THE OPPORTUNITY AT THE YMCA OF SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON
This role offers an experienced leader the chance to make a meaningful difference at a purpose-driven YMCA in a vibrant community. The incoming CEO will lead creative efforts to grow the YMCA's influence and strengthen its role throughout the area it serves. Building strong relationships with important community partners will help boost the YMCA’s reputation and advance its mission. The CEO will motivate and guide a committed staff team that cares deeply about serving others. Keeping everyone safe and healthy, especially young people, is a top priority—going beyond standard requirements and always following necessary regulations.
The YMCA Board seeks a CEO with visionary leadership, strategic planning skills aligned to the mission, strong communication and collaboration abilities, and proven success in driving growth and measurable outcomes. A deep understanding of YMCA values and commitment to its mission are essential.
The YMCA boasts a dedicated Board of Directors and staff team committed to serving the community. This is an exciting opportunity to join a dynamic organization and make a lasting difference.
ABOUT THE YMCA OF SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON
The YMCA of Southwest Washington, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, has proudly served Cowlitz County since 1923. Our mission is to strengthen community by providing recreation, education, and healthy living programs for children, adults, families, and seniors.
We believe everyone deserves access to these opportunities, regardless of their income. That’s why we offer financial assistance for memberships and program fees and actively raise funds to support free swimming lessons and reduced summer camp fees for those in need.
Our programs and facilities include:
- A comprehensive aquatics program
- A fully equipped weight room
- A wide variety of fitness classes
- Preschool and after-school programs
- Youth sports
- Goodtymes, a program for adults with disabilities
- Health, wellness and lifestyle classes
Currently, we are focused on two major initiatives:
- Capital Campaign: Raising funds to renovate the locker rooms.
- Technology Upgrade: Overhauling and modernizing our systems to better serve members including an updated website, onsite visual displays, and easier payment opportunities.
This past year, we completed an energy audit for the Clean Building Performance Standards and the ASHRAE Level 2 Energy Audit. We were awarded a $389,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce to replace three HVAC units, insulate the main gym and hot water pipes, and cover the cost of both audits.
We also launched Friday Night Teen Night, a free, supervised program for youth ages 13–17. Teens enjoy healthy activities and dinner in a safe environment. Responding to community feedback that “there’s nothing for teens to do in Longview,” we are working to expand this program to weekday afternoons. Our goal is to provide positive, structured options for teens who aren’t involved in sports or other extracurricular activities.
Our Mission
To put Christian principles into practice through programs that build a healthy spirit, mind, and body for all.
Our Cause & Values
At the Y, strengthening community is our cause. We believe that lasting personal and social change can only come about when we all work together to invest in our kids, our health, and our neighbors. We focus our work in three areas: Youth Development, Healthy Living, and Social Responsibility.
Our Culture:
- The Y Experience – The Y Experience is built from our mission and encompasses the values and philosophy by which we serve and operate
- Welcoming – We are open to all. We are a place where you can be yourself and find yourself in others.
- Genuine – We value you and embrace your individuality.
- Hopeful – We believe in you and your potential to do good in the world.
- Nurturing – We support you as you become the best-version-of-yourself.
- Determined – Above all else, we are on a relentless quest to make our community stronger, beginning with you
Current Key Strategic Initiatives:
- Explore the creation of a new licensed childcare facility for ages 0-3, and licensed school-age before and after school care (state-reimbursable) at Olympic, St. Helens and Mint Valley Elementary Schools.
- Enhance our unlicensed preschool at the YMCA, and our current unlicensed after school program for Butler Acres, Columbia Heights and Lexington Elementary Schools. Explore adding before school at these three sites.
- Enhance our summer day camp at a partner location and explore the possibility of obtaining our own property for day camp and/or resident camp.
- Create a safe and supervised teen-driven after school program for middle school aged students. Introduce new Teen Center area to teens and identify needs and changes that will engage kids who need a place to belong.
