The YMCA of Greater Rochester is committed to youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility and seeks to provide access for individuals in the community from all backgrounds. By helping to bridge the gap between the cost of a membership and a family's own resources, Y participants can feel confident knowing that they are a part of an organization that cares greatly for the well-being of all people.
This application process applies to membership, swim lessons, youth sports, and partial-day preschool only.
As a cause-driven organization with a deep commitment to the community, the Y strives to provide the most thorough consideration and assistance to those experiencing financial hardship and who need it most.
Every dollar raised and generously donated to fund our Experience Scholarship Program is thoughtfully considered when determining how to measure and forecast scholarship funding accurately, ensuring that it’s allocated responsibly and that it remains available year-round. Experience Scholarship rates provided are the very best possible within the program’s guidelines so we can continue to provide all the benefits our members have come to value so much.
Our mission is to provide Experience Scholarships for individuals and families who live at or below 300% of poverty, based on the Federal Poverty Guidelines, to reduce monthly rates. Awards are determined on a sliding-scale basis, dependent on household size and accurate supporting documentation being provided and verified for each member in the household.
Examples showing a few of our most common Passport Membership types at their lowest possible rates:
The examples above show only 3 membership categories of the many we offer, including ROC City Memberships. Rates are subject to change.
If approved, rates provided are the very best possible within the program’s guidelines while continuing to offer all the benefits our members have come to value so much.
We are grateful for the opportunity to support you and want to provide you with the best customer service possible. Here are some things to keep in mind:
Carefully consider each application question: Membership type, category, home branch and awards are determined based on the information provided being accurate. Any information that cannot be verified or found to be inaccurate, will result in a delay in approval or ineligibility.
Extension or change requests are prohibited. Each application is based on an annual membership and receives our fullest attention in the order they are received. Expired rewards or request to change a membership type are subject to a waiting period of up to six (6) months to ensure all other applications are fairly processed in succession and without interruption.
Outstanding balances from a previous membership: We require any prior unpaid balance on an existing account be paid in full before we can process an application or award an Experience Scholarship.
Here’s what to expect during the application process:
If you accept an Experience Scholarship, you agree to actively use your membership, which means you or anyone on your membership visit the Y at least one time within a 3-month period.
I applied and haven’t heard anything. What is the status of my application?
Please allow 30 days from the time we received your application and all supporting documentation to be processed. If you've submitted your required documentation according to the guidelines provided in the request, your application is in the queue to be processed. If your application is still pending after 30 days, it’s likely we are awaiting additional information specifically requested. Please search your email inbox and spam folders for the subject line “YMCA Experience Scholarship”, using the same email address indicated on your application.
Why hasn’t my application been processed yet?
We require 30 days from the date of submission to obtain and verify any supporting documentation that may be required and determine eligibility based on the information provided. The following factors will generally delay our application process:
Why do I have to start my membership at a certain branch when I chose a Passport Membership?
Every member has a designated “home branch”. This simply tells us where you initially set up your membership, who handles your billing and payment plan, and generally where you’re likely to visit most. If you have a Passport Membership, you are free to use any of our locations after your membership is set up at your determined home branch.