Strategic Plan 2026-2028

GREATER GREEN BAY YMCA

Strategic Plan 2026-2028

The Greater Green Bay YMCA’s strategic plan charts a bold path forward, focusing on strengthening our organization and the communities we serve. This plan outlines our core priorities and actionable steps designed to drive meaningful impact, foster inclusive growth, and ensure long-term sustainability.

By uniting staff, members, volunteers, and community partners around a shared vision, we are committed to delivering innovative programs and service that support the well-being and success of all.

• Cultivating Culture: Through workshops, engagement surveys, and leadership development, we intentionally shape a culture of excellence — how we work, not just what we do.
• Strengthening Governance: We build informed, committed leaders to keep the YMCA agile, accountable, and impactful.
• Optimizing Talent: Investing in people ensures the YMCA remains a premier employer and trusted partner, ready to meet evolving community needs.
• West Side YMCA Vision: Creating spaces that inspire healthy living, learning, and connection—building a stronger community for generations.
• Property Planning: A disciplined approach ensures our facilities reflect our mission and support a thriving, healthy future.
• Funding Capacity: Growing resources and relationships to sustain programs, improve facilities, and foster a culture of philanthropy.
• Membership & Partnerships: Driving engagement and collaboration to secure long-term success and enrich lives.
• Financial Strength: Ensuring affordability while expanding programs and facilities so our mission thrives for generations.

CREATE A WINNING CULTURE

At the Greater Green Bay YMCA, a winning culture is more than a goal—it’s the foundation for everything we do. It begins with living our mission and values every day, fostering an environment where staff, members, and volunteers feel welcomed, valued, and empowered to thrive. Our culture is built on integrity, accountability, excellence, collaboration, empowerment, and appreciation, ensuring that every interaction reflects our commitment to strengthening community.

A winning culture means:

• Shared Purpose: Aligning our actions with the YMCA’s vision to elevate quality of life and promote health and well-being for all.
• Engaged Teams: Creating high-performing teams through trust, transparency, and continuous learning.
• Inclusive Environment: Welcoming all individuals and embracing diversity, so everyone feels they belong.
• Recognition and Growth: Appreciating contributions, rewarding success, and providing opportunities for personal and professional development.
• Community Impact: Working together to make a measurable difference in the lives of those we serve.

Through intentional practices—such as culture workshops, engagement surveys, and leadership development—we ensure that our culture is not left to chance but cultivated with care. This is how we create a workplace and community where excellence is not just what we do, but how we do it.

ENHANCE BOARD IMPACT

The Greater Green Bay YMCA recognizes that a strong, engaged board is essential to advancing our mission and driving organizational success. Our strategy for Enhance Board Impact focuses on building a high-performing governance team that provides leadership, advocacy, and accountability.

This initiative includes:

• Clear Expectations: Defining roles and responsibilities for board members, committees, and the CEO to ensure alignment and transparency.
• Comprehensive Orientation: Delivering an engaging onboarding experience that equips board members with the knowledge and tools to contribute effectively.
• Continuous Development: Implementing a two-year board enhancement plan, including assessments, performance evaluations, and bi-annual CEO-to-board member check-ins.
• Strategic Recruitment: Establishing a process to identify and attract diverse, skilled candidates who align with our vision and values.
• Collaboration and Communication: Creating platforms for seamless information sharing and fostering a culture of partnership between board and leadership.

By strengthening governance practices and cultivating informed, committed leaders, we ensure the YMCA remains agile, accountable, and impactful in serving our community.

OPTIMIZE TALENT POOL

The Greater Green Bay YMCA understands that our people are our greatest asset. To deliver exceptional programs and services, we must attract, develop, and retain top talent across all levels of the organization. Optimizing Talent Pool is our commitment to building a workforce that is skilled, engaged, and aligned with our mission.

This strategy focuses on:

• Role Clarity and Structure: Developing comprehensive job descriptions and a clear job architecture to ensure every team member understands their responsibilities and growth pathways.
• Performance Excellence: Implementing a pay-for-performance appraisal process that rewards achievement and fosters accountability.
• Recruitment Innovation: Enhancing our recruitment process to attract diverse, high-quality candidates who share our values and passion for community impact.
• Leadership Development: Creating management learning journeys and continuous education opportunities to strengthen leadership capabilities and prepare future leaders.
• Employee Engagement: Building a culture of recognition, feedback, and professional growth to keep our teams motivated and connected.

By investing in talent optimization, we ensure that the YMCA remains a premier employer and a trusted community partner, equipped to meet evolving needs and deliver on our promise of strengthening the foundations of community.

ESTABLISH A WEST SIDE PATH

The Greater Green Bay YMCA is committed to meeting the growing needs of our community by creating a clear and actionable path for the West Side YMCA’s future. This strategy focuses on expanding and modernizing our most visited branch to ensure it remains a vibrant hub for health, wellness, and community connection.

Key elements of this initiative include:

• Vision for Growth: Launching a bold expansion plan to transform the West Side YMCA into a state-of-the-art facility with dedicated spaces for youth, families, and active older adults.
• Enhanced Amenities: Adding modern fitness areas, new aquatics spaces including lap and instructional pools, expanded wellness zones, and family-friendly features such as improved locker rooms and play areas.
• Community Engagement: Building partnerships and fostering inclusive spaces that strengthen social connections and promote belonging for all.
• Financial Sustainability: Driving a capital campaign and leveraging grants, donor recognition opportunities, and diversified revenue streams to fund the $9.4 million expansion and ensure long-term viability.
• Strategic Alignment: Integrating this project into our 3-year strategic plan and 10-year development roadmap, ensuring that facility improvements support organizational growth and community impact.

