Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

The Dalmatian Dreams Foundation

EIN 77-0405779 · Santa Barbara, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak39 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

DREAM FOUNDATION SERVES TERMINALLY-ILL ADULTS AND THEIR FAMILIES BY PROVIDING END-OF-LIFE DREAMS THAT OFFER INSPIRATION, COMFORT AND CLOSURE.

Income
$1.9 million
Spending
$2.1 million
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
-1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 92%
Employees
14
Volunteers
650
Highest pay
$240,239, chief executive officer

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: 39 out of 100. Higher than 8% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 7% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 12% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 44% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    17 of 17 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

    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

    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 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 (1)
  1. $1.8 million spent. DREAM FOUNDATION IS THE ONLY NATIONAL DREAM-GRANTING ORGANIZATION FOR TERMINALLY-ILL ADULTS AND HAS FULFILLED OVER 35.768 DREAMS SINCE 1994. DREAM FOUNDATION'S DREAMS TOUCH LIVES, MEET ESSENTIAL NEEDS AND PROVIDE INSPIRATION, COMFORT AND CLOSURE AT THE END OF LIFE. IN 2024, THE AGENCY PROCESSED 490 REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE. IN 2025 THE ORGANIZATION PROJECTS 550 REFERRALS FROM OVER 170 HOSPICES THROUGHTOUT THE UNITED STATES AND PUERTO RICO. ADDITIONAL REFERRALS ARE RECEIVED FROM DOCTORS, NURSES, SOCIAL WORKERS, HEALTH CARE FACILITIES, AND VIA THE INTERNET. 20% OF DREAM REFERRALS INCLUDE ADULTS THAT HAVE YOUNG CHILDREN WHO WILL BE FACING THE IMPENDING LOSS OF A PARENT. THE TOY PROGRAM WAS ESTABLISHED TO LET CHILDREN KNOW THEY ARE NOT FORGOTTEN IN THE MIDST OF THE EMOTIONAL TURMOIL THE FAMILY IS FACING. THE TOY PROGRAM PROVIDES A BOX OF NEW GENDER AND AGE-APPROPRIATE TOYS FOR EACH CHILD. IN 2024 THE PROGRAM SERVED OVER 211 CHILDREN WITH DONATED NEW TOYS, GAMES AND GIFT CARDS. THE FLOWER EMPOWER PROGRAM IS A LOCALLY BASED, VOLUNTEER-DRIVEN PROGRAM THAT DELIVERS DONATED FLORAL BOUQUETS, FRESH BAKED COOKIES AND CARDS TO PEOPLE IN HOSPICES, CANCER CENTERS AND THEIR HOMES. SINCE IT'S INCEPTION IN 1994, FLOWER EMPOWER HAS SERVED THOUSANDS OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS BY PROVIDING MORE THAN 125,000 BOUQUETS. IN 2024 THE FLOWER EMPOWER PROGRAM LOGGED 6,750 VOLUNTEER HOURS AND DELIVERED 12,771 HANDMADE BOUQUETS.DREAM FOUNDATION CREATED DREAMS FOR VETERANS IN 2014 TO TAILOR THE DREAM EXPERIENCE TO VETERANS, SERVICE MEMBERS, AND THEIR FAMILIES. DREAM RECIPIENTS ARE TERMINALLY-ILL U.S. MILITARY VETERANS, ACTIVE SERVICE MEMBERS, AND MEMBERS OF THE RESERVE AND NATIONAL GUARD IN EVERY STATE AND PUERTO RICO. THIS PROGRAM ACKNOWLEDGES THESE GROUPS AND HONORS THEIR SERVCE BY FULFILLING THEIR FINAL DREAM, PROVIDING THEM, THEIR FAMILIES AND CAREGIVERS INSPIRATION, COMFORT AND CLOSURE AT THE END OF LIFE. SINCE ITS INCEPTION DREAMS FOR VETERANS HAS SERVED 1,235 VETERAN'S DREAMS, 46 OF THEM IN 2024.

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

  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 2024.

    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 September 1995.

    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.