Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Garden of Dreams Community Preschool and Child Care

EIN 46-3594016 · Battle Creek, MI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceGood78 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Garden of Dreams Community Preschool and Child Care develops young children through safe and affordable daily care. Our programs are rich in diversity through family and community support and involvement.

Income
$1.2 million
Spending
$1.1 million
Spent on programs
89%
Reserves
8 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 72%
Employees
48
Volunteers
5
Highest pay
$92,959, executive director

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

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 83% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    89% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 36% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 6 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

    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

    0 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 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. $177,597 spent. Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP) is a very low cost program for children who are four years old across the State of Michigan. This program runs September through May and the children attend Monday through Thursday from 8am - 3pm. GSRP prepares children for kindergarten using High Scope curriculum, which is proven to improve student achievement. We encourage parent involvement and give opportunity for parent conferences and home visits. GSRP classrooms have 2 teachers whereby the lead teachers has a bachelors' degree and the assistant teacher has an associates degree.
  2. $49,417 spent. Food Service Program We participate in the federal child and adult care food program, CACFP. This program ensures that we serve healthy, family style meals to all of the children in our care. We are critical partners in ensuring that our students receive the proper nutrition that they need to grow and develop. Our kitchen is licensed by the county health department, and we are able to accommodate those with food sensitivities.
  3. $780,071 spent. Child Care Programming. Our child care program serves infants through 5 years old during the school year, and school age children during the summer. We serve families by providing affordable child care licensed by the State of Michigan. We have both private pay and DHHS children and we are open Monday - Friday from 6:30 am to 5:30 pm to meet the needs of our families. We offer a summer camp from June - August each year giving children educational and entertaining opportunities in a safe and nurturing environment. Our classrooms have structured daily routines, include time for outdoor play, indoor play, guided learning, and food and rest time. We employ two full time teacher in each classrooms in order to provide consistent caregivers for all of our students. There are also part time care givers who can fill in when teachers need to take breaks or are gone for the day.

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 September 7, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Worth knowing.

    Status was revoked on November 15, 2016 for not filing returns for three years. The IRS now lists it as tax-exempt again.

    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 June 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 May 2015.

    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.