Serving our community for more than 110 years
About Us
YWCA San Diego County empowers individuals and families to break the cycle of domestic violence and homelessness, and achieve self-sufficiency. We are dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women, and advocating for peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all people.
Our mission lives in the soul of every person at YWCA. We demand a world of equity and human decency. We envision a world of opportunity. We commit ourselves to the work of justice because the future deserves all of us.
Our power and motivation comes from the adults and children we serve — all genders, all races, all people. Here, we bear witness to their dignity and celebrate their victories. They keep our commitment to justice strong, because we know first-hand how much more work we must do.
At YWCA, our voices rise together to inspire transformative change. We will stand up and do the work until injustice is rooted out, until institutions are transformed, until the world sees women, girls, and people of color the way we do: Equal. Powerful. Unstoppable.
We hold these TRUTHS to be self-evident:
That all people are created EQUAL and born with certain UNALIENABLE RIGHTS, including life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness — regardless of who they love, how they identify, where they come from, or the COLOR OF THEIR SKIN.
But all too often, that truth is forgotten. All too often, those rights are ignored. As all too many stand in SILENCE, and all too many SUFFER alone.
That’s why we PLEDGE to come together. And commit to act for the GREATER GOOD.
Until the land of the free is FREE OF RACISM.
Until the home of the brave is BRAVE ENOUGH TO CHANGE.
Until “by the people” and “for the people” means doing right by ALL THE PEOPLE.
Until JUSTICE just is.
Preventing and Ending Domestic Violence
A mother and her children are looking for refuge from their abuser. A survivor needs assistance to move into a safe home of their own. A man is seeking protection and doesn’t know where to turn for help. Regardless of the circumstance, YWCA offers resources and support to help survivors reclaim their power and take on the world.
Every year, we serve thousands of people facing domestic violence and homelessness through our crisis interventions, housing programs, and advocacy and support services. Our survivor-centered approach focuses on empowering women, men, trans, and nonbinary people to find safety, healing, and independence.
Building a Legacy of Empowerment and Justice
Founded in 1908, YWCA San Diego County has a long history of serving women, families, and vulnerable populations through safe housing, education, employment development, and an array of services to increase equal opportunity and self-sufficiency.
Together with the YWCA national network, we have been at the forefront of the most critical social movements in American history for more than 110 years — from women’s empowerment and civil rights, to affordable housing and pay equity, to violence prevention and health care reform.
Strengthening Impact and Operations
YWCA is an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit organization governed by a volunteer board of directors and guided by a dedicated team of leaders and staff.
Our programs and operations are funded by contributions from individuals, foundations, corporations, community organizations, and government partners. We maintain a four-star rating from Charity Navigator — their highest rating — indicating excellence in governance, accountability, transparency, and fiscal responsibility.
To access our public 990 tax documents, please visit our profile on Guide Star.
National and Global Affiliation
The national YWCA network has been at the forefront of the most pressing social movements for more than 150 years — from voting rights to civil rights, from affordable housing to pay equity, from violence prevention to health care reform. Together, we are committed to serving women, girls, people of color, and marginalized communities.
Based in Washington DC, YWCA USA represents more than 200 local associations in 47 states, collectively serving more than 2.3 million people annually. Although united in a shared purpose, each association is an independent 501(c)(3) organization and responsible for funding its own programs that are tailored to the needs of their local communities.
YWCA USA is also affiliated with World YWCA, which works for women’s empowerment, leadership, and rights in more than 120 countries and 20,000 local communities.
