Build Organizational Excellence Address Critical Community Well-Being Needs Expand Our Community Reach
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Lead Community Health & Wellness Innovation
STRATEGIC PLAN ROAD MAP 2026-2028
Transform Youth Development Impact
MOVING FORWARD
OUR VISION & MISSION
OUR COMMITMENT
Build Organizational Excellence
Address Critical Community Well-Being Needs
From these, five strategic priorities were developed. Each priority represents a deliberate commitment to measurable change, with strategies embedded in our annual operating plans to ensure consistent progress toward our vision.
Expand Our Community Reach
Together identified critical community issues: • Mental health and well-being • Food insecurity • Lack of activities for youth • Chronic disease prevention and management • Social isolation • Community support and access
Lead Community Health & Wellness Innovation
This roadmap ensures we honor our legacy while boldly preparing for the future.
Transform Youth Development Impact
A healthier and connected community where everyone feels a sense of belonging and inspired to take meaningful action.
In 2025, the YMCA of the Northern Sky finalized and formally approved a new three-year Strategic Plan to guide our work through 2028. This plan builds intentionally on our longstanding history of strengthening spirit, mind, and body across our region. Shaped through months of data analysis, community listening, staff collaboration, and board leadership, it provides a clear framework to expand our impact while remaining grounded in who we are.
OUR VISION & MISSION
OUR VISION
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Build Organizational Excellence
Address Critical Community Well-Being Needs
Success Measures by 2028: • Serve an additional 200 children ages 0-5 across all early learning programs. • Achieve 90% kindergarten readiness among 3–5-year-olds in our early learning programs • Launch innovative out-of-school programming serving 500 additional youth ages 5-17. • Establish and enroll 50+ teens in workforce development programming. • Increase Camp Cormorant enrollment by 35%.
Expand Our Community Reach
Empower young people from birth through young adulthood with the skills, experiences, and support they need to thrive academically, socially, and personally.
Lead Community Health & Wellness Innovation
Our Commitment
Key Strategies: 1. Deliver exceptional early childhood education through expert teachers, evidence-based curriculum, and engaging in learning environments that prepare children for kindergarten success. 2. Reimagine after-school and extended learning programs that strengthen academic achievement and social-emotional development, with focused literacy support. 3. Expand programming for 8–15-year-olds that builds social-emotional skills, resilience, and overall well-being. 4. Prepare teens and young adults for success through real-world skill development, leadership opportunities, and community engagement. 5. Enhance summer camp experiences that create lifelong memories while developing leadership skills and personal growth.
Transform Youth Development Impact
TRANSFORM YOUTH DEVELOPMENT IMPACT
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3. Build strategic partnerships that expand and enhance our health service offerings. 4. Invest in and promote proven YMCA health and wellness programs throughout our association. 5. Develop specialized programming for seniors focusing on mobility, strength, balance, and social connection. Success Measures by 2028: • Expand community wellness programs from 1 to 4 through strategic partnerships. • Establish collaborative relationships with three key community partners for collective advocacy. • Increase participation in evidence-based health programs by 20% over 2025 baseline. • Launch two chronic disease prevention programs with community health partners.
Build Organizational Excellence
2. Address health disparities by creating inclusive spaces and connecting community members to vital health services and resources.
Address Critical Community Well-Being Needs
Become one of the community’s premier partners for preventative wellness and health equity, delivering evidencebased programs that address diverse health needs.
1. Establish the Y as the go-to community resource for preventative wellness, lifestyle medicine, and evidence-based health programming.
Expand Our Community Reach
Our Commitment
Key Strategies:
Lead Community Health & Wellness Innovation
LEAD COMMUNITY HEALTH & WELLNESS INNOVATION
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3. Explore opportunities to establish Y facilities, programs, and services in new regional communities 4. Position the Y as a leading advocate for community wellbeing with a focus on youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility.
Success Measures by 2028: • Open a new YMCA facility in Bemidji, Minnesota. • Establish baseline measurements for health and social impact across four key programs. • Expand overall programming enrollment by 20%. • Achieve 15% annual growth in association membership. • Develop and implement annual board-approved advocacy agenda. • Identify one new capital development opportunity.
