An Organization Like No Other
The YMCA is the nation’s leading nonprofit committed to strengthening community by empowering young people, improving the health and well-being of individuals of all ages and inspiring action. The YMCA of the Fox Cities is made up of:
- 6 YMCA Locations
- 6 Child Care Centers
- 38 School Age Child Care Sites
- 10 Day Camp & Summer School Age Sites
We engage more than 60,000 adults and children in programs like childcare, before and after school enrichment, camping, sports, swim lessons, wellness and fitness. Through our Membership for All program, we provide more than $1.9 million in financial assistance to more than 6,000 people monthly, ensuring everyone has the opportunity to thrive regardless of income, background or zip code.
Built With Our Community
Our strategic plan grew out of listening. More than 2,000 individuals shared their input through surveys, focus groups, town hall meetings and one-on-one conversations — and their voices shaped every priority we set.
Issues Facing Our Community
Our strategic plan begins with an honest understanding of the challenges facing our community. Through our listening process, we heard about increased social isolation and disconnection, growing mental health needs, and a decline in social-emotional development among youth. Families shared concerns around access to high-quality, affordable childcare, rising health disparities, chronic illness, and the need for safe, supportive spaces for young people. We also heard about the strain on community support systems as demographics shift, along with barriers like transportation, housing affordability, and economic pressures tied to workforce shortages.
The Y exists to help address these challenges, and our Vision 2030 plan outlines a clear path forward to strengthen our community for all.
Themes That Guide Us
Woven through every part of our strategic plan are seven behaviors that shape how we show up for our community:
- collaboration
- building resilience
- fostering belonging
- leading with our values and mission
- innovation
- facilitating achievement
- creating equitable opportunities for all
These are not just aspirations — they are the behaviors we hold ourselves to every day. They reflect our belief that lasting change happens when an organization is as focused on how it operates as on what it delivers.
Strategic Plan Committee
Board Members:
Terri Resop-Pawer – Apple Creek YMCA
Lisa Jermain – Apple Creek YMCA
Amy Henselin – Appleton YMCA
John Brattlund – Fox West YMCA
Brian Kaufman – Heart of the Valley YMCA
Mike Alexander – Neenah-Menasha YMCA
Scott Weber – Neenah-Menasha YMCA
Kris Hackbarth-Horn – Association
Tom Mangold – Association
Ryan Thompson (Chair) – Association
Staff:
Bret Salscheider
Jan Davey
Dani Englebert
Heidi Erickson
Nick Hawley
Brenda Johnson
Sue Pawlowski
Sharon Pickering-Polzin
Jill Rasmussen
Scott Schanhofer
Sara Tilkens
Tom Wendt
Lance Hietpas
Upper Midwest Alliance:
Jon Agnew
Our Process
The strategic planning process utilized a thoughtful, community-centric approach. By actively soliciting input from diverse community stakeholders, the Y was able to cultivate a robust understanding of the community’s most pressing needs. More than 2,000 individuals provided input to the strategic planning process through surveys, focus groups, town hall meetings, and 1-on-1 meetings. This invaluable feedback served as a cornerstone in shaping the Y’s strategic plan and how it could effectively address these challenges. This comprehensive approach not only ensures that the plan is reflective and responsive to the community’s evolving needs, but ensures it remains dynamic and relevant.
Questions About Our Strategic Plan
Vision 2030 is the YMCA of the Fox Cities’ long-range strategic plan, built around three core priorities: youth development, health and well-being, and organizational capacity and excellence. It reflects what our community told us they need — and how the Y can best respond.
You can download the full Vision 2030 Strategic Plan PDF using the link on this page. A 2023 Community Input Report is also available for download.
