Akron Area YMCA

What Akron Area YMCA does

The Akron Area YMCA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization founded in 1870 and headquartered at 50 S. Main Street in Akron, Ohio, serving Summit, Medina, and Portage counties through six membership branches (Firestone Park, Green Family, Kohl Family, Lake Anna, Riverfront, and Wadsworth), six childcare centers, Camp Y-Noah (a 300+ acre overnight and day camp in Green Township), and the Rotary Camp for Children with Special Needs. In 2025 the organization reported 836 employees, 54,837 members and participants, and over one million branch visits, delivering adult fitness, swimming, youth sports, early childhood education, before/after-school care (THRIVE), and aquatics programming including the free Safety Around Water drowning-prevention program.

The operating stack centers on the Y360 member management system for access, scheduling, and engagement, with select branches offering 24/7 keycard or biometric facility access. Revenue is generated through a mix of recurring membership dues (monthly or annual, with sliding-scale pricing), program fees for swim lessons, personal training, sports leagues, and camps, Annual Campaign charitable contributions (846 donors in 2025), and special-event fundraising such as the Grape Falls & Craft Brews event. Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer at the branch level, supplemented by community-outreach partnerships with schools, hospitals, and municipalities. The organization is governed by a Board of Trustees chaired by Russell Holmes and underwent a CEO transition in 2026 from Jill Kolesar (the first female President/CEO, appointed 2016) to Tiffany McGee.

Name

Akron Area YMCA

Legal name

Akron Area YMCA

Website

https://akronymca.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1870

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

The Akron Area YMCA is a 155-year-old 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating six membership branches, six childcare centers, and Camp Y-Noah across Summit, Medina, and Portage counties in Ohio, serving 54,837 members with fitness, aquatics, youth development, and camp programs on a sliding-scale membership model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Recreation and Youth Services

NAICS

Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (713940), Recreational and Vacation Camps (except Campgrounds) (721214), Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351), Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

Multi-Activity Enrichment Camps (Academic + Arts + Sports) (EDAMALAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth Multi-Sport Camps (General Athletics, Summer Camps) (MPAKAJAA), Group Camping & Scout Camps (THAGAOAI)

Keywords

• Community fitness programs
• Youth development services
• Childcare and early education
• Swimming and aquatics
• Nonprofit wellness memberships

Headquarters

HQ city

Akron

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual or monthly membership fees for individuals and families. Offers sliding scale pricing based on income through Annual Campaign Financial Assistance Program.
2. Program Fees: Fees for specialized programs including swim lessons, sports leagues, childcare, summer camps, and personal training. Some programs require additional fees beyond standard membership.
3. Annual Campaign / Donations: Charitable contributions and fundraising events supporting financial assistance programs and capital improvements. 846 donors in 2025.
4. Special Events: Revenue from events like Grape Falls & Craft Brews and Fore the Kids Golf Outing that support the Annual Campaign Fund.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Akron Area YMCA operates six membership branches and multiple childcare centers and camps across Summit, Medina, and Portage counties, selling monthly/annual memberships that grant access to fitness facilities, group exercise classes, pools, and child watch services. It also delivers fee-based programs including swim lessons, swim teams, youth sports, personal training, weight loss programs, before- and after-school care, preschool, and overnight/day camps such as Camp Y-Noah and Rotary Camp for Children with Special Needs.

Product overview

The Akron Area YMCA operates as a multi-branch nonprofit organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of health, wellness, and youth development programs. The core offerings include adult fitness and wellness programs (Group Exercise, Personal Training, Weight Loss Program), aquatic programming (Swim Lessons, Swim Teams, Safety Around Water), and extensive youth development services (Youth Sports, Child Care, Summer Camps). The organization manages six membership branches across Summit, Medina, and Portage counties, plus Camp Y-Noah and the Rotary Camp for Children with Special Needs. The Y360 membership program provides integrated access to fitness facilities, group classes, and child watch services across all locations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Camp Y-Noah: The organization's overnight and day camp facility located on 300+ acres in Green Township, Ohio. Founded in 1930, it offers summer camp, outdoor education, equestrian programs, and year-round activities.
• Y360
• Safety Around Water
• THRIVE

Products and services

• Y360 Membership Comprehensive subscription membership granting access to all six membership branches, group fitness classes, pools, child watch (free for Family/Youth memberships), and 24/7 facility access at select branches. Available with monthly draft or annual payment options, plus sliding-scale and senior/student discounts.
• Membership Branches (Six Locations) Six member access branches serving Summit, Medina, and Portage counties: Firestone Park YMCA, Green Family YMCA, Kohl Family YMCA, Lake Anna YMCA, Riverfront YMCA, and Wadsworth YMCA, providing fitness centers, pools, group exercise, and child watch.
• Adult Fitness Programs Fitness programming for adults including Group Exercise classes (Zumba, Toning, Boot Camp), Active Older Adults programming, and Personal Training services across branch locations.
• Weight Loss Program Wellness program within the Wellness category designed to help members achieve weight loss and other health goals, including documented member outcomes such as 65+ pound, 100+ pound, and 277-pound combined weight loss.
• Swimming Programs (Swim Lessons, Swim Teams, Water Exercise) Aquatic programming for all ages including swim lessons, competitive swim teams, water exercise classes, and open swim, offered across branches with pools. 9,394 swim lessons taught in 2025.
• Safety Around Water Drowning prevention program providing free water safety instruction to children. 940 children completed the program in 2025.
• Youth and Family Programming (Youth Sports, Youth Specialty Classes, Out of School Time / THRIVE) Youth development programming including youth sports leagues (2,587 athletes in 2025), youth specialty classes, and Out of School Time program THRIVE using CATCH and other evidence-based curricula.
• Child Care Programs (Infant & Toddlers, Preschool, Before and After School, Summer Day Camp) Licensed early childhood care and education services at six centers (Cascade Village, Family Enrichment Center, Hartz, Hope, Longwood, Westminster), including infant/toddler care, preschool, before- and after-school care, and summer day camp.
• Camp Y-Noah Overnight and day camp on 300+ acres in Green Township on East Reservoir, including traditional camp activities, equestrian center, and outdoor education. 7,653 friends welcomed in 2025 across Day Camp, Overnight Camp, Outdoor Education, and Equestrian programs.
• Rotary Camp for Children with Special Needs Specialized camp programming for children with disabilities, operated by the Akron Area YMCA in partnership with the Akron Rotary Club at Rex Lake (owned by Rotary Club of Akron since 1923).

