The YWCA Capital Campaign is
Essential to Support our Community.
Together, We Can Make a Difference.
At YWCA, we are working towards renovating our outdated 1950s building to create a safe, welcoming facility. This will allow for an increase in service capacity and ensure the dignity of our clients. Currently, our building does not meet the needs of our community. We intend to offer dignity, comfort, and peace to those in need, yet we are currently fighting to provide a less cramped, more comfortable, safe space.
This renovation project will update systems and provide our children, families, clients, and staff with facilities that meet modern standards for security, comfort, and accessibility. Consolidating and enhancing the current square footage will expand capacity, improve security, and advance the ability of the YWCA of Northwest Ohio to provide more effective and efficient services.
Your support makes all of this possible.
The vision of this renovation is to better serve the women and families who rely on our valuable programs and services.
Our mission is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all.
Why We’re Renovating
Since 1870, YWCA Northwest Ohio has stood for the empowerment and enrichment of women and girls. As the needs of women in our community have changed, the YWCA has grown to meet these challenges. Now, over 150 years later, when women in our community escape violent home situations with no belongings left and nowhere to go, we strive to provide a safe space to shelter the women and children who are in need of our support.
Survivors of abuse come from all walks of life and when they turn to the city’s only Emergency Domestic Violence Shelter at the YWCA, we want to be ready. Oftentimes, survivors are juggling the demands of caring for their children in cramped communal spaces while they begin the hard work of building a new path forward with the help of the YWCA’s programs and resources.
Renovating our outdated 1950s building will not only create a safer, more welcoming facility. It will also increase our Emergency Domestic Violence Shelter capacity allowing us to serve more women and children who have survived domestic abuse and need our support.
“We want to create a more dignified space from a place of security and warmth” – Lisa McDuffie, President & CEO
Our YWCA has been a leading champion for social change and a valuable community resource for 153 years. Your investment in the YWCA of Northwest Ohio is an investment in our community helping us to provide a dignified place for women and children to heal, learn, and grow.
We ask for your support in our renovations to fix deterioration issues, update systems, and provide our community and staff with facilities that provide safety, comfort, and accessibility.
Renovation Impact ↘
The most essential piece of our Capital Campaign revolves around our Emergency Domestic Violence Shelter. The impact that renovations will have on community members escaping abuse will be invaluable. These individuals deserve a more dignified space to recover from their abusive past as they begin to rebuild their lives anew.
Capital Campaign Q+A
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To move to phase 2, we need to raise a total of $4 million dollars more in revenue for our capital campaign.
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Our donation goal has increased for a multitude of reasons. We have faced some unexpected road blocks along the way, including; the rise in costs of materials and labor, changes to existing grants, and variables in time frame. The $14.8 million raised so far will go to phase 1, with $4 million more needed for phase 2.
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Crews have already completed asbestos remediation, after which construction will be conducted in two phases. The first phase will begin in February 2024 with an estimated completion time of 12-15 months. It will run concurrently with fundraising for a second phase of construction.
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Phase One has been made possible by securing $14.8 million and will include:
Asbestos remediation, completed.
Mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC systems overhaul.
Partial roof replacement.
Bedrock foundation installation in the former swimming pool area.
Construction of 11 new resident rooms for the Domestic Violence Shelter.
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Phase Two requires an additional $4 million in future raised revenue and will encompass:
First-floor space for community programs and administrative offices.
Completion of all second-floor resident rooms and shelter staff offices.
New third floor resident rooms, renovation of existing shelter space, and a new kitchen and dining space for our Domestic Violence Shelter.
A renovated intake/front desk area and the completion of the roof replacement.
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Yes, the YWCA has dedicated $1 million toward the campaign. One hundred percent of the board of directors and senior staff have supported the campaign.
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Yes. We looked at alternative sites downtown and we considered razing the building to rebuild. After extensive meetings with the architects, it was determined that renovation was the most cost-effective solution. A new building would nearly double the cost, it was determined that renovation was the most cost-effective solution. A new building would nearly double the cost.
Donate to our Capital Campaign to help us reach our current goal of $4 million for Phase 2 of Renovations.
Phase 2 of Renovations will add rooms to increase our shelter capacity and improve comfort for residents.
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Access
In our Emergency DV Shelter, we hate to turn those in need away. With renovations, we will be able to provide additional spaces and rooms for women and children to find a safe haven, away from their abusers. This will double our current DV Shelter Capacity.
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Security
Currently, our building fails to offer enough security to fully protect our clients from their abusers intimidation. Our new space will give more safety and security to our intake and we will build additional layers of protection to give them the peace of mind they deserve.
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Comfort
When women and children escaping abuse arrive at our shelter, we want them to know that they are cared for, supported, and can be comfortable. Our new space will be built with their safety and well-being at the forefront. Our interior will be made to allow our clients relaxation and peace, which is lacking in our current facility.