By establishing a clear path for the West Side YMCA, we are investing in a future where everyone has access to spaces that inspire healthy living, lifelong learning, and meaningful connections. This initiative is not just about bricks and mortar—it’s about building a stronger, healthier community for generations to come.

CREATE A 10-YEAR PROPERTY PLAN

The Greater Green Bay YMCA is committed to ensuring that our facilities remain vibrant, safe, and aligned with the evolving needs of our community. The 10-Year Property Plan is a forward-thinking strategy designed to guide capital investments, prioritize maintenance, and position our organization for sustainable growth.

This initiative focuses on:

• Comprehensive Assessment: Conducting a detailed deferred maintenance study and facility condition analysis to identify critical needs and opportunities for improvement.
• Strategic Planning: Developing a roadmap for property development that supports program expansion, member experience, and operational efficiency across all centers.
• Future-Ready Facilities: Aligning property decisions with demographic trends, community priorities, and technological advancements to ensure relevance and accessibility for all.
• Financial Stewardship: Integrating property planning with long-term financial strategies, including capital campaigns and funding models, to maintain fiscal health while investing in growth.
• Sustainability and Impact: Incorporating environmentally responsible practices and creating spaces that foster health, wellness, and community engagement for generations to come.

By creating a disciplined, actionable property plan, we ensure that the YMCA’s physical footprint reflects our mission and supports our vision of a thriving, healthy community well into the future.

BUILD FUNDING CAPACITY

To sustain growth and deliver on our mission, the Greater Green Bay YMCA must strengthen its financial foundation. Build Funding Capacity is our strategy to create a robust, diversified funding model that supports long-term organizational success and community impact.

This initiative focuses on:

• Transforming the Annual Campaign: Shifting to a more strategic approach that emphasizes major gifts, donor cultivation, and personalized outreach through direct mail, email, and phone engagement.
• Leveraging Technology: Fully implementing a new CRM system (Blackbaud’s Raiser’s Edge NXT) to enhance donor tracking, reporting, and stewardship.
• Event and Sponsorship Growth: Increasing revenue through high-impact events, sponsorships, and long-term partnerships, while maximizing board participation and community engagement.
• Planned Giving and Best Practices: Establishing donor development standards and launching a planned giving program to secure future sustainability.

By building funding capacity, we ensure the YMCA can weather financial challenges, invest in facility improvements, and expand programs that strengthen the foundations of community. This strategy is not just about raising dollars—it’s about creating lasting relationships and a culture of philanthropy that fuels our vision for generations to come.

SUSTAIN REVENUE GROWTH

To maintain organizational vitality and expand community impact, the Greater Green Bay YMCA is committed to sustaining revenue growth through diversified strategies and disciplined execution. This initiative ensures that we can continue delivering exceptional programs, modern facilities, and inclusive services for all.

Key components of this strategy include:

• Membership Growth: Developing targeted plans to increase member acquisition and retention, leveraging data analytics and community partnerships to drive engagement.
• Program Expansion: Enhancing center and community programming by introducing innovative offerings that meet evolving community needs, including youth development, wellness, and specialty programs.
• Childcare, Youth Outreach and Camp Programs: Growing School-Age Child Care, youth outreach and camping programs to strengthen engagement, participation and generate sustainable revenue streams.
• Strategic Partnerships: Collaborating with local organizations, corporations, and schools to expand reach and create mutually beneficial opportunities for program delivery and financial support.
• Program Evaluation and Optimization: Assessing existing programs to determine direction, ensuring resources are allocated to high-impact initiatives that align with our mission and financial goals.

By focusing on membership, programming, and partnerships, we position the YMCA for long-term success thereby creating a financially strong organization that can invest in people, programs, and places to enrich lives and strengthen community.

ACHIEVE FINANCIAL STRENGTH

The Greater Green Bay YMCA is committed to ensuring long-term financial stability and operational excellence. Achieve Financial Strength is our strategy to maintain a disciplined, efficient, and sustainable financial model that supports growth and maximizes community impact.

This initiative focuses on:

• Organizational Efficiency: Sizing the organization for impact and efficiency, aligning resources with strategic priorities to deliver maximum value.
• Expense Management: Conducting comprehensive cost reviews to identify savings opportunities and reinvest in mission-driven programs.
• Enhanced Reporting: Implementing improved management reporting systems to provide actionable insights into decision-making and financial transparency.
• Budget Alignment: Creating a clear link between the strategic plan and annual budgeting process to ensure financial decisions support long-term goals.
• Risk Management: Establishing robust monitoring of financial health, reserves, and contingency planning to safeguard against economic fluctuations.

By achieving financial strength, we position the YMCA to invest in facilities, expand programs, and maintain affordability for all members, ensuring that our mission thrives for generations to come.

Together, these strategies create a strong foundation for the Greater Green Bay YMCA’s future. Through facility investment, funding growth, and financial discipline, we’ll adapt to changing needs and deliver lasting community impact.