About Y Retirement
The Lifelong Benefit of Doing Good
Y Retirement By The Numbers
We are honored to help employees plan for the future they deserve, so they can focus on what matters most: building healthier, stronger communities—today and for years to come.
125,000+
People Served
700+
YMCAs Served
$10B+
Managed Assets
100%
On-time Annuity Payments
Our Story
For more than 175 years, the YMCA has embodied and supported the lifelong benefits of doing good; improving people’s health and wellness, encouraging children and teens, and forever transforming communities for the better.
We understand that Y employees are more than just participants in our benefit—they are leaders, mentors, and changemakers. Inspired by these transformative roles, we’re wholly dedicated to supporting Y employees, ensuring that the good they’re doing now comes back to them full circle with guaranteed income for life in retirement.
We see Y Retirement as more than a “financial service,” which is why since 1922 we’ve invested and educated from a heartfelt place. As a proud trusted partner to Ys, and with over 120,000 people relying on us, this is more than our responsibility; it’s our sacred duty, and it always will be.
Our Mission, Vision and Promise
Our Mission
To partner with YMCAs to help those who serve others build a foundation for financial security in retirement.
Our Vision
To help generations of YMCA employees approach the future with anticipation and confidence.
Our Promise
To pay retirement benefits to Y retirees on time, in full, and forever.
Retirement Benefit Designed for YMCA Employees
Incorporated in New York in 1921, the YMCA Retirement Fund has a long history of caring for those who dedicate their careers to the YMCA mission. As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, Y Retirement exists to provide reliable retirement benefits for employees of participating Ys across the nation—today, tomorrow, and for years to come.
One Fund, Two Plans
Y Retirement Plans incorporate features of both defined contribution and defined benefit plans, meaning we help participants accumulate retirement savings AND receive guaranteed income for life. The Y Retirement benefit is more flexible than a defined benefit plan (offering some plan portability) and provides more safety than a typical defined contribution plan by managing investment and longevity risk.
401(a) Retirement Plan
Those employees who are eligible for the 401(a) Retirement Plan receive a generous contribution to their accounts, which may be entirely covered by the Y, or shared between the employer and employee.
403(b) Savings Plan
Available to all employees of participating Ys beginning on their first day of employment, regardless of age, hours worked, length of service, or compensation. Savings are allowed on a tax-deferred or Roth basis.
A Legacy of Service to Others
As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, we’re proud of our commitment to serve and support those in need in our Y community. In 2025 alone, the 34th Annual Harold C. Smith Fundraiser (named for Y Retirement’s 4th CEO) raised over $300,000 to fund a variety of important causes throughout the Y Movement including the Retiree Emergency Assistance Program, the Armed Services YMCA, and more.
Ready to learn more?
Take a closer look at Y Retirement, how we operate, and who leads our organization.