- Hire Teen Program Coordinator (we have existing grant funding for the first six months).
- Expand our new Youth Leaders Club, engaging youth in leadership, community service, volunteerism and future job skills.
- Provide and promote healthy lifestyle education programs at no or low cost in blood pressure monitoring, health coaching, weight loss, nutrition and exercise.
- Engage new and returning members with options for both physical and emotional support, such as social gatherings and clubs where people can meet and connect.
- Increase opportunities for member-to-member interaction and socialization.
- Increase nutrition education and access to healthy food to our community members.
Membership: Total Number of Members: 5,200 | Units: 3,444
- 5% Youth
- 11% Adults
- 16% Household
- 68% Senior
Core Programs:
- Aquatics
- Out of School Time: After School, Day Camps, Summer
Day Camp:
- Preschool
- Youth Sports
- Group Exercise
- Chronic Disease Prevention and Management
- Youth and Adult Sports
Annual Support Campaign:
- Current Year Goal: $92,000
- Prior Year’s Total: $70,000
- Capital Campaign: Locker Room Renovation
CEO Direct Reports:
- Aquatics Director
- Membership Director
- Maintenance/Custodial coordinators
- Youth Development Director
- Finance Director
- Healthy Living Coordinator
- Senior Program Coordinator
Board of Directors: 14 members with the following standing committees:
- Finance
- Facility/Safety
- Program/Membership
- Fundraising
Financial Snapshot:
- Current Annual Budget Size: $1.9M
- Current Debt: $415,000
- Current Endowment: $123,619
- Last year operating net (fiscal year July 1- June 30): $530,990, audited
- Fiscal year 7/1/2023 – 6/30/2024 operating net: -$118,822
- Fiscal year 7/1/2022 – 6/30/2023 operating net: -$256,599
ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY
Cowlitz County located in the southwestern sector of Washington State with the Columbia river as her southern border. It is the 12th largest county in the state with a population of 114,924 and a growth rate of .83% as of 2025. The city of Longview and the county seat, Kelso, border each other. Formed in April 1854 Cowlitz County is rich in history, industry, natural beauty, and home of the Monticello Convention of 1852, Cowlitz County is where Washington Territory was born. Residents of Cowlitz County live about an hour from Mt. St. Helens, the Pacific Coast, and Portland OR, providing a unique blend of rural and urban environments and quality of life.
Information Sites:
YMCA website: https://longviewymca.org
https://www.mylongview.com and https://www.co.cowlitz.wa.us
Chamber of Commerce: https://www.kelsolongviewchamber.org
University/College: https://lowercolumbia.edu
Hospital System: https://www.peacehealth.org
School System: https://www.longviewschools.com and https://www.kelso.wednet.edu/
Y-USA: https://www.ymca.org/
State Alliance: https://www.washingtonymca.org/
Qualifications
- Accredited 4-year college degree and/or equivalent work experience.
- Fiscally sound business management approach with a proven track record of budgetary and fiscal management more than $1M or more annually.
- Minimum seven years prior experience in a senior management role with a YMCA or related experience at a comparable organization with direct supervision of multiple levels of staff and employees.
- Must be able to develop and strengthen community relationships.
- Have the ability to develop innovative programs, review and enhance programs being offered or considered for both economic and effectiveness in broadening our engagement in the communities in which we serve.
- Strategic planning and fundraising experience including annual campaigns and the securing of grants.
- Fiscally sound business management approach.
- A proven record of accomplishment of progressive budgetary leadership and advanced fiscal management practices.
- YMCA Organizational Leader Certification or ability to achieve within 3 years.