Quantifiable outcome

• 54,837 members served in 2025
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• University of AkroncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Partnership provides student parents with 75% subsidized child care tuition. College students currently enrolled and caring for families receive significant break in child care costs.
• Akron Children's HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Strategic partnership with Akron Children's Hospital mentioned in Jill Kolesar's leadership tenure achievements.
• Summit County CourtscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Strategic partnership with Summit County Courts mentioned in Jill Kolesar's leadership tenure achievements.
• Akron ZoominorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Akron Zoo participated in Rosa Parks Tour 2025, hosting students at new Black History Exhibit. Jessica Skelnar, MBA Grants Specialist, led educational tour.
• Rooted in Christ ChurchminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Hosted Rosa Parks Tour 2025 launch with healthy breakfast for participating students.
• Wadsworth Public SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Five partner collaboration including YMCA, Wadsworth Public Schools, City of Wadsworth, Summa Health System, and Wadsworth Library for Wadsworth YMCA.
• Barberton Community FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2007Key collaborative partner in Lake Anna YMCA development in 2007, along with City of Barberton and Barberton Citizen's Hospital.
• Summa Health SystemcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2000Major strategic partnership for Green Family YMCA opened in 2000. Collaboration continued with $1.8M expansion in 2006 and partnership on University Park YMCA in 2011. Summa Health also partnered on Wadsworth YMCA in 2013.
• Akron Rotary ClubcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1995YMCA operates programs at Rotary Camp for Children With Special Needs on Rex Lake, owned by Rotary Club of Akron since 1923.
• Florence Crittenden Home, First Presbyterian Church, United WaycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1972Collaborative partners in founding Hope Child Care Center in 1972, the YMCA's first Child Care Center.
• City of Akron (City Hall, Fire Department)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity of Akron partners with YMCA for Rosa Parks Tour 2025 educational program for students. Fire Department Station 12 participated in tour. City Hall staff including Youth Opportunities Strategist and DEI Director engaged with students.

Scale indicators15 records

Direct peers

• Greater Cleveland YMCA: Nearby Ohio-based multi-branch YMCA association operating fitness, childcare, and camping programs under the same national YMCA umbrella. Most directly comparable peer on mission, member model, and product mix.
• YMCA of Greater Columbus: Ohio-based multi-branch YMCA serving central Ohio with fitness, swim, youth sports, and camp operations. Comparable operating model and program mix to Akron Area YMCA.
• Jewish Community Center of Akron (JCC): Local non-profit community center offering membership-based fitness, aquatics, youth programs, and cultural programming in the same Northeast Ohio service area. Closest non-YMCA mission-aligned peer.

Broad incumbents

• Boys & Girls Clubs of America: National non-profit operating membership-based youth development clubs with similar mission-aligned programming. Operates in the same local service geographies and competes for charitable funding and family enrollment.
• Life Time Fitness: Large for-profit fitness operator offering premium membership clubs with fitness, swim, youth programming, and family amenities. Competes for the same dual-income family segment that the Akron YMCA serves.
• Planet Fitness: Largest low-cost fitness chain in the United States with locations across Northeast Ohio. Disrupts the budget-conscious individual member segment that the YMCA also serves through its sliding-scale pricing.

Others

• YMCA of the USA: National governing body for U.S. YMCAs, providing brand standards, programming frameworks, and operational support that all independent YMCA associations, including Akron Area YMCA, operate under.
• Akron Children's Hospital: Strategic health system partner of Akron Area YMCA for youth health initiatives and drowning prevention. An institutional ally rather than a competitor, but a key benchmark for children's health programming in the same service area.
• Summa Health System: Major strategic partner co-developing Green Family YMCA and Wadsworth YMCA branches since 2000. Long-standing relationship that has produced 3 joint facilities and represents an embedded healthcare-recreation collaboration model.

Regional players

• YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit: Multi-branch YMCA association serving the Detroit metro area with similar fitness, childcare, and camp operations. Comparable size and industrial-Midwest community context, though in a different regional market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/akronareaymca
• YouTubeyoutube.com/AkronAreaYMCA
• Facebookfacebook.com/akronymca
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/akronymca
• Instagraminstagram.com/akronareaymca

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Akron Area YMCA