost philanthropic support through the implementation of major gift strategies, fostering unity around a shared vision and purpose

    Outcomes
    • Deepen connections in Greater Boston to provide crucial financial support, expertise, and community engagement opportunities.
    • Synchronize all the YMCA of Greater Boston prospecting, messaging, and cultivation under a singular vision and mission with the ability to localize and represent at scale in partnership.
    • Position the YMCA of Greater Boston as an innovative, active and relevant leader highlighting our capacity and impact as a solutions partner addressing social issues facing Boston
      • .

    Focus Area #2
    Facilities and Real Estate

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    Facilities and Real Estate


    Create world-class facilities and real estate that serve and welcome the community now, and in the future by aligning with our mission.
    The Y of Greater Boston will assess, leverage and optimize our facilities and real estate, creating a framework to ensure quality, equity, and relevance to serve for years to come.

    Outcomes
    • Create a comprehensive plan to ensure our facilities are welcoming, inclusive, and designed in a meaningful way to serve, regardless of zip code.
    • Strengthen and expand organizational resources and partnerships.
    • Rationalize plans around expanded footprint while systematizing opportunism.
    • Create Capital Investment Plan beyond current annnual budgeting.

    Be The Y

    Thanks to the incredible support and advocacy of our staff, volunteers, partners and donors, we are serving tens of thousands of children, families and individuals across our community. Join us as we embark on a shared journey to grow an equitable foundation for future impact.

    YMCA of Greater Boston Leadership

    GENERAL BOARD MEMBERS AND YGB LEADERSHIP

    Expertise Partners

    We are grateful to our exceptional partners in this work.

    Dot Joyce Consulting
    Experienced Principal with a demonstrated history of working in the public relations and communications industry. Skilled in Crisis Management, Public Affairs, Strategic Communication, and Government.

    Leggat McCall Properties
    A leading provider of real estate development, project management and advisory services in the Boston real estate market.

    Norman Stein, Development Solutions
    An accomplished Chief Development Officer providing leadership and oversight of all resource development strategies and activities.

    Watershed Co.
    Lucia Kamm, Executive Leadership Coach
    Helping leaders and executives navigate growth transitions, create awareness, facilitate learning, and generate actions to empower them to lead authentically.

    Wilder Strategies
    Working with leaders and organizations that have a story worth sharing. From businesses, non-profits, and campaigns, Wilder creates a strategy tailored to your audiences, organizational culture, and team.

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