YWCA Madison

What YWCA Madison does

YWCA Madison is a Wisconsin-domiciled nonprofit human services organization founded in 1908, operating in Madison and Dane County under the national YWCA network of 200+ sibling affiliates. The organization delivers free, direct-service programs across four program areas: Housing Justice (Downtown Residence, Singles Housing, Third Street programs, and the new Resident Development Leadership Program), Economic and Employment Justice (YWEB Career Academy, YWEB Intro to Computer Skills, and YW Transit transportation delivering 16,000+ annual rides), Restorative Justice, and Learning and Movement Building (anchored by the 25-year Racial Justice Summit). Its service population spans women and families, low-income individuals and seniors, justice-involved individuals, housing-insecure residents, and racial justice advocates in Madison, Wisconsin.

The underlying technology stack is minimal and human-services oriented: no proprietary platform, no public API, no AI/ML components, and no integrations are disclosed. Operations rely on direct service delivery, case management, community organizing, and a community resources directory on its website. Digital surfaces are limited to the ywcamadison.org website, a Squarespace-hosted blog, Constant Contact email newsletter, and social media presence. YW Transit operates 24-hour weekday service across Dane County with reduced weekend hours since January 2026.

YWCA Madison's business model is a nonprofit donation-and-grant model rather than a fee-for-service model. All services are provided at no cost to eligible participants. Revenue is generated through individual donations and corporate giving (including the Empowerment Society pledge program with $1,000/$5,000/$10,000 annual levels), government grants and contracts (funding housing services and YW Transit, with reductions already impacting operations in 2025–2026), and foundation grants (Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Madison Community Foundation, and Systems Alignment Innovation Hub). GTM motion is community-led: program participation is driven by community partnerships, word-of-mouth referrals, and signature events such as the Racial Justice Summit, Women of Distinction, and the inaugural Solidarity Sunset Soirée. The organization is led by CEO Gery Paredes Vásquez (appointed 2024), with Vera Lewis joining as Chief Development Officer in March 2026; a separate source also lists Vanessa McDowell as Chief Executive Officer, indicating a recent leadership transition that warrants verification.

Name

YWCA Madison

Legal name

YWCA Madison

Website

https://ywcamadison.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1908

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

YWCA Madison is a 117-year-old Wisconsin nonprofit delivering free housing, economic empowerment, restorative justice, and racial justice programs to women, families, low-income residents, and justice-involved individuals across Dane County, funded by donations, government grants, and foundation grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Human Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (624310), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Reentry & Justice-Involved Support Services (BPAGAEAN)

Keywords

• Human services programs
• Housing justice services
• Economic justice programs
• Restorative justice services
• Racial justice advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Madison

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual and Corporate Donations: YWCA Madison generates revenue through individual donations, corporate giving, and the Empowerment Society five-year pledge program offering $1,000, $5,000, or $10,000 annual commitment levels.
2. Government Grants and Contracts: The organization receives government funding for programs including housing services and transportation (YW Transit). Funding reductions have impacted program operations, leading to service reductions in late 2025 and early 2026.
3. Foundation Grants: YWCA Madison receives grant funding from foundations including Systems Alignment Innovation Hub (SAIH), Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and Madison Community Foundation for specific programs such as the Resident Development Leadership Program.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

YWCA Madison is a nonprofit social services organization that delivers housing, economic empowerment, restorative justice, and racial justice education programs to women, families, low-income individuals, seniors, and justice-involved people across Madison and Dane County, Wisconsin. Core service lines include the Downtown Residence housing program, YWEB Career Academy employment training, YW Transit transportation (over 16,000 rides annually), and the Resident Development Leadership Program. All services are provided at no cost to eligible participants.

Product overview

YWCA Madison is a nonprofit social services organization offering a portfolio of interconnected programs across four core areas: Housing Justice, Economic & Employment Justice, Restorative Justice, and Learning & Movement Building. Housing services include the Downtown Residence and Singles Housing programs, with a new Resident Development Leadership Program empowering residents as co-leaders. Economic empowerment services feature YWEB Career Academy (career training for women and people of color), YWEB Intro to Computer Skills (digital literacy for justice-involved individuals), YW Transit (providing over 16,000 rides annually), and the discontinued Driver's License Recovery Program. Community engagement programs include the annual Racial Justice Summit (25th anniversary in 2026), Women of Distinction (50 years), Solidarity Sunset Soirée, and Annual Block Party. The organization also maintains a Community Resources database connecting individuals to external support services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Downtown Residence Housing Program Stable housing program for women and families at 101 E Mifflin Street, Madison, WI, with case management, on-site mental health services through a partnership with Journey Mental Health Center, and integration with the Resident Development Leadership Program.
• Singles Housing Program
• YWEB Career Academy
• YWEB Intro to Computer Skills Computer skills training course for individuals impacted by the criminal justice system, offered as part of YWEB Career Academy, running June 15 through August 5, 2026.
• YW Transit Transportation service providing over 16,000 rides annually across Dane County for low-income individuals, seniors, people with disabilities, and partner organizations, supporting access to jobs, medical appointments, grocery stores, and essential destinations. Operates 24-hour weekday service with reduced weekend routes from January 1, 2026 due to funding cuts.
• Resident Development Leadership Program Program designed to build resident agency and leadership by shifting decision-making power to Downtown Residence residents with lived experience of housing inequities. Residents serve as co-leaders, researchers, and community change-makers.
• Community Resources Directory
• Restorative Justice Programs
• Racial Justice Summit

