Programmes and Projects

Alexander Scholarship Fund (ASF)
Brotherhood Fund (BF)
Endowment Fund (EF)
International Brother Clubs (IBC)
Say No to Violence (SNTV)
Time of Fast (TOF)

Alexander Scholarship Fund (ASF)
 
History
The Alexander Scholarship Fund, otherwise known as ASF, was named after the founder of the Y's Men Movement, Judge Paul William Alexander. The programme was called the Paul William Alexander Scholarship Fund (PWASF) until 1982 when the name was changed to Alexander Scholarship Fund.
ASF started in 1954, at the Y's Men's International Convention in Lansing, Michigan. Money had been collected to have a famous painter do a portrait of Judge Paul. He felt it was a waste, but agreed to sit for a renowned photographer at a lesser cost. Left-over monies amounting to about US$ 900 started this programme of Y's Men International.
ASF at first was administered centrally through the International Service Director (ISD) on the recommendations received from Area Service Directors (ASDs). Later the administration of the Fund shifted to the Areas. Each Area is expected to raise its own funds to meet the various requests from candidates who satisfy the conditions established by the Area. This also places the onus on each Area to raise sufficient funds in order to meet the ever-increasing number of requests from candidates.
 
Purpose
The purpose of ASF is to promote the training of YMCA staff and/or those seeking to become YMCA staff members. Its aim is to alleviate the desperate shortage of YMCA professionals by;
(a) Encouraging young people in the various countries to take on this responsibility and
(b) Making financial contributions towards their training.
 
Who Benefits from ASF?
»
 Persons already employed by the YMCA who need a grant to increase their training and proficiency.
»
 YMCAs seeking trained staff.
»
 YMCA members who are better served by professionally-trained leadership.
 
Allocation of Funds
90% of all money collected is retained at the local level (country or Region) and the remaining 10% is passed on to IHQ for allocation at international level. Since 1996 ASF international grants are no longer given to individuals but to the YMCA Area organizations for training purposes as they think fit.
 
Promotion
Each Club is urged to promote some fund-raising project specifically for ASF. Some clubs take money from their general project funds.
Regional Conventions sponsor special activities or projects to bring in money. Fines are a fun source of income. Districts may celebrate an ASF DAY together with some money raising activity.

Brotherhood Fund (BF)
 
Background
The Brotherhood Fund began in 1931 when it was known as the "Bishop's Fund." Its initial purpose was to promote our movement outside North America and to enable Y's Men from other areas to attend International Conventions (always held in North America in those days). Later it expanded to help finance inter-continental, inter-Regional and inter-Club visitations and to assist with the overseas travel expenses of International Officers and official representatives. Most income originally came from the sale of used postage stamps but was later augmented by cash contributions from local clubs. In 1968 the name was changed to "Brotherhood Fund" and a certain change took place in the ideas behind the fund.
 
Today
As the name suggests, its purpose is to strengthen the brotherhood of Y's Men throughout the world, still partly by enabling Y's Men to attend Area and Regional Conventions but also by enabling them to visit distant Regions. Income has grown steadily from US$ 140 in 1936 to about US$ 200,000 today. Although most now comes from cash contributions, about 15% still comes from stamps.
 
What do we collect all that money for?
As in the past, some support is given for International Officers' travels. And some money is given to the Areas for use within the Area in conformity with the general purpose of the Brotherhood Fund (club visitations, leadership training. etc.) as decided by the Area leadership and within a budget approved by the Brotherhood Fund Expenditures Committee (BFEC).
Some money is set aside annually for administration of the Fund and to support travel of youth, but the major part is used as grants for the "Brotherhood Fund Delegates."

Endowment Fund (EF)
 
Its Purpose
To provide financial aid and stability for Y'sdom's present and future purposes, objectives, programmes and expansion. In other words, "To develop Y'sdom".
 
Its Goals
»
 To extend and develop clubs affiliated with Y's Men International around the world.
»
 To provide funds to solve special problems or carry on special projects which strengthen, extend and develop Y'sdom in Areas or Regions.
 
Its Limitations
Only the income will be used. (The principal remains untouched in order to provide stability.) Funds can be disbursed for purposes as stated above and approved by the International Council and the Endowment Trustees.
 
Golden Book
When you or your club contribute to the Endowment Fund, you have the opportunity to record for posterity the "Golden Deeds" of Y's Men, YMCA Executives, Y's Menettes, relatives or friends of Y'sdom in the Golden Book.

International Brother Clubs (IBC)
 
What is a Brother Club?
The Brother Club programme joins in partnership clubs located in different countries for their mutual benefit and better understanding. It is designed to assist fellow Y's Men and Women and their families to learn about and exchange ideas between clubs, whether they are just over the border or right across the world. Women's clubs may prefer to use the term "Sister Club."
 
Why have a Brother or Sister Club?
»
 To give every individual in Y'sdom a chance to be active in a programme promoting world peace, brotherhood and Christianity.
»
 To foster closer relationships within the Movement.
»
 To promote better understanding between different cultures.
»
 To break the barriers of isolation.
»
 To give encouragement, support and stimulation.
»
 To exchange ideas and experiences.
»
 To learn another language.
 
When can a Club have a Brother Club?
As soon as you are ready. New clubs are now invited by the International Service Director (ISD) to consider this exciting and rewarding programme by their first birthday. Your Regional Service Director (RSD) for International Brother Clubs will contact every club each year in September asking for applications.

Say 'NO' to Violence
 
Join us and Say NO to Violence
 
What's it all about?
A search for a flagship project that could unite the diverse efforts of clubs and individuals in Y’sdom resulted in the adoption by theInternational Council 1999 of Say NO to Violence. This was seen as appropriate for an international organisation such as ours that already has many programs and projects focusing on understanding and co-operation.
 
Let's work together
Do we have a solution to end violence? The answer is, we don't know, but with your help, we can discover alternative ways to deal with violence. Browse through our website and gain some ideas on how to begin. We welcome your suggestions and help. Together we can say NO to violence!

Time of Fast (TOF)
Purpose and Objectives
The Time of Fast (TOF) is an annual International Y's Men's fund raising programme which began as monetary assistance made available to areas of developing countries by arrangement with the World Alliance of YMCAs (WA).
TOF is now a popular programme where Y’s Men members all over the world, traditionally give up at least one meal (usually during the month of February) and donate the cost of that meal to the TOF fund which in turn makes the money raised in this way available to projects sponsored by both Y’s Men and the YMCAs all over the world. Since its inception in 1972 to date, TOF has raised about US$ 3 million for development projects and disaster relief.
 
Projects
A TOF project should primarily:
»
 deal directly with people,
»
 improve the receiver's quality of life,
»
 be of the self-help variety, with ongoing results,
»
 have the endorsement of the YMCA of the country in which the project is located.