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Dream Charter School

EIN 26-1841386 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak34 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It owes more than it owns.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

DREAM'S MISSION IS TO ENSURE THAT ALL YOUNG PEOPLE RECOGNIZE THEIR POTENTIAL AND REALIZE THEIR DREAMS. WE LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD BY INVESTING IN THE WHOLE CHILD FROM EARLY CHILDHOOD TO EARLY ADULTHOOD.

Income
$67.5 million
Spending
$75.1 million
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
-1.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 72%
Employees
541
Volunteers
290
Highest pay
$201,923, east harlem elementary school

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

Financial health

Weak: 34 out of 100. Higher than 6% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    0 of 20

    It owes 101% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 27% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 45% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 June 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 (1)
  1. $60.1 million spent. PROGRAM A: ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: FOUNDED IN 2008, DREAM'S UNIQUE GROW THE WHOLE CHILD EDUCATION MODEL IS POWERED BY FOUR DISTINCT, YET INTERCONNECTED, ELEMENTS THAT DRIVE TRANSFORMATIVE CHANGE FOR YOUTH. RIGOROUS ACADEMICS; SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING; ATHLETICS, HEALTH, AND WELLNESS; AND FAMILY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ARE ALL EQUAL, CRUCIAL PARTS OF THE EVERYDAY AT DREAM. ELEMENTARY SCHOLARS IN GRADES K-5 RECEIVE EXTENSIVE SUPPORT WITH TWO TEACHERS IN THE CLASSROOM SO THAT SCHOLARS AT ALL LEVELS ARE ABLE TO LEARN AND THRIVE IN A POSITIVE ENVIRONMENT. OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CURRICULUM RANGES FROM LITERACY AND MATH TO THE ARTS AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION. SCHOLARS ALSO HAVE ACCESS TO DREAM'S AWARD-WINNING AFTER-SCHOOL AND SUMMER PROGRAM CALLED REAL KIDS. PROGRAM B: MIDDLE SCHOOL: DREAM MIDDLE SCHOOLS SERVE SCHOLARS IN GRADES 6-8. USING A WHOLE CHILD APPROACH AND CONSTRUCTIVIST CURRICULUM, OUR MIDDLE SCHOOLS PREPARE STUDENTS FOR HIGH PERFORMING HIGH SCHOOLS. SCHOLARS STUDY THE FUNDAMENTALS OF MATH, SCIENCE, SOCIAL STUDIES, ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS, AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION. SCHOLARS ALSO PARTICIPATE IN A WIDE RANGE OF ACADEMIC AND EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES SUCH AS SPORTS, ART, MUSIC, DEBATE, CODING, AND MORE. MIDDLE SCHOOL SCHOLARS ALSO PARTICIPATE IN DREAMBUILDERS, AN OPTIONAL AFTER-SCHOOL ENRICHMENT PROGRAM WHICH INVOLVES ACADEMIC SUPPORT, TEAM BUILDING ACTIVITIES, SERVICE-LEARNING PROJECTS, AND HEALTH AND WELLNESS ACTIVITIES. DREAM OPERATES ON AN EXTENDED-DAY AND EXTENDED-YEAR MODEL TO ENSURE STUDENTS HAVE ENOUGH OPPORTUNITIES TO GROW AFTER SCHOOL AND DURING THE SUMMERS.PROGRAM C: HIGH SCHOOL: DREAM CHARTER HIGH SCHOOL PREPARES STUDENTS FOR COLLEGE AND BEYOND BY DEVELOPING CRITICAL LITERACY SKILLS NEEDED FOR THEIR SUCCESS AS PROFESSIONALS AND AS AGENTS OF SOCIAL CHANGE. WE SERVE OVER 400 SCHOLARS IN GRADES 9-12. AT DCHS, STUDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO AP COURSES, ONE-ON-ONE COLLEGE COUNSELING, FREE AFTERSCHOOL ACTIVITIES AND SPORTS SUCH AS DEBATE CLUB, BASKETBALL, AND STUDENT GOVERNMENT, AND SUMMER JOBS. THROUGHOUT THEIR TIME AT DREAM, STUDENTS ASSEMBLE A PORTFOLIO OF COLLEGE-LEVEL PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENTS. THIS PORTFOLIO IS REPRESENTATIVE OF STUDENTS' ABILITY TO LEARN, APPLY, AND REFLECT ACROSS ALL DISCIPLINES. IN THEIR DEFENSES OF LEARNING, STUDENTS PRESENT AND DEFEND THEIR PORTFOLIO AS A CAPSTONE ACTIVITY AND RITE OF PASSAGE. AS A RESULT, DCHS GRADUATES ARE BOTH HIGHLY SKILLED AND CRITICALLY CONSCIOUS AND EVERY DAY, THEY'RE OUT IN THE WORLD MAKING A DIFFERENCE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 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 June 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 October 2008.

    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.