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 16,000 rides provided annually through YW Transit
• +2 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Journey Mental Health CentercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2025Partnership to deliver on-site mental health services to women and families at YWCA Madison Downtown Residence. Starting November 1, 2025, Journey Mental Health clinicians provide trauma-informed care through twice-weekly satellite clinic appointments, reducing barriers related to access, transportation, and timely mental health support. The collaboration reflects shared belief that healing and housing stability are deeply interconnected.
• UBUNTU Research and EvaluationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supporting the Resident Development Leadership Program, designed to build resident agency and leadership by shifting decision-making power to those with lived experience of housing inequities.
• Catholic CharitiesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorYW Transit partner organization receiving consistent transportation access to services for Madison's unhoused community.
• The BeaconminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorYW Transit partner organization providing transportation support for homeless day resource center services.
• The Salvation ArmyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorYW Transit partner organization receiving transportation services to support housing and emergency services for Dane County residents.
• PorchlightminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorYW Transit partner organization providing consistent access to services for Madison's unhoused community through housing and support programs.
• Voces de la FronteraminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner organization leading migrant rights work through collective action, mutual aid, care, and frontline organizing. YWCA Madison works in solidarity with this organization on protecting migrant community rights and safety.
• Dane County Rapid Response NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork protecting the rights, safety, and dignity of migrants through collective action and mutual aid. YWCA Madison participates in this network's efforts to support migrant communities in Dane County.
• Anesis Therapy CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner providing training in trauma-informed and healing-centered care practices for YWCA Madison staff development and organizational capacity-building, funded by Madison Community Foundation.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• YWCA Minneapolis: Regional YWCA affiliate serving the Minneapolis metro with housing, economic empowerment, and racial-justice programming. Highly comparable in mission, program mix, and urban Midwest operating context.
• Porchlight: Madison-area nonprofit providing emergency shelter, housing, and support services. Comparable in Madison/Dane County geography, housing-insecurity focus, and human-services delivery model — also a YW Transit partner.
• YWCA Metropolitan Chicago: Large YWCA affiliate operating housing, economic empowerment, and violence-prevention programs. Comparable in scope of services and women's-empowerment mission, though at materially larger scale than YWCA Madison.
• The Beacon: Madison-based day resource center serving people experiencing homelessness. Comparable as a regional nonprofit addressing housing insecurity and basic-needs services for Dane County residents — and a YW Transit referral partner.
• Catholic Charities Madison: Local Madison-area social services and housing provider that partners with YW Transit. Comparable as a Madison-based faith-affiliated human services organization delivering housing, food, and case-management services to overlapping populations.
• Salvation Army Dane County: Regional Salvation Army providing housing and emergency services. Comparable as a Madison-area human services nonprofit serving overlapping unhoused and low-income populations, and a YW Transit referral partner.

Emerging players

• Foundation for Black Women's Wellness: Madison-based nonprofit advancing health, economic prosperity, and leadership for Black women. Comparable in mission alignment on racial justice and women's empowerment, and shares leadership background with YWCA Madison's incoming CDO.
• Journey Mental Health Center: Madison-area mental-health provider operating YWCA Madison's on-site mental health clinic. Comparable as a regional social-services partner embedded within housing delivery — closely aligned with YWCA Madison's wraparound service model.

Broad incumbents

• YWCA USA: National umbrella organization for 200+ YWCA affiliates including YWCA Madison. Directly comparable as the parent network brand; YWCA Madison operates within and aligns with its mission framework on racial justice and women's empowerment.

Regional players

• Tenant Resource Center: Wisconsin-wide nonprofit providing tenant rights education, housing counseling, and homelessness prevention. Comparable in housing-justice focus and Wisconsin operating geography, though operating statewide rather than Dane-County-only.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ywcamadison
• Facebookfacebook.com/YWCAMadison
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ywca-madison

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 YWCA Madison