Frequently Asked Questions

Our national office is based in Washington, D.C. at 1400 I Street NW, Suite 325 Washington, DC 20005. Find us on the map and explore our neighborhood. If you’d like to reach us over the phone, our main office number is 202-467-0801.

Use this tool to find your closest YWCA association. You’ll be provided with its website and contact information so you can get in touch for services or to learn how you can support YWCA’s work in your community.

YWCA is on a mission to eliminate racism, empower women, stand up for social justice, help families, and strengthen communities. We have been working at the forefront of the most important issues of the day for more than 160 years, improving the lives of girls and women through advocacy, local programming, and services. Learn more about services provided at our local YWCA associations and get caught up on the latest news from the YWCA in your community.

YWCA has 194 local associations around the country. Each year, we help more than 250,000 women with safety services, which include sexual assault survivor support programs, emergency shelters for survivors of domestic violence, crisis hotlines, counseling, and court assistance, among other programs. We also serve more than 60,000 women and girls with economic empowerment programs, and we engage with more than 76,000 people each year through our racial justice education and training programs.

The first YWCA was established in 1855 in London, England. Our first United States-based chapter formed in 1858, and our first national board was established in 1906. We’ve been on a mission for over 160 years. Check out our history page to learn more.

As we advance our mission of eliminating racism and empowering women, YWCA focuses our work in three priority areas:

• Racial justice and civil rights

• Empowerment and economic advancement of women and girls

• Health and safety of women and girls

YWCA USA is a national membership organization. YWCA USA oversees its own programming and initiatives, maintains the YWCA brand nationally, and provides technical assistance and capacity building for over 190 member organizations, known as Local Associations. Each Local Association is a fully independent 501(c)(3) organization and is not a subsidiary of or related to another Local Association or YWCA USA. Each also has its own leadership, bylaws, budget, and board of directors.

YWCA USA is affiliated with World YWCA, which is a global movement working for women’s empowerment, leadership, and rights in more than 120 countries.

Yes, in 2015 we formally changed our corporate name from the “Young Women’s Christian Association of the United States of America, Inc.” to “YWCA USA, Inc.” Our name change reflects YWCA’s diverse and inclusive nature. In our early years it was “a Christian sisterhood” that drove our work. Today, our organization is driven by a commitment to social justice, no matter what someone’s religion. Our updated name provides YWCA with the opportunity to engage a broader spectrum of individuals in our crucial work to eliminate racism and empower women.