Believe in Dreams
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
SEE SCHEDULE O
- Income
- $489,896
- Spending
- $589,759
- Spent on programs
- 82%
- Reserves
- 0.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 73%
- Employees
- 9
- Volunteers
- 50
- Highest pay
- $53,623, 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
Weak: 34 out of 100. Higher than 4% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.8 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 35% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 20% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 23% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1582% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 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
Good: 82 out of 100. Higher than 62% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $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
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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
12 of 15Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
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 (3)
- $482,114 spent. DREAMS PROGRAM: CHILDREN ARE NOMINATED BY PROFESSIONAL ADULTS THEY WORK WITH (COUNSELORS, SOCIAL WORKERS, TEACHERS, ETC.) WHO HAVE OBSERVED THE CHILD'S POSITIVE QUALITIES AND RESILIENCE. A DREAM COORDINATOR IS ASSIGNED TO COORDINATE AN INDIVIDUALIZED EXPERIENCE BASED ON THE SPECIFIC DREAMS OF EACH YOUTH. EXAMPLES OF DREAM EXPERIENCES INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO: SPORTING EVENTS, LESSONS, CLASSES, ACTIVITIES, MEMBERSHIPS, AMUSEMENT PARKS, CAREER SHADOWING, MATERIAL ITEMS OF A HOBBY OR INTEREST, ATTENDING A MAJOR EVENT OR VISITING SOMEWHERE FOR THE FIRST TIME (WITHIN NORTHEAST OHIO), MEETING OR SHADOWING SOMEONE WHO INSPIRES, OR COVERAGE OF COSTS TO REMOVE BARRIERS FROM ACHIEVING A GOAL PREVIOUSLY UNATTAINABLE. WE ARE COMMITTED TO TRAUMA INFORMED PRACTICES AND CUSTOMIZE EACH DREAM EXPERIENCE TO HELP INCREASE CAPACITY FOR RESILIENCE AND POST TRAUMATIC GROWTH.
- KEEP DREAMING ALUMNI ACTIVITIES (PART OF DREAMS PROGRAM): DREAMER ALUMNI FAMILIES ARE INCLUDED IN ANNUAL COMMUNITY ALUMNI EVENTS TO MAINTAIN CONNECTION AND ASSIST WITH COMMUNITY BUILDING AND NATURAL SUPPORT SYSTEM NETWORKING. THEY ARE ALSO OFFERED ONGOING NEEDS ASSESSMENT AND RESOURCE LINKAGE UPON REQUEST, AS WELL AS POP UP ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES, ON A FIRST COME FIRST SERVE BASIS, DONATED LAST MINUTE BY DREAM GRANTORS. ALUMNI FAMILIES ARE ALSO INVITED TO PARTICIPATE ON OUR ALUMNI PARENT ADVISORY BOARD.
- DREAM BIG! CHOOSING GREATNESS SEMINAR BELIEVE IN DREAMS FOUNDER JOHN DIJULIUS III IS A KEYNOTE SPEAKER, INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE CONSULTANT AND BEST-SELLING AUTHOR OF THREE BOOKS. JOHN WANTS TO BRING HIS EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE IN MOTIVATING OTHERS TO DREAM BIG TO OUR YOUTH. THIS COMPLIMENTARY SEMINAR, SPONSORED BY BELIEVE IN DREAMS, IS DESIGNED FOR MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WITH THE OBJECTIVE OF SHARING THE SIMPLE, YET EFFECTIVE HABITS OF OVERACHIEVERS. THE SEMINAR GIVES YOUTH THE FOUNDATION AND MOTIVATION TO DREAM BIG AND ACCOMPLISH THOSE DREAMS.
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 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 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 January 2015.
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.