Dream of Wild Health
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The mission of Dream of Wild Health is to restore health and well-being in the Native community by recovering knowledge of and access to healthy Indigenous foods, medicines, and lifeways. We do this by: creating culturally-based opportunities for youth employment, entrepreneurship and leadership; increasing access to indigenous foods through farm production, sales and distribution; and community organizing and outreach around reclaiming cultural traditions, healthy indigenous food, cooking skills, and policy and systems change. Our programs impact over 15,000 people annually from our youngest community members to our oldest. DWH is one of the leaders of a groundswell movement to reclaim Indigenous sovereignty through food.
- Income
- $4.0 million
- Spending
- $2.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 65%
- Reserves
- 35.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 89%
- Employees
- 31
- Volunteers
- 96
- Highest pay
- $121,283, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 95 out of 100.
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 35.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 4% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 49% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 8% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1565% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 256 of 6 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 December 31, 2024, 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)
- $684,010 spent. Farm & Food Access - The farm is a vital source of nourishment, healing, and connection for the Native community. The food grown from the fields and orchards of the 30-acre farm is distributed primarily to Native families through a range of community-centered channels. These include our Indigenous Food Share (IFS), a CSA-style program tailored specifically for Native households; weekly Farmers Market in Minneapolis; wholesale partnerships with Native chefs and restaurants; distribution at youth programs and community events; and regular donations to community partners. In 2020, we added 20 acres to our original 10-acre farm (totaling 30 acres), furthering a vision of regional food sovereignty. This land will support emerging Native farmers, expand youth programming, and model regenerative land stewardship, all rooted in years of community collaboration to restore Native health and lifeways through food and cultural connection.
- $346,454 spent. The Native Youth Education & Leadership program empowers Native youth, ages 821, through year-round, culturally grounded learning and leadership opportunities. Rooted in our farm and community spaces, the program provides a safe, supportive environment where youth connect with the land, learn about regenerative organic agriculture, traditional foodways, and nutrition, and gain critical employment and life skills. Programs include: Cora's Kids (ages 8-12), Garden Warriors (13-18), Youth Leaders (14-18), and Youth Interns (ages 17-21). Our impact is visible and lasting. Many have continued their journeys within DWH, growing into internship roles, seasonal staff positions, and even serving on our Board of Directors. Through Indigenous-led advocacy, outreach, and peer education, our youth are not only learning, they are leading. By centering cultural identity, community connection, and personal growth, this program supports youth in building the confidence, knowledge, and leadership needed to thrive in school, in their communities, and in their futures.
- $296,211 spent. The Indigenous Food Network (IFN), a program of DWH, is a collaborative urban Twin Cities community initiative. The IFN mission is to rebuild sovereign food systems within the intertribal Native community through collaboration. Rooted in the understanding that food sovereignty is essential to Native health, culture, and self-determination, IFN works to revitalize traditional foodways and decolonize diets. Born from shared community leadership, the IFN supports a wide range of initiatives from community gardens and youth advocacy to institutional policy change. These initiatives are designed by community and for community in order to improve health outcomes and restore cultural knowledge. By uplifting Native farmers, producers, and entrepreneurs, IFN helps build sustainable, Indigenous-led food economies and ensures that wealth remains in our communities.
- $7,367 spent. Other
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 October 13, 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 November 6, 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 October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since August 1989.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.