The Cambridge Young Women's Christian Association

What The Cambridge Young Women's Christian Association does

YWCA Cambridge (The Cambridge Young Women's Christian Association), founded in 1892 and operating as an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is the city's largest women's residential facility. Its core service is affordable housing and emergency shelter: Tanner Residence provides 103 single-room occupancy units for women living below the poverty line, and Renae's Place Family Shelter provides 10 units of short-term supportive housing for families experiencing homelessness. In 2024, the organization directly served 614 individuals, with 70% of emergency family shelter clients securing job placements.

The organization extends beyond housing into youth leadership programming for ages 11-18—including the GOLD program (in its 14th year, created with Mayor E. Denise Simmons), the Gender Expansive Youth Program (GEY), and the newer CampOUT and Gamechangers programs—as well as racial and social justice advocacy and health and wellness services such as Boston Classical Soo Bahk Do. Revenue is generated through a combination of housing rental income, donations and fundraising (including one-time gifts, monthly pledges, stock donations, and planned giving), corporate sponsorships, in-kind donations, and event space rentals of the Fuller Room and Hannum Hall.

YWCA Cambridge distributes services primarily through direct in-person delivery at its 7 Temple Street headquarters in Central Square, with SRO housing applications routed via a partnership with the Cambridge Housing Authority and supplemental services delivered through embedded partners such as Horizons for Homeless Children. The organization is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors, led by Executive Director Cassandra Ling, and maintains donor and community engagement through an annual Tribute to Outstanding Women fundraiser, social media channels, and a Constant Contact-managed newsletter.

Name

The Cambridge Young Women's Christian Association

Legal name

The Cambridge Young Women's Christian Association

Website

https://ywcacam.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1892

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

YWCA Cambridge is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1892, operating Cambridge's largest women's residential facility with 103 SRO units, a 10-unit family shelter, youth leadership programs, and advocacy services for low-income women, families experiencing homelessness, and youth ages 11-18.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Services and Affordable Housing

NAICS

Community Housing Services (62422), Temporary Shelters (624221), Other Community Housing Services (624229)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC)

Keywords

• Affordable housing
• Women's shelter
• Youth leadership
• Social services
• Community advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Cambridge

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: The organization accepts one-time gifts, monthly pledges, recurring donations, honor/memorial gifts, stock donations, and planned giving through wills and trusts. Corporate partner packages are also offered for sponsors.
2. Housing Rental Income: Tanner Residence provides 103 single-room occupancy units for single women at affordable rates. Revenue is generated through rental payments, potentially subsidized through housing assistance programs.
3. Event Space Rentals: The Fuller Room (835 sq ft) and Hannum Hall (2245 sq ft) are available for community rentals, generating venue rental revenue.
4. In-Kind Donations: Accepts in-kind donations of toiletries and clothing for residents and families served.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

YWCA Cambridge operates supportive housing and emergency shelter programs for women and families in Cambridge, MA, including Tanner Residence with 103 single-room occupancy units and Renae's Place Family Shelter with 10 units. The organization also delivers youth leadership development programs for ages 11-18, racial and social justice advocacy, health and wellness programming (martial arts), and rents community event spaces.