Build Organizational Excellence
Bring Y programming and services directly to community members where they are, eliminating barriers and extending our impact beyond traditional facility walls.
2. Remove membership barriers and create an inclusive environment where all community members feel welcome and valued.
Address Critical Community Well-Being Needs
Our Commitment
1. Deliver Y programming throughout the community through partnerships and outreach initiatives.
Expand Our Community Reach
EXPAND OUR COMMUNITY REACH
Key Strategies:
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1. Develop and implement a holistic wellbeing model addressing mental health, social connection, and community impact. 2. Partner with community organizations to reduce food insecurity among youth and seniors. 3. Equip all staff and volunteers with mental wellness training and support capabilities.
Our Commitment Create comprehensive solutions for mental wellness, social isolation, and food insecurity that strengthen our entire community.
Success Measures by 2028: • Increase food assistance reach to families and seniors by 15%. • Create and implement a comprehensive mental well-being model. • Integrate mental well-being support into all Y programs and services. • Achieve Mental Health First Aid certification for 90% of staff and program volunteers.
Build Organizational Excellence
Key Strategies:
Address Critical Community Well-Being Needs
ADDRESS CRITICAL COMMUNITY WELLBEING NEEDS
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Our Commitment Strengthen our capacity to serve through exceptional talent development, facility optimization, strong brand, philanthropic support and community engagement.
Key Strategies: 1. Foster an inclusive organizational culture that attracts, develops, and retains exceptional staff and volunteers. 2. Establish the Y as one of the premier workplaces and volunteer destination in our community. Success Measures by 2028: • Full-time and part-time staff retention rates increase annually. • Implement written professional development plans for all leadership and full-time staff, plus training plans for part-time staff. • Grow policy and program volunteers by 10% annually.
FACILITIES & OPERATIONS EXCELLENCE Key Strategies: 1. Create inclusive spaces that foster belonging, understanding, and acceptance for all community members. 2. Maintain relevant, adaptable facilities aligned with local community needs. 3. Lead the community in aquatic safety, swimming instruction, water fitness, and competitive programs. 4. Establish capital investment and risk management policies to protect and enhance our facilities. Success Measures by 2028: • Achieve Net Promoter Score of 80% or higher among members, participants, and volunteers. • Increase water safety program participation by 30%. • Adopt and execute board-approved capital investment strategy. • Achieve minimum 10% annual growth in operating net revenue.
Build Organizational Excellence
BUILD ORGANIZATIONAL EXCELLENCE
CULTURE & TALENT DEVELOPMENT
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BRAND, INFLUENCE, & PHILANTHROPIC IMPACT Key Strategies: 1. Elevate marketing and communications to inspire deeper community engagement and attract members and donors.
Moving forward, staff, volunteers, and other community collaborators will work to reach these success measures. We will use a strategy screening to help us determine whether a new initiative or strategy aligns with who we are as an organization, our operating model, and the desired impact of this plan.
2. Develop key staff and board leadership as community advocates. 3. Inspire increased philanthropic support and cultivate new donors with robust donor retention.
We will use our strategic advantages to keep the plan thriving and moving forward.
• Large scale and reach across northern Minnesota and Eastern North Dakota • High-quality programming in early education, swim lessons, group wellness, camps, and beyond
Success Measures by 2028:
• Commitment to affordable access
• Exceed $1.5 million annually in program grants and giving.
• Strong brand recognition in the region
• Maintain donor retention above 72% annually.
• Extraordinary staff and volunteers
• Achieve annual growth in Chairs Roundtable membership.
• Collaborative spirit with many other community-minded organizations, funders, and elected officers • Our facilities–from early learning centers to full membership and programmatic facilities to resident camp
This is our commitment, our living promise that will elevate our impact to transform the communities we serve. Join us.
YMCA OF THE NORTHERN SKY
For more information contact: Steve Smith, President and CEO Smith@ymcanorthernsky.org 701.364.4114
ymcanorthernsky.org