How is the national YWCA structured?
In 2001, YWCA members voted to restructure the national organization. The grassroots Change Initiative changed the top down structure to a bottom up structure grounded in the work of the local associations. Nine separate Regional Councils were created and each local association affiliated with a Regional Council. Each local association sends two representatives from their association to serve on the Board of Directors of their Regional Council. The Regional Council in turn elects two representatives to serve on the National Coordinating Board, the governing board of the YWCA. In addition, each Regional Council sends representatives to serve on the national committees, thereby giving extensive local representation on the regional level and the national level. The national office has been charged primarily with conducting advocacy at the national level and is responsiable for marketing and branding.
