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Kakenyas Dream

EIN 26-3658409 · Arlington, VA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

INVEST IN GIRLS AND YOUNG WOMEN FROM RURAL COMMUNITIES IN KENYA AS AGENTS OF CHANGE THROUGH EDUCATION, HEALTH, AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT. WE DREAM OF A WORLD WHERE EVERY GIRL AND YOUNG WOMAN IS EDUCATED, VALUED, RESPECTED, AND REALIZES HER FULL POTENTIAL.

Income
$8.3 million
Spending
$2.5 million
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
35.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 99%
Employees
9
Volunteers
16
Highest pay
$190,271, ceo and president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 91% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 35.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 69% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 264% 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 December 31, 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 25

    15 of 15 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

    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 December 31, 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. $949,520 spent. EDUCATION: KAKENYA'S DREAM ADVANCES EDUCATIONAL ACCESS AND QUALITY FOR MARGINALIZED GIRLS IN RURAL SOUTHWESTERN KENYA THROUGH A MULTI-PRONGED APPROACH WITH ITS LOCAL PARTNER. IN 2025, THE ORGANIZATION SUPPORTED 440 GIRLS ENROLLED IN THE KAKENYA CENTERS FOR EXCELLENCE, TWO FULL-SUPPORT SCHOOLS PROVIDING HIGH-QUALITY INSTRUCTION, LIFE-SKILLS TRAINING, AND EXTRACURRICULARS WHILE PROTECTING GIRLS FROM FGM AND CHILD MARRIAGE. THROUGH THE EDUCATION ACCESS PROGRAM, 224 ADDITIONAL GIRLS RECEIVED SCHOLARSHIPS TO LOCAL SCHOOLS, ENABLING THEIR TRANSITION TO HIGH SCHOOL. ADDITIONALLY, WE ASSESSED 20 LOCAL SCHOOLS FOR TARGETED INTERVENTIONS TO ENHANCE LEARNING QUALITY ACROSS THE REGION. WE ARE COMMITTED TO ENSURING EVERY GIRL HAS ACCESS TO A SAFE, QUALITY EDUCATION.
  2. $684,324 spent. HEALTH: WITH EXTREMELY LIMITED HEALTHCARE IN THE REGION, MOST PEOPLE KNOW VERY LITTLE ABOUT THEIR BODIES OR SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH. IN COLLABORATION WITH OUR KENYAN PARTNER, KAKENYA'S DREAM FUNDS JIJUE ("KNOW YOURSELF"), A STRUCTURED ADOLESCENT SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND LEADERSHIP TRAINING PROGRAM. THESE SESSIONS EDUCATE BOTH BOYS AND GIRLS ON CRITICAL TOPICS INCLUDING BODILY AUTONOMY, FGM, AND CHILD MARRIAGE. IN 2025 ALONE, THE JIJUE PROGRAM REACHED OVER 11,000 STUDENTS ACROSS 57 SCHOOLS. TO FURTHER MEET THE REGION'S DIRE HEALTHCARE NEEDS, WE FUND THE COMMUNITY'S FIRST AND ONLY YOUTH-FRIENDLY HEALTH CLINIC, WHICH PROVIDES PRIMARY CARE, MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT, AND STIGMA-FREE SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE CARE. THE CLINIC HAD OVER 12,000 VISITS IN 2025.
  3. $339,575 spent. ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT: RECOGNIZING THAT PERVASIVE POVERTY AND UNEMPLOYMENT CREATE SIGNIFICANT BARRIERS TO SECURING JOBS, KAKENYA'S DREAM FOCUSES ON EMPOWERING YOUNG WOMEN FOR ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE. WE SUPPORT ACCESS TO TERTIARY EDUCATION AND PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAMS TO FACILITATE A SUCCESSFUL TRANSITION INTO MEANINGFUL EMPLOYMENT. IN 2025, WE PROVIDED 284 HIGHER EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIPS AND OFFERED SUPPLEMENTARY TRAINING IN JOB READINESS, CAREER GUIDANCE, FINANCIAL LITERACY, AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE. THROUGH THESE INITIATIVES, WE EQUIP YOUNG WOMEN WITH THE ESSENTIAL SKILLS, NECESSARY NETWORKS, AND CRITICAL SUPPORT REQUIRED TO THRIVE IN A COMPETITIVE JOB MARKET, ULTIMATELY FOSTERING INDEPENDENCE AND BREAKING CYCLES OF POVERTY.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 October 13, 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 December 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 June 2009.

    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 October 21, 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.