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Dreams Come True of Jacksonville Inc

EIN 59-2967803 · Jacksonville, FL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

USING THE POWER OF A DREAM TO BRING HOPE AND JOY TO EVERY FIRST COAST CHILD BATTLING A LIFE-THREATENING ILLNESS.

Income
$4.8 million
Spending
$4.1 million
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
21.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 75%
Employees
15
Volunteers
500
Highest pay
$163,750, executive di

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: 100 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 21.6 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 14% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 30% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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

Strong: 90 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    29 of 29 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

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 (2)
  1. $3.6 million spent. FOUNDED IN 1984 BY THE LATE THOMAS R. MCGEHEE, CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF MAC PAPERS, AND HIS WIFE DELIA, DREAMS COME TRUE HAS FULFILLED DREAMS FOR MORE THAN 5,000 CHILDREN. TO BE ELIGIBLE A CHILD MUST BE BETWEEN THE AGES OF 2 AND 18, BE DIAGNOSED WITH A LIFE-THREATENING MEDICAL CONDITION, AND RESIDE IN OR RECEIVE TREATMENT IN THE SEVEN COUNTIES OF NORTHEAST FLORIDA. IN THIS FISCAL YEAR, MORE THAN 211 DREAMS WERE FULFILLED. NO QUALIFIED CHILD HAS EVER BEEN PLACED ON A WAITING LIST OR DENIED THEIR DREAM. APPROXIMATELY 550 PLUS CHILDREN ARE CURRENTLY DREAMING, AND WE RECEIVE MORE THAN 20 NEW QUALIFIED REFERRALS EVERY MONTH.
  2. SPECIAL TIMES CHILDREN BATTLING LIFE-THREATENING MEDICAL CONDITIONS CAN ONLY RECEIVE ONE DREAM. UNFORTUNATELY, OUR DREAMERS CONFRONT MANY STRUGGLES THROUGHOUT THEIR ENTIRE MEDICAL JOURNEY. FOR THAT REASON, DREAMS COME TRUE DEVELOPED THE SPECIAL TIMES PROGRAM. SPECIAL TIMES PROVIDES THE DREAM CHILD AND HIS OR HER FAMILY A TIME TO MOMENTARILY FORGET THE REALITIES OF THEIR LIFE- THREATENING MEDICAL CONDITION. IT MAY BE DINNER AT A FAVORITE RESTAURANT, TICKETS TO A FOOTBALL GAME, A RELAXING EVENING AT THE MOVIES, A DAY OF BEAUTY, CONCERT TICKETS OR SUPPORT FOR THE HOLIDAYS OR A BIRTHDAY. DURING THIS FISCAL YEAR, MORE THAN 6,000 SPECIAL TIMES WERE PROVIDED TO OUR DREAMERS AND THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS.

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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since January 1990.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.