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 and Before & After School Program care.
The Y strives to provide the most thorough consideration and assistance to those experiencing financial hardship.
Experience Scholarships are funded generously by donors in our community, so every dollar donated is carefully considered to make certain that awards are granted responsibly, fairly, and based on needs to those who need it most.
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 regular rates. Eligibility is determined on a sliding-scale basis, and awards are approved based on total household size and income with verifiable supporting documentation to account 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.
Approved scholarships are the lowest possible rates within the program's guidelines to ensure funds remain available year-round while continuing to provide 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 awards or requests 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.
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
I applied and haven’t heard anything. What is the status of my application?
Please allow 30 days from the date of application for a determination. Our ability to process applications within this timeline directly correlates with the number of requests we receive for status updates and/or all information, including supporting documentation, being completely accurate and verifiable according to the guidelines provided.
For the most recent updates regarding your application, be sure to search your inbox and spam folders, using the same email address provided in your application, for the subject line "Experience Scholarship". If you've submitted your required documentation according to the specific guidelines provided in the request, your application is in the queue to be processed. Thank you for your patience.
ANY OF THE FOLLOWING WILL RESULT IN A DELAY OR DENIAL:
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.