YWCA Progress Report 2017

From the CEO & Board Chair

"There is no force equal to a woman determined to rise." — W.E.B. du Bois

Greetings Friends!

When I joined YWCA Seattle | King | Snohomish as CEO in September 2016, it felt like I had come home.

I truly believe that eliminating racism and empowering women is the key to a healthy and productive community for everyone, and every day I am inspired by YWCA’s work to make that vision a reality.

I know you are equally inspired by the real change we have created in the lives of thousands of women, men, and children. This impact includes:

11,460 people engaged in programs for housing and homelessness
1,318 adults who increased their employability through job training and education
637 children and parents empowered through child care, early learning, and parenting programs

These are just a few highlights of the great work you make possible. With your continued support, YWCA will keep working every day to provide services and advocate for change, so all women and girls can rise to their full potential and thrive in life.

At a time when it feels like our nation is more divided than ever before, I am honored to see our community work across lines of difference toward our shared belief that together, we have the power to make our community stronger.

Thank you for all that you have done, and for standing by YWCA on this mission. I cannot wait to see what else we will achieve, and look forward to sharing many more successes with you in the future!

With gratitude,

Maria Chavez Wilcox, CEO

Robyn Corr, Board Chair

YWCA Is On A Mission

YWCA envisions productive and healthy communities in King and Snohomish Counties, where all people have equity, and women and girls of color no longer face disparities in any part of their lives.

Through direct services and advocacy, YWCA works to meet people’s immediate and critical needs, while also addressing larger systems of inequity.

Our organization operates more than 25 locations across two counties, with programs focused on three key areas of impact: housing, economic advancement, and health.

Who We Serve

YWCA serves populations who are disproportionately impacted by issues such as poverty, homelessness, chronic disease, and violence.

Here is a snapshot of participants who were enrolled in YWCA’s programs in 2016:

15,842

people received ongoing services in King and Snohomish Counties

97%

low-income households

70%

women and girls

70%

people of color

What We Do

Housing

YWCA owns nearly 900 units of housing, and offers services such as a day center for homeless women, emergency shelter, transitional and rapid rehousing programs, and permanent housing.

YWCA also advocates at the city, county, and state level for policies that promote housing affordability and protect the rights of tenants to a safe and healthy home.

“This was my first advocacy day, and it felt very personal. My family and I experienced homelessness not too long ago, so I know firsthand how important it is that these bills get passed.” — Betty Jimerson, former client and current YWCA staff member, after Housing & Homelessness Advocacy Day in Olympia (pictured below left).

What We Do

93%

residents in YWCA permanent housing who maintained housing stability

88%

people in YWCA transitional housing programs moved to more stable housing

ECONOMIC ADVANCEMENT

YWCA offers job search support, worker education and training programs, financial coaching, and more, to help low-income adults overcome barriers to employment and build financial stability.

More than 13,000 people used YWCA’s job banks and career centers to look for work in 2016.

What We Do

93%

adults in YWCA employment programs who increased their employability

62%

people who used YWCA employment services to look for work and got a job

“I thought I’d be flipping burgers all my life. Now I’m employed and I feel empowered to take control of my life. I am going to translate this job into a career. As a mom, I want to set that example for my children.” — Cathy, mother of three and graduate from YWCA’s first BankWork$ class for military veterans and their family members.

HEALTH

YWCA advocates for the health and safety of women and girls through programs that provide access to health care, mental health counseling, and protection for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.

This also includes services for parents and children to break the cycles of poverty and violence and build long-term success.

Nearly 5,000 people received health-related services from YWCA in 2016.

99%

survivors who exited YWCA domestic violence programs with more tools for their personal safety and goals

98%

children in YWCA child care met developmental milestones or were prepared to enter kindergarten

Money and Mission

These graphs do not reflect depreciation, other non-cash transactions, endowment gifts, or revenue and expenses from major capital projects. See our most recent audit and IRS Form 990 on our financials page.

Community Partners

Thanks to everyone who has made a contribution in support of YWCA’s mission, including the corporate, foundation, and public funders listed below.

This list reflects contributions of $5,000 and above in 2016. Each and every dollar makes a difference, and we thank the thousands of supporters who invest in our work.

CORPORATE

FOUNDATION

PUBLIC

Board Leadership

Robyn Corr, Board Chair
Mary Snapp, Chair-Elect
Lisa Schuares, Secretary
Ann Rickett, Treasurer/V.C. Finance
Sandra Madrid, Ph.D., Immediate Past Chair

Thanks to the 40 members of YWCA’s board for their dedication and commitment. Visit our leadership page for a full list of our current board.

Download Progress Report

2017 Progress Report.pdf

2017 Progress Report