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West Nashville Dream Center

EIN 81-4064177 · Nashville, TN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak49 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WE ARE A MINISTRY CENTER COMMITTED TO PROTECTING AND EMPOWERING THOSE IN OUR COMMUNITY LIVING IN DISTRESS.

Income
$1.9 million
Spending
$2.2 million
Spent on programs
90%
Reserves
2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 80%
Employees
24
Volunteers
3,000

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

Weak: 49 out of 100. Higher than 18% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 31% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 13% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 9% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    90% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 16 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.

  • 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 (5)
  1. $223,763 spent. NEXT GEN MINISTRY - WE CONDUCTED OUR EIGHTH YEAR OF OUR SUMMER DAYS PROGRAM. THIS PROGRAM IS A FREE WALK UP CAMP THAT EXISTS TO ENSURE THAT NO CHILD GOES HUNGRY DURING OUT OF SCHOOL MONTHS. WE SERVED 617 MEALS TO CHILDREN DURING THE PROGRAM, AND WE HOSTED VOLUNTEERS FROM 10 STATES TO PROVIDE A HIGH-QUALITY CAMP EXPERIENCE. WE ALSO CONTINUED THIS YEAR SERVING KIDS WITH OUR NORTH NASHVILLE AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM. THIS PROGRAM IS FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHILDREN. WE ENROLLED 30 STUDENTS FROM ROBERT CHURCHWELL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. THE PROGRAM WAS FOCUSED ON TUTORING, SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING, AND FINE ARTS ACTIVITIES. ADDITIONALLY, WE SERVED OVER 2,000 MEALS EACH SEMESTER OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.
  2. $388,891 spent. COMMUNITY OUTREACH - WE PROVIDED VARIOUS RESOURCES TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS SUCH AS COUNSELING, PERSONAL CARE ITEMS, UTILITIES RELIEF, AND COMMUNITY WIDE HOLIDAY EVENTS. WE ALSO SUPPORTED A LOCAL NON-PROFIT CHILD CARE CENTER WITH GRANT FUNDS TO ALLOW THEM TO PROVIDE FREE OR REDUCED CHILD CARE TO SINGLE PARENTS.
  3. $58,452 spent. JOB READINESS - THIS FELONY FRIENDLY PROGRAM EXPANDED TO WELCOME IMPOVERISHED MALES LIVING IN THE 37208 AREA OF NORTH NASHVILLE. PARTICIPATES RECEIVE SOFT SKILL AND JOB SPECIFIC SKILL TRAINING FOR A VARIETY OF HANDS-ON INDUSTRIES.
  4. $1.3 million spent. FOOD MINISTRY - THIS PROGRAM REMAINS ONE OF OUR LARGEST PROGRAMS, ESPECIALLY WITH THE RISING COST OF LIVING IN MIDDLE TN AND RECORD HIGH INFLATION. WE DISTRIBUTED 560,271 POUNDS OF FRESH GROCERIES TO 42,585 INDIVIDUALS. WE INCREASED OUR FOOD PARTNERS IN THE AREA AND WE NOW PICK UP FOOD DONATIONS 24 TIMES PER WEEK AND DISTIBUTE TO 11 SEPARATE SITES IN WEST AND NORTH NASHVILLE. MOMS MINISTRY - THE MOMS PROGRAM SERVES APPROXIMATELY 35 UNDER-RESOURCED MOTHERS AND THEIR CHILDREN BY PROVIDING THEM WITH A WEEKLY SUPPORT GROUP, SUPPLEMENTAL GROCERIES, AND LIFE SKILLS CLASSES. PROGRAMMING INCLUDES GOAL SETTING, COOKING CLASSES, FIELD TRIPS, ART ACTIVITIES AND PERSONAL GROWTH CLASSES. DREAM HOUSING GRANT - THE DREAM HOUSING GRANT PROGRAM IS A FINANCIAL LITERACY AND EDUCATION PROGRAM WITH THE GOAL OF MOVING MINORITY INDIVIDUALS INTO FIRST TIME HOME OWNERSHIP. ENROLLEES ARE PAIRED WITH A MENTOR AND GIVEN REQUIREMENTS TO MAINTAIN GOOD STANDING IN THE PROGRAM. THEY ARE PROVIDED WITH A MONTHY RENT STIPEND TO FACILITATE THEM PAYING DOWN DEBT AND ESTABLISHING A SAVINGS ACCOUNT. AT THE COMPLETION OF THE PORGRAM, SOME WILL QUALIFY FOR A DOWN PAYMENT MATCHING GRANT. TRANSITION HOUSING - THE JAMES R BROWN TRANSITIONAL HOUSING FACILITY WAS OPENED JANUARY 2024 TO HOUSE PARTICIPANTS IN THE JOB READINESS PROGRAM AND OTHER INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILES IN NEED OF TEMPORARY HOUSING. TRANSITIONAL HOUSING HAS BECOME A CRUCIAL INITIATIVE IN THE CURRENT MIDDLE TENNESSEE AFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS. TENANTS ARE CHARGED RENT BASED ON THEIR ABILITY TO PAY.
  5. FOOD MINISTRY - THIS PROGRAM REMAINS ONE OF OUR LARGEST PROGRAMS, ESPECIALLY WITH THE RISING COST OF LIVING IN MIDDLE TN AND RECORD HIGH INFLATION. WE DISTRIBUTED 560,271 POUNDS OF FRESH GROCERIES TO 42,585 INDIVIDUALS. WE INCREASED OUR FOOD PARTNERS IN THE AREA AND WE NOW PICK UP FOOD DONATIONS 24 TIMES PER WEEK AND DISTIBUTE TO 11 SEPARATE SITES IN WEST AND NORTH NASHVILLE. MOMS MINISTRY - THE MOMS PROGRAM SERVES APPROXIMATELY 35 UNDER-RESOURCED MOTHERS AND THEIR CHILDREN BY PROVIDING THEM WITH A WEEKLY SUPPORT GROUP, SUPPLEMENTAL GROCERIES, AND LIFE SKILLS CLASSES. PROGRAMMING INCLUDES GOAL SETTING, COOKING CLASSES, FIELD TRIPS, ART ACTIVITIES AND PERSONAL GROWTH CLASSES. DREAM HOUSING GRANT - THE DREAM HOUSING GRANT PROGRAM IS A FINANCIAL LITERACY AND EDUCATION PROGRAM WITH THE GOAL OF MOVING MINORITY INDIVIDUALS INTO FIRST TIME HOME OWNERSHIP. ENROLLEES ARE PAIRED WITH A MENTOR AND GIVEN REQUIREMENTS TO MAINTAIN GOOD STANDING IN THE PROGRAM. THEY ARE PROVIDED WITH A MONTHY RENT STIPEND TO FACILITATE THEM PAYING DOWN DEBT AND ESTABLISHING A SAVINGS ACCOUNT. AT THE COMPLETION OF THE PORGRAM, SOME WILL QUALIFY FOR A DOWN PAYMENT MATCHING GRANT. TRANSITION HOUSING - THE JAMES R BROWN TRANSITIONAL HOUSING FACILITY WAS OPENED JANUARY 2024 TO HOUSE PARTICIPANTS IN THE JOB READINESS PROGRAM AND OTHER INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILES IN NEED OF TEMPORARY HOUSING. TRANSITIONAL HOUSING HAS BECOME A CRUCIAL INITIATIVE IN THE CURRENT MIDDLE TENNESSEE AFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS. TENANTS ARE CHARGED RENT BASED ON THEIR ABILITY TO PAY.

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 November 6, 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 April 2017.

    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 November 4, 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.