University YMCA

What University YMCA does

University YMCA (legal name: YMCA of the University of Illinois) is an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 1873 and headquartered in a historic building at 1001 S. Wright St., Champaign, Illinois. It operates as one of only five remaining campus YMCAs in the United States and one of only two independent campus associations, receiving no dedicated financial support from the University of Illinois. The organization serves UIUC and Parkland College students, local community members, and immigrant populations through a portfolio of programs including the Bailey Scholars Program (~$200K awarded annually), the New American Welcome Center (DOJ-accredited immigrant legal services), Dump & Run (a sustainability/resale initiative diverting 30+ tons of goods from landfills annually), Friday Forum + Conversation Café (running since 1927), Interfaith Action, International Dinner, and Art @ the Y exhibitions. It also anchors 100+ affiliated student organizations through a Student Board governance structure.

The organization has no proprietary technology platform; it operates as a community center and social services provider using commodity tools (SimplyBook.me for room scheduling, Grubhub for food delivery, Google Forms for applications). Its revenue model is a hybrid non-profit mix: approximately 20% from donations and membership (a $20 annual gift grants Full Member status with voting rights), ~10% from endowment distributions (managed under a unique Socially Responsible Investment policy by SharePower Responsible Investing since 2016), plus grants, program sponsorships, student housing ($500–$550/month all-inclusive for double/triple rooms), fee-for-use event spaces ($65–$600 per booking across Murphy Lounge, Latzer Hall, and Board Room), office leases to seven named non-profit and university tenants, and on-site Y-Thai Eatery food sales (Thai and Laotian cuisine, $1.50–$13 menu items). The customer base spans students, community members, non-profit tenants, and event organizers, with the building functioning as the primary physical distribution channel.

Name

University YMCA

Legal name

University YMCA

Website

https://universityymca.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1873

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

University YMCA is an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 1873 in Champaign, Illinois, operating one of only five remaining U.S. campus YMCAs. It serves UIUC/Parkland students, community members, and immigrants through scholarships, immigrant legal services, sustainability programs, student housing, and event space rentals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Services & Non-profit Programs

NAICS

Rooming and Boarding Houses, Dormitories, and Workers' Camps (72131), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

College Access, Scholarships & Student Success Nonprofits (BPAGADAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

University Dorms & Affiliated Summer Housing (THAMAGAA)

Keywords

• Community programs
• Student scholarships
• Student housing
• Community center
• Immigrant services

Headquarters

HQ city

Champaign

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Membership: Approximately 20% of annual budget comes from donations. The first $20 of annual gift makes a Full Member with voting rights and board eligibility. Student member gifts are set aside for Student Board use.
2. Grants and Program Sponsorships: Grants and program sponsorships from university units and external funders.
3. Building Revenue: Fee-for-use spaces including office rentals to non-profits and campus units, room rentals for events, and student housing. Endowment provides approximately 10% of operating budget.
4. Student Living Rent: Monthly rental income from student housing: $550/mo for double rooms, $500/mo for triple rooms.
5. Y-Thai Eatery: Thai and Laotian food service operating as an on-site restaurant. Revenue from food sales.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

University YMCA is an independent non-profit community organization that develops and supports campus and community leaders committed to social justice, environmental protection, interfaith cooperation, and global engagement. It operates a historic building in Champaign, IL offering student housing ($500-$550/month), scholarships (nearly $200K/year), meeting/event space rentals, office leasing to non-profits, an on-site Thai/Laotian restaurant (Y-Thai Eatery), and free community programs including the New American Welcome Center, Friday Forum, Dump & Run sustainability program, and Bailey Scholars Program.

Product overview

The University YMCA is a non-profit community organization offering a portfolio of programs and services focused on student development, community engagement, and social impact. The core offerings include the Bailey Scholars Program (scholarships), New American Welcome Center (immigrant services), Art @ the Y (arts programming), Dump & Run (sustainability), student housing, room/office rentals, and Y-Thai Eatery (on-site restaurant). The organization serves as a hub for over a dozen Y-affiliated student organizations and operates multiple community programs including Friday Forum, Interfaith Action, and International Dinner. Building amenities include meeting spaces, gallery facilities, and dining services available to students, faculty, and community members.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Y-Thai Eatery: Thai and Laotian food restaurant operated within the University YMCA building, offering affordable dining options for students and community members.
• New American Welcome Center (NAWC)

