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Summerville Dream Inc

EIN 45-5470486 · Summerville, SC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceGood76 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 39% of its spending went to programs.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

SUMMERVILLE DREAM IS A 501 (C)(3) ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN SUMMERVILLE BY ENHANCING THE AESTHETIC, CULTURAL, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC ASPECTS OF THE DOWNTOWN AREA, WHILE PRESERVING ITS HISTORIC IDENTITY. SUMMERVILLE DREAM PROMOTES DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION THROUGH EVENT COORDINATION, BUSINESS EDUCATION, ADVOCACY, BEAUTIFICATION AND ENHANCEMENT PROJECTS, TOURISM PROMOTION, AND MARKETING HISTORIC DOWNTOWN SUMMERVILLE TO RESIDENTS AND GUESTS.WE OPERATE USING THE MAIN STREET APPROACH, WHICH USES BOTH HARD DATA ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY AND INPUT FROM ITS RESIDENTS TO DEVELOP A VISION FOR OUR DOWNTOWN. THIS VISION IS ADDRESSED THROUGH FOUR SEPARATE COMMITTEES ECONOMIC VITALITY, PROMOTION, DESIGN, AND ORGANIZATION, EACH OF WHICH ACTS ON DIFFERENT ELEMENTS OF THE VISION TO PRODUCE BOTH QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE OUTCOMES. OUR GOAL IS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN DOWNTOWN SUMMERVILLE.

Income
$652,989
Spending
$331,752
Spent on programs
39%
Reserves
21 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 63%
Employees
5
Volunteers
6
Highest pay
$76,731, executive director

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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 21.0 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 49% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 27% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    39% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Good: 76 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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. $19,941 spent. THIRD THURSDAYON THE THIRD THURSDAY OF EACH MONTH HISTORIC DOWNTOWN SUMMERVILLE TRANSFORMS INTO A SPECIAL MARKETPLACE FEATURING LOCAL ENTERTAINMENT, CRAFT VENDORS AND ARTISANS, TO COMPLEMENT THE EXTENDED HOURS OF OUR ECLECTIC SHOPS, BOUTIQUES AND RESTAURANTS.
  2. $4,092 spent. SUMMERVILLE CHRISTMAS PARADESUMMERVILLE CHRISTMAS PARADE IS DESIGNED TO PROMOTE POSITIVITY THROUGHOUT THE TOWN OF SUMMERVILLE WHILE CAPTURING THE "SPIRIT OF THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY." THE PARADE IS A FAMILY FRIENDLY, NON-POLITICAL EVENT THAT AIMS TO BRING THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER TO CELEBRATE THE SEASON WHILE REPRESENTING THE LOCAL TRADITIONS AND SUMMERVILLE HOSPITALITY.
  3. $30,626 spent. SWEET TEA FESTIVALTHE SWEET TEA FESTIVAL IS A CELEBRATION OF THE BIRTHPLACE OF SWEET TEA, RIGHT HERE IN SUMMERVILLE SC. OUR HISTORIC DOWNTOWN IS TRANSFORMED INTO A MASSIVE OPEN HOUSE / STREET FAIR WITH DIFFERENT FOOD TRUCKS, ARTISANAL VENDORS AND ENTERTAINMENT. OF COURSE, THERE IS PLENTY OF SWEET TEA AND YOU CAN HELP SELECT THE TEA OF THE YEAR BY SAMPLING AND VOTING FOR YOUR FAVORITE!

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since August 2012.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.