How Big Is Your Dream Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
How Big Is Your Dream?! Foundation allows students to Dream Big while learning from seasoned industry professionals. Our students understand contemporary sound across diverse genres, develop skills in organizing creative concepts and collaborating with teams or bands, and gain an enhanced confidence and refined delivery to achieve a more mature artistic presence.To establish a platform that fosters learning and performance, enabling mastery of diverse talents.The How Big Is Your Dream?! Summer M.A.D.E. Academy of the Arts is a powerful, 3-week immersive experience designed to cultivate the next generation of artists, creators, and dreamers. Open to students ages 1018, this summer session offers a rare opportunity for youth to explore and sharpen their artistic abilities in a professional, yet nurturing environment no advanced experience required.
- Income
- $288,599
- Spending
- $20,262
- Spent on programs
- 100%
- Reserves
- 0 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 49%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 35
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 1, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
We do not score finances when yearly spending is very small or the return has too little detail. The ratios stop meaning much at that size.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 1, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2512 of 12 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
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 March 1, 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)
- $30,000 spent. Spring Break -During Spring Break 2024, appx 50 HBIYD student-artists will participate in a week long intensive that will challenge their knowledge and skill in "music industry" settings. Led by industry professionals, student-artists will participate in a variety of classes designed to equip them with the tools needed for success in an array of entertainment industry careers. Class Descriptions: SOCIAL & EMOTIONAL LEARNING (SEL) is a space where students acquire and apply the tools to manage emotions, achieve personal goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain supportive relationships, and make responsible decisions. The MUSIC THEORY course is designed to enhance music skills and basic music fundamentals. The essential aspects of melody, harmony, rhythm, and form are studied. This knowledge is essential in preserving the integrity of music creation for generations to come. The KEYBOARD FUNDAMENTALS course is designed for students to learn note names, chords, scales, and how to play chorded sheet music. The goal of this course is to familiarize students with the keyboard. This knowledge is necessary when communicating in the live music sector of the industry. During the HBIYD ENT. COHORTS students will divide into Production, Business, & Marketing teams to plan and execute the Spring Break Bash (held on 4/5). Students in the Production cohort will be charged with decoration, run-of-show, and the over-all vision for the Bash. Students in the Business cohort will be charged with creating and maintaining a budget, ticket sales, and contacting any entertainment for the Bash. Students in the Marketing cohort will be charged with social media promotion, creating flyers/ticket designs, and documenting the night for post-production.
- $27,630 spent. Winter Bash & Our Soundtrack In American Music -The Music Masters programming expands the offering of HBIYD?! master level training by providing a historical foundation of the music and art that the students learn and perform. Scholars note that studying history helps us better develop an understanding of the world and grapple with complex questions and dilemmas by examining how the past has shaped (and continues to shape) societies, cultures, ideologies, relationships, and people. For children, immersion into history through reenactments of historical experiences makes the experience come alive and becomes more impactful and impressionable. The purpose of providing a history component is to further solidify the students relationship and commitment to the art they perform. Connecting them with artist from the past and some from the present and showing them how their music can relate to healing depression, anxiety, and provide coping mechanisms that industry professions are faced with on a regular basis. These discussions and applications will build cultural pride, appreciation, and inspire student-artists to overcome challenges that arise from changes in their everyday lives privately and as a global society. The student-artists will be able to identify with artists of historical significance as well as set new levels of achievement for themselves as they perfect their craft and apply coping skills to various situations. Music Masters will include the foundations M.A.D.E. programming (instruction from professionals) which will also include a platform in which the students will fully engage in the artistic expression and performance of selected works in the Inspirational and Soul genres through song writing, lyric discussion, music improvisation, receptive music listening, musical arrangement and performance, dance choreography and performance, stage presence and production. During the sessions, a performance video completely created, produced, staged, and performed by the students in the program using a historical outline, genre selection, and performance criteria will be produced. The student-artists will be expected to exhibit significant skill gain from their baseline noted at the beginning of the program. Daily master classes will be led by knowledgeable, industry professionals, award-winning artists, regional educators, and therapeutic and clinical professionals.
- $64,287 spent. Summer Academy and No More Blood -The How Big Is Your Dream?! Summer Break M.A.D.E. Academy of the Arts is an exciting, three-week long program designed for approximately 90 young artists ages 10-18 to unlock their creative potential and develop foundational skills in music and arts entertainment. No prior experience is necessarythis program is perfect for students who want to explore their passion for the arts in a supportive and inspiring environment.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 1, 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 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 October 13, 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 February 2025.
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 May 2011.
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 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.