Products and services

• Art @ the Y
• Bailey Scholars Program
• Democracy and Citizenship
• Dump & Run
• Friday Forum + Conversation Café
• Interfaith Action
• International Dinner
• New American Welcome Center
• Education for All Scholarship
• Student Living
• Room Rentals
• Office Use
• Y-Thai Eatery
• Y-Affiliated Student Organizations
• Leadership Awards

Quantifiable outcome

• Awarded nearly $200,000 per year in scholarships to students
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Campus Faculty AssociationminorOthersNon-profit office tenant occupying space 19 in Lower Level of University YMCA building.
• Education Justice ProjectminorOthersOffice tenant occupying Room 205 on Second Floor of University YMCA building.
• Illini MediaminorOthersMedia organization office tenant occupying Rooms 01-04, 14, 15 in Lower Level of University YMCA building.
• Office of Civic Life (UI)minorOthersUniversity unit office tenant occupying Room 220 on Second Floor of University YMCA building.
• UniPlace Christian ChurchminorOthersReligious organization office tenant occupying Room 121 on First Floor of University YMCA building.
• WPGU RadiominorOthersRadio station occupying Room 014 in Lower Level of University YMCA building.
• Diversity and Social Justice Education (UI)minorOthersUniversity unit occupying multiple rooms (201, 224, 225, 225a, 226, 226ab, 228, 229) on Second Floor of University YMCA building.
• SharePower Responsible InvestingcoreTechnology or IntegrationInvestment management firm specializing in SRI/ESG investing. Selected in 2016 to manage University YMCA's endowment with socially responsible investment approach.
• Diversity & Social Justice Education at University of IllinoiscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership since 2021 for Friday Forum + Conversation Café programming, combining weekly forum with conversation programming.
• Stephens Family YMCAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReferral partnership for swim and fitness facilities. University YMCA explicitly states it does not have pool or gym facilities and refers members to Stephens Family YMCA at (217) 359-9622.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• YWCA USA: Historic peer to YMCA providing housing, advocacy, and community programs nationally. Comparable mission of social justice, affordable housing, and youth/family services though at significantly broader scale.
• YMCA of the USA: National federation of YMCAs providing branding, standards, and program support across 2,500+ locations. Operates at a far broader scale and offers the fitness/pool template University YMCA deliberately does not provide.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of America: National youth development nonprofit offering leadership, education, and community programs. Comparable in mission focus on youth development, scholarships, and community hub functions, though operating a clubhouse rather than dormitory model.
• Points of Light: Nonprofit focused on volunteer service, civic engagement, and community leadership development. Comparable in operating civic engagement programming, leadership awards, and community service initiatives that mirror University YMCA's mission pillars.
• United Way Worldwide: Federated community fundraising organization that channels donor dollars to local nonprofits. Comparable in relying heavily on donations as a revenue stream and serving as an umbrella for community programs.

Direct peers

• Hillel at Illinois: Jewish student life organization at UIUC offering community programs, leadership development, and engagement opportunities. Comparable in providing UIUC-student-centered programming, scholarships, and community-building infrastructure.
• Newman Center at the University of Illinois: Catholic campus ministry at UIUC providing community programs, faith formation, and student gathering space. Comparable in operating a community-oriented campus facility serving UIUC students and faculty.
• McKinley Foundation: Presbyterian-affiliated campus ministry at UIUC offering student housing, community programs, and scholarships. Comparable in mission, geographic anchoring, and mixed revenue model to University YMCA.

Regional players

• Stephens Family YMCA: Local Champaign-Urbana YMCA branch providing fitness and pool facilities. University YMCA explicitly refers members here for swim and fitness, making it a complementary rather than competitive peer serving the same geography.

Emerging players

• Habitat for Humanity International: Nonprofit housing provider with affordable shelter offerings and community-building volunteer infrastructure. Comparable in combining housing services with community engagement and a donor- and volunteer-driven model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/UniversityYMCA
• Facebookfacebook.com/pages/University-YMCA-UIUC/197963613609928
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/groups/12067092
• Instagraminstagram.com/UniversityYUIUC
• Xx.com/universityyuiuc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 University YMCA