Essential Functions
KEY SKILLS AND ABILITIES OF OUR NEXT CEO
The board believes its new CEO should be an experienced leader who has the background and qualities that will permit him or her to achieve excellence in the following roles:
Develop and Implement a Strategic Plan: Work effectively with volunteers, community leaders, and key staff, to create and develop a strategic plan which addresses the needs of the communities served by the Y, including defined organizational strategies, a clear implementation plan with deliverables, and measurable goals. Key Competencies: Communication & Influence, Critical Thinking & Decision Making, Program/Project Management and Change Leadership
Improve Operating Performance: Engage the board and appropriate staff to develop an annual tactical plan for identifying and achieving key goals and objectives towards operating with safe, relevant and sustainable practices. Quickly address issues that may arise, forecast future needs, and manage and direct the Y’s operations and activities. Key Competencies: Developing Self & Others, Critical Thinking & Decision Making, Innovation
Build and Lead Staff: Ensure a talent development system is in place and executed effectively with cultural competence. Hire, motivate, nurture, retain, and hold staff accountable for key objectives. Work towards recruiting, retaining, developing, and promoting staff. Encourage the team by creating a spirit of camaraderie, connection, and sense of mission and purpose. Create a learning organization to help staff achieve their highest potential. Key Competencies: Developing Self & Others, Inclusion, Emotional Maturity, Change Leadership
Fiscal Management: Use high-level financial analysis to forecast financial trends, growth and stability, while consistently leading the organization to balance or surplus operations by growing earned revenue and contributions and controlling costs. Empower and guide staff leaders to lead their departments to successful financial operations. Develop and implement stewardship strategies. Key Competencies: Fiscal Management, Critical Thinking & Decision Making, Developing Self & Others, Philanthropy
Position the Y as a Vital Partner for Community Change: Serve as an ambassador for the mission, purpose, and vision for the YMCA within the community. Possess the ability to develop and cultivate relationships with key stakeholders from a variety of backgrounds, while always upholding the highest standards and values of the Y. Ensure your Y is seen as a leading nonprofit committed to strengthening community by connecting all people to their potential, purpose, and each other. Key Competencies: Communication & Influence, Engaging Community, Collaboration
Steward Fundraising Efforts: Develop and implement an annual fundraising plan which will establish the YMCA as a leading nonprofit organization within the community through the engagement of members, volunteers, staff, and donors. Identify the need for successful capital fundraising, while taking the organization to a new level of effectiveness and impact in annual giving and endowment. Key Competencies: Philanthropy, Engaging Community, Communication & Influence
SALARY, BENEFITS, & CRITERIA
Salary Range: $79,650 to $92,450 annually
Benefits:
- YMCA Retirement (7% paid by Y, 5% by employee) contribution once eligibility is met
- YMCA 403B savings account 100% employee contribution
- Health plan (75% paid by Y, 25% by employee. Dependents: 25% paid by the Y and 75% paid by the employee)
- Paid Time Off (PTO): 11 – 36 days per year per personnel policy (based on years of service)
- Other benefits per personnel policy
Residency Expectation: Living in the YMCA’s service area is required.
SEARCH PROCESS TARGET DATES
- Resumes accepted through: 2/20/2026
- Preliminary interviews scheduled: 3/25/26 & 3/26/26
- In-person interviews: 4/29/26-4/30/26
- CEO selection made: within 3-5 days
- New CEO on board (anticipated): ~June 15th
*dates subject to change
HOW TO APPLY
References, Background Check, and Organizational Leader Certification:
Candidates must submit (pdf format only) the following in their online application: a resume, cover letter. Applications submitted without a cover letter will not be considered.
Candidates who advance to final interviews will need to submit six references (four professional and two personal). References checked only with prior notification. Successful candidate accepting the offer must pass a background check and must have a current Y-USA’s Organizational Leader Certification or obtain certification within the first three years from start date as the CEO. The YMCA's personnel policies may require further screening.
Candidates must apply via the following website:https://tinyurl.com/ymca-of-sw-washington-ceo
QUESTIONS
About the Search Process?
Nicole Bolding, YMCA of the USA CEO Search, Nicole.bolding@ymca.net
About the YMCA?
Derek Smith, CEO Pacific Alliance of YMCAs, dereksmith@seattleymca.org
