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Dreaming Out Loud Foundation

EIN 26-1286043 · Washington, DC

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood71 out of 100GovernanceGood70 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

DREAMING OUT LOUD'S MISSION IS TO CREATE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE DC METRO REGIONS MARGINALIZED COMMUNITY MEMBERS THROUGH BUILDING A HEALTHY, EQUITABLE FOOD SYSTEM.

Income
$6.4 million
Spending
$5.3 million
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
2.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 65%
Employees
36
Volunteers
180
Highest pay
$139,324, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 45% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 21% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 18% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 23% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 10 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (3)
  1. $2.3 million spent. FARM AND FOOD HUB: DOL'S FOOD HUB SOURCES PRODUCE AND FOOD FROM LOCAL FARMERS AND PRODUCERS TO SUPPLY THE NEEDS OF SCHOOLS, FOOD BANKS, CHURCHES, AND MORE. THIS PROGRAM INCREASES MARKET ACCESS FOR FOOD PRODUCERS WHILE INCREASING FOOD ACCESS IN DC. THE FOOD HUB ALSO PROVIDES WIC HOME DELIVERY, AN AVENUE FOR INCREASING FOOD ACCESS AMONG WIC PARTICIPANTS RESIDING IN DC. DOL'S FOOD AS MEDICINE AND MEDICALLY-TAILORED MEALS PROGRAMS RECOGNIZE THE LINK BETWEEN NUTRITIOUS MEALS AND POSITIVE HEALTH OUTCOMES, PROVIDING ACCESS TO HEALTHY MEALS THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH HEALTHCARE COMPANIES, COMMUNITY CLINICS, AND ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS. DREAMING OUT LOUD ALSO PROVIDES EMERGENCY FOOD FOR COMMUNITY GROUPS THAT SUPPORT NEIGHBORS IN CRISIS SITUATIONS SUCH AS DEATHS, HOUSE FIRES, SEVERE ILLNESS, ETC.
  2. $1.2 million spent. DREAM PROGRAM:THE DREAM PROGRAM SERVES UNDER-RESOURCED, COMMUNITY-BASED FOOD ENTREPRENEURS FROM ACROSS WASHINGTON, DC VIA A 16-WEEK START-UP BUSINESS PROGRAM. DURING THE PROGRAM, DC RESIDENTS ARE TRAINED IN WORKSHOPS RANGING FROM BUSINESS FORMALIZATION AND MARKETING TO ACCESSING CAPITAL. ADDITIONALLY, DREAMING OUT LOUD OFFERS TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO OTHER LOCAL FOOD ENTREPRENEURS TO GROW COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. DREAM PROGRAM GRADUATES JOIN A COMMUNITY OF LOCAL FOOD ENTREPRENEURS, COACHES, AND INDUSTRY EXPERTS TO HELP THEM TO THE NEXT LEVEL. THE DREAM PARTNER FARM INFRASTRUCTURE FUND SUB-GRANTED $251,000 TO MARGINALIZED FARMERS TO HELP BUILD INFRASTRUCTURE AND CAPACITY TO PRODUCE FOOD FOR COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE REGION, SUPPORTING FOOD ACCESS EFFORTS IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES.
  3. $620,037 spent. KELLY MILLER AND FORT STATON FARMS :DOL MANAGES HOLISTIC COMMUNITY PROGRAMMING AT THE FARM AT KELLY MILLER AND FORT STATON URBAN FARM, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH DC DEPARTMENT OF RECREATION, CITY BLOSSOMS, AND A MYRIAD OF OTHER COMMUNITY GROUPS. IT IS AN INTERGENERATIONAL SPACE WITH PROGRAMMING FOR ALL AGES FROM CHILDREN TO SENIORS VIA FIELD TRIPS FOR STUDENTS 0-18, VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES FOR TEENS AND ADULTS, AND MORE. DOL ALSO HOSTS FESTIVALS AND OTHER COMMUNITY EVENTS, GROWS ITS OWN FOOD, AND PROVIDES FARMER TRAINING WORKSHOPS. THE FARMS SUPPLY DOL'S COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AGRICULTURE PROGRAM AND FARMERS MARKETS WHERE SUBSIDIZED FOOD ACCESS FOR LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS IS OFFERED.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since April 2010.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.