Who We Are
Founded in 1876, YWCA Metropolitan Chicago is a social enterprise committed to eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all.
Located in the third-largest American city with the third-highest percentage of women in the U.S., YWCA Metropolitan Chicago serves as a national incubator for innovative programming, outreach and engagement strategies. Contributing to our diverse and balanced economy, YWCA Metropolitan Chicago is working at the individual and systems levels to create an inclusive marketplace where everyone thrives. The organization is also an active member of many national, state, county and city-level coalitions, representing the interests of and advocating for policies that positively affect women and families.
As a leading association among a national network of more than 200 YWCAs, YWCA Metropolitan Chicago impacts tens of thousands of women and families annually through comprehensive human services provided across the region. YWCA Metropolitan Chicago is a leading service provider in the areas of sexual violence support services, early childhood and child care provider services, family support services, youth STEM programming, and economic empowerment services.
Mission & Vision
Mission: YWCA Metropolitan Chicago is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all.
Vision: We share a vision for an inclusive marketplace where everyone thrives.
Values (C.A.R.E.)
Creativity: The ability to see opportunities, overcome obstacles, or face challenges with a “can-do” mindset that leads to new and innovative solutions
Authenticity: Staying true to one’s own personality, spirit, or character; bringing their best traits to the work
Respect: Behaving and engaging with regard for the feelings, perspectives, wishes, abilities and rights of others
Excellence: Consistently delivering outstanding or best in class efforts and results
Guiding Principles
1. We approach our work with wonder, compassion and joy, and embrace uncertainty.
2. We value the unique talents and contributions of all people and foster an environment that unleashes individuals’ purpose and potential.
3. With a sense of urgency, we commit to intentional evolution through agility, innovation, and a growth mindset.
4. We collaborate to develop meaningful, value-driven partnerships that benefit multiple stakeholders.
5. We co-create new models that maximize opportunities to disrupt the marketplace so that we can resolve the significant challenges facing our society.
YWCA Local History
YWCA Metropolitan Chicago is the oldest women-focused social service organization in Chicago. It was formed by 13 women who met on December 12, 1876, to address their concerns for the growing number of single women who were coming to Chicago for work during the boom years after the great Chicago fire.
From its earliest days, the YWCA focused on the total needs of women, particularly in the areas of employment, health, and housing. YWCA women became leaders in social legislation that related to the needs of women and girls, such as child labor laws. Women learned trades at the YWCA, such as the “ever-popular” millinery classes held at the YWCA Indiana Branch, 3541 Indiana Ave., in the 1920s.
The YWCA first extended services to young black women in 1915. In contrast to the world around it, the YWCA racially integrated its services and board of directors in the 1940s. The Chicago Mayor’s Commission on Human Relations presented the YWCA with its “Award on Human Relations” in 1946, acknowledging that its “interracially constituted board and committees have made its residence halls, swimming pools and general services available to all the young women of Chicago and whose forthright stand has influenced the nationwide policies of this great social institution.”
In 1972, the YWCA Leader Luncheon pioneered the concept of public recognition for working women’s achievements. The YWCA Leader Luncheon remains a Chicago tradition, drawing more than 1,300 representatives from the corporate, private and social service sectors to celebrate the accomplishments of outstanding women and raising more than half a million dollars for YWCA programs and services.
Today, YWCA Metropolitan Chicago is a social enterprise and a leading service provider in the areas of sexual violence support services, early childhood and child care provider services, family support services, youth STEM programming, and economic empowerment services. A commitment to racial justice, equity, and inclusion runs through all YWCA activities. Located in the third-largest American city, YWCA Metropolitan Chicago serves as a national incubator for innovative programming, outreach and engagement strategies. Contributing to a diverse and balanced economy, YWCA Metropolitan Chicago is working at the individual and systems levels to create an inclusive marketplace where everyone thrives. The organization is also an active member of many national, state, county and city-level coalitions, advocating for policies that combat racism and positively affect women and families.
Financial Statements
YWCA Metropolitan Chicago would like to thank all of our foundation and corporate donors who have supported our efforts and help us maintain our quality level of programs and services. In addition, interested parties may view our latest 990s.
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Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois
BMO Harris Bank
CDW Corp
Chicago Community Trust
ComEd, An Exelon Company
Crown Family Philanthropies
Discover Financial Services
DuPage Foundation
Exchange Club of Naperville
Harris Family Fund
Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation
Healthcare Foundation of Northern Lake County
ITW
Johnson & Johnson Global Services
Julian Grace Foundation
Kirkland & Ellis LLP
Molson Coors Beverage Company
Steans Family Foundation
The Builders Initiative
The Coleman Foundation
The Lloyd A.Fry Foundation
Ulta Beauty
University of Chicago Medical Center
William Blair & Company
YWCA USA
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Annie E. Casey Foundation
Partnership for America's Children
Paylocity
Peoples Gas
Polk Bros. Foundation
U.S. Bank Foundation
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Amazon Web Services
Baird & Warner, Inc.
