College Dreams Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
COLLEGE DREAMS PROMOTES RESILIENCY AND COLLEGE/CAREER READINESS FOR OVER 1,400 LOW INCOME, FIRST GENERATION COLLEGE-BOUND, AND UNDERREPRESENTED STUDENTS OF COLOR. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O) IT SERVES 22 SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN SOUTHERN OREGON THROUGH MATCHED COLLEGE SAVINGS ACCOUNTS, CAREER EXPLORATION AND POST-SECONDARY PLANNING AND DROPOUT PREVENTION PROGRAMS. KEY ACTIVITIES: ACADEMIC MOTIVATIONAL ENHANCEMENT; MENTORING; SKILL-BUILDING AND TUTORING; COLLEGE/CAREER AWARENESS; COMMUNITY SERVICE; COMPETITIVE SCHOLARSHIPS; BARRIER REMOVAL SUPPORT; RIGOROUS COURSE/DUAL CREDIT PLANNING; ACCESS TO YOUTH CAMP, CAREER DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES, PRE-COLLEGE PROGRAMS, AND CAMPUS VISITS; ACADEMIC MONITORING, EXCELLENCE INCENTIVES AND SUPPORTTIVE INTERVENTIONS; 3-TO-1 MATCHED COLLEGE SAVINGS; AND SOFT-SKILLS DEVELOPMENT THROUGH PAID WORK EXPERIENCES.
- Income
- $4.6 million
- Spending
- $4.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 84%
- Reserves
- 2.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 58%
- Employees
- 191
- Volunteers
- 75
- Highest pay
- $111,800, executive director
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
Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 55% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.3 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 20% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 3% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1584% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 258 of 8 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (4)
- $764,665 spent. COLLEGE+ FOCUSES ON 6TH TO 12TH GRADE STUDENTS TO PROVIDE SUPPORT, BUILD SKILLS, AND MOTIVATE ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE. THE PROGRAM INCLUDES SUPPORT FROM A DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TALENT SEARCH GRANT.
- $603,443 spent. THE +ACCOUNTS PROGRAM SERVES STUDENTS WHOSE FAMILIES MEET OREGON LOW/MODERATE INCOME AND FAMILY ASSET CRITERIA, BY PROVIDING FINANCIAL EDUCATION CLASSES, DEVELOPING COLLEGE FUNDING PLANS, AND THE POSSIBILITY OF MATCHING SAVINGS PLANS FOR COLLEGE, COMMUNITY COLLEGE OR POST SECONDARY TRAINING PROGRAMS.
- $1.3 million spent. CAREER BUILD PROGRAM FOCUSES ON PROVIDING CAREER RELATED LEARNING EXPERIENCE TO HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AND OUT-OF-SCHOOL YOUTH UP TO AGE 24 THROUGH AN INTERAGENCY AGREEMENT WITH ROGUE WORKFORCE PARTNERSHIP. SERVICES INCLUDE A REGIONAL CAREER FAIR, YOUTH WORK ETHICS CLASSES, CAREER ACADEMIES, AND PAID OR UNPAID WORK EXPERIENCE.
- $896,278 spent. WHATEVER IT TAKES PROGRAM PROVIDES AN ADVISOR AND WRAPAROUND SUPPORT TO STUDENTS AT RISK OF DISENGAGING OR DROPPING OUT AT PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS AND IS FUNDED PRIMARILY BY THE OREGON YOUTH DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL.
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
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 September 7, 2026.
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 September 30, 2026.
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 September 10, 2026.
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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since May 2010.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
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 October 7, 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.