How to Get a Free YMCA Membership as an Individual or Family

Wisendbe

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posted on 7 months ago — updated on 1 second ago

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The YMCA (also known as “the Y”) is an international organization with thousands of locations in the USA, where members can focus on fitness and community outreach. While most YMCAs have membership fees, many locations offer scholarships, deals, and other discounts for individuals and families who may need them. Think you qualify? We’ve got you covered. Read to learn more about the financial assistance many YMCAs have to offer, so you can be an active member at your nearest facility.

How do you get a YMCA membership for free?

How to Apply for a Scholarship

Visit the “Financial Assistance” page on your local YMCA’s website. Nearly all YMCAs offer some type of financial assistance to members who need it, whether it’s an income-based membership rate or a scholarship. Check the “Membership” page of your closest YMCA’s website, or visit the facility in person and ask what their financial aid policy is. Not sure which YMCA is closest to you? Click/tap here to check.

Insurance Provider Assistance

See if your local YMCA offers free memberships to certain insurance providers. Visit your local YMCA’s website and search phrases like “insurance” or “insurance provider partnerships” on the site’s built-in search bar. Some facilities have pretty extensive partnerships with popular insurance providers (like Medicaid), which could save you money on a membership. Not all facilities partner with insurance companies—it depends on the individual location.

YMCA Membership Discounts

Free trials Many YMCA facilities offer free trials/passes that allow you to use the YMCA for 1 week. Check your local YMCA’s website and visit the “Membership” tab (if applicable) to see if your facility offers something like this. You can also check with your YMCA in person and see if they have a free trial for prospective members.

Senior discounts Many YMCA locations offer special discounts and programs exclusively for seniors. Visit your local YMCA website and head to the “Programs” section to see what the facility has to offer, or manually search the word “senior” using the site’s built-in search feature (if possible). Some facilities may participate in Silver&Fit and/or Renew Active, which are insurance-based programs geared toward seniors.

Referral programs Some YMCAs have a referral program, which allows you to earn a discounted membership for every successful referral you make to your facility. The YMCA may offer perks to the person you refer, too!

Military discounts Many YMCAs offer special discounts and membership rates to members of the military. Visit your local YMCA’s website and scan the membership page (or search the word “military” on the site) to see what’s available. For example, at the YMCA of the Inland Northwest, veterans and active military members can get special YMCA memberships.

Corporate memberships Lots of YMCA locations offer corporate memberships to interested workplaces. Search for the YMCA facility that’s closest to your workplace; then, visit their website and check the “Membership” page to see what types of memberships they offer. If corporate memberships are available, chat with a manager or HR rep at your workplace to see if your company could potentially get one.

Unemployment discounts If your past employer recently laid you off, some YMCAs may offer free/discounted membership in the interim. For instance, the Wichita YMCA gives recently laid-off individuals free membership for 3 months.