Bank of America
Bensenville Elementary School District 2
Clothes For Charity Inc.
Conagra Brands Foundation
McDonald's Corporation
Molina Healthcare of Illinois, Inc.
Morningstar
Navistar International Corp.
North Shore Gas
Steak 48
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Allstate Foundation
Barker Welfare Foundation
Blacks in Green NFP
Chapin-May Foundation of Illinois
Chicago Bulls
Circle of Service Foundation
City of Naperville
Comcast NBC Universal
Exelon Corporation
Full Circle Holding, LLC
Grainger, Inc.
Grosvenor Holding LLC
JPMorgan Chase & Co., Inc.
Marillac St. Vincent Family Services, Inc.
Nicor Gas
Northwestern Memorial Hospital Foundation
Sherita Ceasar Giving Fund
The Kadens Family Foundation
USG Corporation
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AARP Foundation
ABC 7 Chicago
AVIA Health Innovation
Beyond Green Partners
Black and Decker
Chicago Bar Foundation and Chicago Bar Association
CourseStorm
Crown Community Development
Culloton + Bauer Luce
Deloitte
Dr. Scholl Foundation
Educare West DuPage
Elmhurst University
Fifth Third Bank
Horizon Therapeutics
Mars Food North America
Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc. (MUFG Bank)
Northern Trust
Polsinelli
PwC
TJX Foundation
Tutoring America, Inc.
U.S. Bank
Waukegan Community Unit School District 60
Willis Towers Watson
Wintrust Financial Corporation
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A Safe Haven Foundation
Accenture LLP
ArentFox Schiff LLP
Barnes & Thornburg LLP
Benedictine University
Bernard W. Abrams Family Foundation, Inc.
Blackbaud
Boston Consulting Group
Brunswick Group LLC
Cabrera Capital Markets
Carol Lavin Bernick Family Foundation
CBS 2 Chicago
Chicago Cubs
Conagra Brands, Inc.
Corporate Responsibility Group of Greater Chicago
Cresa Global Inc
CS Insurance Strategies
DeVry Education Group
Ecolab Foundation
Emme Family Foundation
Forefront
FTI Consulting
George and June Block Family Foundation
Grainger Women's Business Resource Group
GTCR LLC
Hawthorne Strategy Group, Inc
HBK Engineering, LLC
Joseph and Bessie Feinberg Foundation
Kane County Fit For Kids
Korn Ferry
Lake County Community Foundation
Legal & General Investment Management America
Luster Learning Institute, NFP
Navy Pier, Inc.
Pfizer, Inc
Plante Moran
TAWANI Foundation
The John and Kathleen Schreiber Foundation
V3 Companies of Illinois LTD
YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago
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AbbVie
Advocate Aurora Health
Advocate Health Care
Assurance Agency, Ltd.
Chicago Reader L3C
CNO Financial Group
Colman Family Fund
Double Good
Erie Family Health Center
FINRA Investor Education Foundation
Flossmoor Service League
Goldman, Sachs & Co.
Honey Butter Fried Chicken
Huntington Bank
Imagination Branding
Intentional Genius
INTREN
LEWIS PR, Inc.
LNS Operations, LLC
Medinah Elementary School District 11
Noble Network of Charter Schools
Protiviti
St. Thomas More School
Stereo Plus, Inc
TD Ameritrade
Tito’s Handmade Vodka
Women Employed
FAQs
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The YWCA is the oldest women-focused social service organization in Chicago. It was formed by 13 women who met on December 12, 1876, to address their concerns for the growing number of single women who were coming to Chicago for work during the boom years after the great fire.
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The YWCA and YMCA are not affiliated in any way. The YWCA is committed to empowering women and eliminating racism. We take a woman-focused approach to issues and services we offer because when women thrive, families thrive.
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Yes. In 2015, formally changed its corporate name from the “Young Women’s Christian Association of the United States of America, Inc.” to “YWCA USA, Inc.” We followed YWCA USA’s example, beginning to use the name “YWCA Metropolitan Chicago” in 2015 and formally changing our business registration more recently. The name change reflects our present commitment to promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all, regardless of a person’s religion. The updated name enables us to engage more broadly with individuals, groups, and communities to maximize the impact of our work to eliminate racism and empower women.
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Since the 1930s, the YWCA has worked against prejudice and intolerance. The YWCA officially incorporated "the elimination of racism" into our mission statement fifty years ago, when we recognized that we could not achieve the empowerment of women without working for equality for all women, regardless of their color or creed.
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No. The last YWCA residence in Chicago closed in 1971.