The YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh may be the single most corrupt charitable organization in this city. I want to briefly highlight three areas, and I hope that you will do some digging. Financial, human resources, and hiring/placement strategies.
I am a former employer of the YMCA. I will not say when I worked there. Just know that this information is accurate and relevant. I also want to say that there are several good people who work for the YMCA. People with big hearts who care. The issue lies in management and disciplinary systems.
The YMCA needs to be investigated from a financial standpoint. Their books have been in dire conditions for the past several years, that is not a secret. Moreso, there needs to be an investigation of how funds have been used. This needs to be exposed.
Too often, I witnessed YMCA employees drinking and dining on the donor's dollar. Too often, a high ranking executive has received exorbitant pay while entry level employees live in poverty working 60+ hours per week, and made to feel guilty for not giving more. Fundraisers are held for a specific purpose, but the money is never being used to do anything. Ask for a paper trail of how the money is used. Non-profits should be able to produce these records pretty easily if their books are clean.
Prior to 2020, the Turkey Trot food donations sat in a basement until they expired, despite having plenty of local residents who needed food. Thousands of people donate to the Turkey Trot every year and for no good reason.
All of this done in the name of ‘good work’. They lie. Outside of the location in Homewood, there are not statistically significant numbers that showcase positive community impact other than giving out subsidized gym memberships [which require people to be subjugated to bringing in their tax records and even sitting through an intrusive interview about their financial lives]. Homewood is their ticket to major grant dollars and to unlock big donations which they use to fund other struggling branches.
Racism, nepotism, and toxicity. With the CEO leaving for another position, where is the leadership of people of color? The majority of the black leadership has departed the organization over the last five years. That alone seems odd.
Have you ever wondered why the mid-level leaders of color are only at the Homewood and Hill District YMCAs? Do you know where those leaders actually reside or spend most of their time? The YMCA intentionally moves black leaders to predominantly black neighborhoods to work, stating that they are a better fit for that population. Why? “Black YMCA” jobs pay less than “white YMCA” jobs. Just ask for a pay structure. They may argue that certain locations in certain neighborhoods bring in more money. Though that may be true, ask why that is the case. Are the infrastructures the same? Who really fundraises more money given the resources provided. Black employees are handpicked and relocated regardless of where they live, education level, experience level, and ability to execute their jobs.
Many qualified black leaders have applied for positions at the locations in the North Hills and South Hills, but have been looked over. When you see who obtained those positions over them, it is laughable. Camp counselors and maintenance workers are given opportunities to lead an entire division of an organization without any prior business experience over tenured philanthropists of color. Greg Swetoha cannot give a better explanation other than the other person was, “just not the right fit”.
How about the North Side executive director who mocks members with Indian accents, and who has been accused of sexism on multiple accounts. Yet, his son who was grossly underqualified, was given a mid level role which he falters in more each day. How about this one?
Here are a few other crazy situations that were observed.
Repeated manipulation of financial data by employees who were too scared to tell the truth in fear of retribution.
Forcing entry level employees making $23,000 per year and on call 24/7, unable to work second jobs without interruption or criticism.
A director getting mad and throwing out waivers for current patrons. When an employee confronted the director about liability concerns, the director called the employee an idiot and chided the employee in front of the team they were assigned to lead.
A white female executive cornering a black employee, not allowing the employee to leave the room while challenging them to a fight and insulting their character.
An executive director who when losing an employee to another job threatened to call their new employer and board members to make life for the departing employee difficult.
Human resources reading and sharing employee exit interviews while having a good laugh.
The COVID-19 outbreak that the North Side location was known about for several weeks before the health department forced a shut down. Leadership wanted to keep the branch open to generate membership dues. This is before vaccines were available. They were knowingly a superspreader and had zero concern for public health.
6 Words Describe what the Y does.... Transforming Lives and Families in Pittsburgh
Review from The Pittsburgh Foundation