Product overview

YWCA Cambridge is a nonprofit social services organization offering a portfolio of integrated programs and facilities. Its core offerings include housing services (Tanner Residence with 103 SRO units and Renae's Place Family Shelter with 10 units), youth leadership programs (GOLD, GEY, CampOUT, Gamechangers), racial and social justice advocacy, health and wellness programming (Boston Classical Soo Bahk Do), and community space rentals (Fuller Room and Hannum Hall). The organization serves as Cambridge's largest affordable housing provider for single women and operates the annual Tribute to Outstanding Women fundraiser.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Tanner Residence YWCA Cambridge's supportive housing community in Central Square, providing 103 single-room occupancy (SRO) units for women who need stable, affordable housing. Residents have access to on-site staff support and connections to services.
• Renae's Place Family Shelter A 10-unit emergency family shelter providing short-term, supportive housing for families in Cambridge experiencing homelessness or housing instability. Families work with case managers to access resources and move toward permanent housing.
• Girls Only Leadership Development Program (GOLD) Youth leadership program in its 14th year, created in partnership with Mayor E. Denise Simmons to address the lack of leadership opportunities for middle school girls in Cambridge, covering intersectional feminism, social justice, and activism.
• Gender Expansive Youth Program (GEY) Youth leadership program for LGBTQ+ and gender non-conforming youth, featuring sessions around gender and identity.
• CampOUT Summer youth leadership programming for LGBTQ+ and gender-expansive youth.
• Gamechangers Summer youth leadership programming that empowers youth to become confident advocates and leaders.
• Racial & Social Justice Advocacy Advocacy services centering on the needs of clients and community, including housing rights, healthcare access, economic security, and racial and gender justice.
• Boston Classical Soo Bahk Do (BCSBD) Traditional Korean martial arts program certified by the US Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan Federation, teaching Soo Bahk Do to men, women, children, teenagers, and individuals with special needs.
• Fuller Room An 835 sq ft studio space for low-impact physical activity, convertible to a meeting or event space for up to 50 people.
• Hannum Hall A 2,245 sq ft event hall featuring a stage and full-length wall mirrors, suitable for dance classes, presentations, meetings, and events for up to 125 people.
• Tribute to Outstanding Women Annual signature celebration and fundraiser honoring bold women leaders in Cambridge, with proceeds supporting housing, shelter, and youth leadership programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• 614 individuals directly served in 2024 through housing, shelter, and advocacy programs
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Cambridge LGBTQ+ CommissionminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 March 2026Co-host of the Celebrating LGBTQ+ Youth event at Cambridge Public Library.
• Cambridge Black History ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 February 2026Co-host of Community Night celebrating Black History Month in Cambridge.
• Phillips Brooks House Association (PBHA)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 November 2025Co-sponsor of the 19th Annual Robert Coles 'Call of Service' Lecture & Award featuring Deborah Archer, President of the ACLU.
• Cambridge Economic Opportunity Committee (CEOC)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 October 2025Co-host of the First, They Listen: Cambridge City Council Candidates Forum.
• Cambridge Community FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 October 2025Co-host of the First, They Listen: Cambridge City Council Candidates Forum.
• Cambridge Housing AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial partner for housing applications. Individuals apply for SRO housing through the Cambridge Housing Authority website. The organizations work together to provide affordable housing access.
• Horizons for Homeless ChildrencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosts a play space each night at Renae's Place Family Shelter, giving parents time to work on job applications, resume building, and case management.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Horizons for Homeless Children: Massachusetts nonprofit focused on serving children and families experiencing homelessness, including operating play spaces in family shelters like Renae's Place. Directly comparable in supporting homeless families through community-based service delivery.
• Heading Home: Greater Boston nonprofit providing emergency shelter, transitional housing, and permanent supportive housing with a similar case management approach. Operates within the same Cambridge/Boston housing ecosystem and serves overlapping client populations.
• Pine Street Inn: One of the largest Boston-area providers of emergency shelter, permanent supportive housing, and workforce development for individuals experiencing homelessness. Comparable in offering housing and shelter services with case management outcomes to a similar population.
• YWCA Boston: Sister YWCA affiliate operating in the adjacent Boston market with similar integrated programming across housing, youth leadership, and advocacy for women and families. Directly comparable in mission, service mix, and fundraising model.
• Casa Myrna Vasquez: Greater Boston nonprofit providing shelter, housing, and support services to survivors of domestic violence, with a particular focus on women and children. Comparable in offering residential and advocacy services to women and families in the same regional market.

Others

• Metropolitan Housing Corporation: Massachusetts nonprofit providing affordable housing development, rental assistance administration, and resident services across Greater Boston. Comparable in mission of expanding affordable housing access, though primarily a developer/administrator rather than direct service provider.
• Cambridge Housing Authority: Public housing authority that operates as YWCA Cambridge's primary referral and intake partner for SRO housing applications. A key institutional partner rather than a direct competitor, but operates affordable housing programs serving similar populations.

Emerging players

• Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless: Statewide advocacy organization focused on homelessness prevention, housing policy, and the rights of homeless individuals and families. Comparable in the advocacy and policy dimension of YWCA Cambridge's mission, though primarily an advocacy rather than direct-service provider.
• Bridge Over Troubled Waters: Boston nonprofit serving homeless and at-risk youth ages 14-24 with shelter, education, and workforce programming. Comparable in mission focus on youth development and advocacy for vulnerable populations, though serving a slightly different age band than YWCA Cambridge's 11-18 cohort.

Broad incumbents

• YWCA USA: National umbrella organization for the YWCA network, of which YWCA Cambridge is an independent member affiliate. Provides brand standards, advocacy coordination, and shared resources, but does not directly deliver local housing or shelter services in Cambridge.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/YWCACambMA
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/YwcacamOrg/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/YWCACambMA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ywca-cambridge-ma
• Instagraminstagram.com/ywcacambma

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about The Cambridge Young Women's Christian Association