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Dream Big Inc

EIN 27-2204294 · Needham, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair52 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROVIDE GIRLS AND YOUNG WOMEN FROM LOW-INCOME SITUATIONS WITH THE EQUIPMENT, SPORTS ATTIRE, ATHLETIC FOOTWEAR, PROGRAM FEES, AND LEADERSHIP TRAINING NEEDED FOR THEM TO PARTICIPATE IN SPORTS AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THEIR HEALTH, EDUCATION AND OVERALL WELL-BEING

Income
$1.2 million
Spending
$1.3 million
Spent on programs
90%
Reserves
0.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
6
Volunteers
400
Highest pay
$241,090, president & ceo

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

Fair: 52 out of 100. Higher than 19% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 42% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 16% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    90% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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 82% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 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 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 (3)
  1. $1.1 million spent. DREAM BIG! EQUIPMENT & SPORTS ATTIRE GRANTS: DURING THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2025, DREAM BIG! EQUIPMENT, SPORTS ATTIRE, AND ATHLETIC FOOTWEAR GRANTS PROVIDED 14,120 GIRLS, YOUNG WOMEN, AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHILDREN FROM LOW-INCOME SITUATIONS WITH SPORTS EQUIPMENT, UNIFORMS, ATHLETIC FOOTWEAR, SPORTS ATTIRE AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION EQUIPMENT. DREAM BIG! WORKS TO EMPOWER GIRLS AND YOUNG WOMEN IN ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES THROUGH SPORTS AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THEIR HEALTH, EDUCATION AND OVERALL WELL-BEING.
  2. $49,527 spent. DREAM BIG! COLLEGE SHOWCASE, NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP, PROGRAM SCHOLARSHIPS & DBEBD SCHOLARSHIPS: DURING THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2025 DREAM BIG! PROVIDED COLLEGE SHOWCASE, NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP, AND PROGRAM SCHOLARSHIPS TO OVER 724 MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL FEMALE ATHLETES, FROM ECONOMICALY DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES, TO ENABLE THEM TO PARTICIPATE IN COLLEGE SHOWCASES, NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS AND SPORTS CAMPS, THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, WHERE THEY WERE ABLE TO BE SEEN BY HUNDREDS OF COLLEGE COACHES, WITH THE HOPE OF BEING RECRUITED.
  3. $20,517 spent. DREAM BIG! LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE: DURING THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2025 OVER 200 MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL FEMALE STUDENT ATHLETES, FROM URBAN COMMUNITIES, ATTENDED THE 10TH ANNUAL DREAM BIG! LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE. THE CONFERENCE PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL FEMALE ATHLETES FROM URBAN COMMUNITIES TO MEET AND INTERACT WITH ACCOMPLISHED WOMEN, FORMER ATHLETES, ON A COLLEGE CAMPUS WHILE LEARNING ABOUT THE WIDE RANGE OF CAREER AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO THEM IN TODAY'S SOCIETY. THE STUDENTS HEARD FROM WOMEN WHO HAVE PARTICIPATED IN SPORTS AND WENT ON TO BECOME EVERYTHING FROM PRESIDENTS, NURSES, AND COACHES TO LAWYERS, NON-PROFIT LEADERS, BUSINESS LEADERS, PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAM OWNERS, SPORTS PROFESSIONALS, AND PROFESSIONAL AND OLYMPIC ATHLETES.

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 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 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 August 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 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.