Advocacy
One voice for New York’s YMCAs
Investing in YMCAs is an investment in New York’s families, workforce and future. The Alliance represents all 35 YMCA associations before state government.
Advocacy Days 2027
YMCA Statewide Advocacy Days: February 8 to 9, 2027
Advocacy Days are for YMCA staff, board members and volunteers from New York’s Ys.
Monday, February 8
Advocacy Dinner
Renaissance Albany Downtown, Albany. Starts at 6 PM.
$30, paid online by card when you register.
Hotel room block: to be announced
Tuesday, February 9
State Advocacy Day
New York State Capitol, Albany. Meetings with state legislators.
Free
To register yourself or your whole YMCA group, email Maggie Collins with the names of everyone attending, the name of your Y, how many will join the dinner, and whether you would like the Alliance to schedule your legislative meetings.
Registration deadline: to be announced. Questions: Maggie Collins, Director of Public Policy, mcollins@ymcanys.org.
Youth voice
Advocacy Ambassadors
Youth voices are essential to advocacy. Advocacy Ambassadors are youth leaders from across New York State who help shape how the Alliance shares priorities with policymakers. Any high school student can apply. Selected Ambassadors attend Advocacy Days in Albany and meet with state legislators. The cost is $120 for lodging and meals, and financial assistance from the Alliance is available. Space is limited.
If you are under 18, copy a parent, guardian or Y advisor on your application. We reply to both of you. Signed parent or guardian consent is required, and Ambassadors are supervised by YMCA staff during the trip.
Application deadline: to be announced. Questions: Drew Caldwell, dcaldwell@ymcanys.org.
To ask about financial assistance, email Drew Caldwell, and copy a parent, guardian or Y advisor if you are under 18.
Our 2027 priorities
What we are asking Albany to support
- After school and school age programs
- Early child care
- Universal pre kindergarten and the role of community based organizations like the Y
- Healthy living and chronic disease prevention
- Support for older adults
- Wellness
- Social responsibility: preventing poverty, supporting families, and access to food and housing
Results
When YMCAs speak together, investments follow
- The state budget for fiscal year 2026-27 doubled dedicated funding for New York’s YMCAs to $2 million.
- State-funded afterschool programs received two cost of living increases in a row.
- NY SWIMS, the state program to build and reopen public pools, now accepts nonprofits like the Y. As of July 2026, it has put nearly $260 million into 79 pool projects.
- A statewide learn to swim program now helps more children become safe in the water.
NY SWIMS total: Governor’s office, July 2, 2026.
Get involved
Speak up for your Y
Every Y can name an Advocacy Liaison to receive Alliance alerts and act on calls to action. Each budget season, Y leaders, staff and volunteers meet with legislators in Albany; in 2026 they held more than 70 meetings.
The Alliance is a 501(c)(4) and leads all advocacy. The New York State YMCA Foundation does not fund lobbying.
