Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Dayton Dream Center

EIN 87-2420605 · Dayton, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood70 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR PURPOSE IS TO CONNECT THE PEOPLE OF DAYTON TO A COMMUNITY OF SUPPORT BY ADDRESSING IMMEDIATE AND LONG-TERM NEEDS IN THE AREAS OF POVERTY, ADDICTION, EDUCATION, ABUSE, JOBLESSNESS, AND COMMUNITY RE-ENTRY. MORE THAN 20 YEARS AGO, THE DREAM OF THE DAYTON DREAM CENTER WAS BORN. PASTOR PAT AND JACKIE MURRAY AND THEIR CONGREGATION, LIVING WORD CHURCH, LOCATED IN VANDALIA, OHIO, HAVE RUN FEEDING PROGRAMS AND HAVE SERVED THE ADULTS AND CHILDREN OF DAYTON USING A TRUCK AND VOLUNTEERS. THE CURRENT FACILITY WAS FULLY FUNDED BY THE CONGREGANTS OF THE THEIR CHURCH AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITY. OVER FOUR MILLION DOLLARS WERE RAISED FOR THE PROJECT FROM 2018-2022 AND THE BUILDING WAS RENOVATED FOR ITS PURPOSE AND WITHOUT DEBT. IN JULY OF 2022, THE DOORS WERE OFFICIALLY OPENED. WE BEGAN WITH VERY SIMPLE FEEDING PROGRAMS AND THE INTENTION OF SERVICES BEING ADDED AS WE COULD STAFF AND SUPPORT THEM. IN THE FIRST YEAR, OVER 11,000 VISITS WERE MADE BY GUESTS FROM THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY AROUND THIRD AND

Income
$1.3 million
Spending
$1.1 million
Spent on programs
73%
Reserves
2.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 50%
Employees
9
Volunteers
225
Highest pay
$71,467, 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

Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 45% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 16% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 9% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    73% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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

    11 of 11 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 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. $498,353 spent. DC DINER - THE DAYTON DREAM CENTER WORKS EVERY WEEK TO ADDRESS THE NEED OF HUNGER BY COOKING AND DISTRIBUTING HOT MEALS TO PEOPLE IN DOWNTOWN DAYTON. MEALS ARE SERVED DIRECTLY OUT OF THE DREAM CENTER BUILDING ON MONDAYS 12- 1PM, WEDNESDAY EVENINGS 5:30-6:30PM, AND SATURDAY 1-2 PM. SATURDAY MEALS ALSO INCLUDE GROCERY/FOOD DONATIONS TO GUESTS AS AVAILABLE. 15,484 MEALS WERE SERVED JUNE 2024-JULY 2025. DAYTON DREAM CENTER IS PLANNING TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF GUESTS SERVED THIS COMING YEAR. ADOPT-A-BLOCK PROGRAM ADDRESSES ADDICTION, HOMELESSNESS, FOOD INSECURITY, AND HEALTH BARRIERS DAYTON. ADOPT-A-BLOCK IS A MONTHLY OUTREACH THAT DEPLOYS VOLUNTEERS TO KNOCK ON DOORS IN TARGETED BLOCKS, OFFERING YARD WORK, GROCERY DELIVERY, PRAYER, AND REFERRALS TO DDC PROGRAMS (FOOD PANTRY, ROADMAP 2 RECOVERY, MOBILE MEDICAL UNIT). THE HOPE FOOD TRUCK PROVIDES FREE MEALS, HYGIENE KITS, AND RESOURCE INFORMATION IN A WELCOMING SETUP WITH TENTS/TABLES. THE PROGRAM SERVES THE 2,574 RESIDENTS OF CENSUS TRACT 39113002300 (MEDIAN AGE 35.5, HOUSEHOLD INCOME 34,868), PRIORITIZING LOW-INCOME FAMILIES, CHILDREN IN POVERTY (60.8%), SENIORS (15.9% POVERTY), INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES, SINGLE-FEMALE-HEADED HOUSEHOLDS (29.7%), AND THOSE FACING ADDICTION OR LIMITED MOBILITY. DDC COORDINATES 25-35 VOLUNTEERS MONTHLY INTO FOUR TEAMS: SETUP/TEARDOWN, COOKING/SERVING, MINISTRY (DOOR-KNOCKING/INTRODUCTIONS), AND HANDS-ON (FULFILLING NEEDS). KEY PARTNERS INCLUDE LIVING WORD CHURCH, DAYTON FOOD BANK, LOCAL CHURCHES, DAYTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS (E.G., HORIZON SCIENCE ACADEMY), MONTGOMERY COUNTY JOB & FAMILY SERVICES, RECOVERY PARTNERS (E.G. ETHAN'S CROSSING, HOPE LINE, SIDEWALK SOLDIERS) AND PREMIER HEALTH (ON-SITE MOBILE MEDICAL TRUCK). DC DINER - THE DAYTON DREAM CENTER WORKS EVERY WEEK TO ADDRESS THE NEED OF HUNGER BY COOKING AND DISTRIBUTING HOT MEALS TO PEOPLE IN DOWNTOWN DAYTON. MEALS ARE SERVED DIRECTLY OUT OF THE DREAM CENTER BUILDING ON MONDAYS 12- 1PM, WEDNESDAY EVENINGS 5:30-6:30PM, AND SATURDAY 1-2 PM. SATURDAY MEALS ALSO INCLUDE GROCERY/FOOD DONATIONS TO GUESTS AS AVAILABLE. 15,484 MEALS WERE SERVED JUNE 2024-JULY 2025. DAYTON DREAM CENTER IS PLANNING TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF GUESTS SERVED THIS COMING YEAR. ADOPT-A-BLOCK PROGRAM ADDRESSES ADDICTION, HOMELESSNESS, FOOD INSECURITY, AND HEALTH BARRIERS DAYTON. ADOPT-A-BLOCK IS A MONTHLY OUTREACH THAT DEPLOYS VOLUNTEERS TO KNOCK ON DOORS IN TARGETED BLOCKS, OFFERING YARD WORK, GROCERY DELIVERY, PRAYER, AND REFERRALS TO DDC PROGRAMS (FOOD PANTRY, ROADMAP 2 RECOVERY, MOBILE MEDICAL UNIT). THE HOPE FOOD TRUCK PROVIDES FREE MEALS, HYGIENE KITS, AND RESOURCE INFORMATION IN A WELCOMING SETUP WITH TENTS/TABLES. THE PROGRAM SERVES THE 2,574 RESIDENTS OF CENSUS TRACT 39113002300 (MEDIAN AGE 35.5, HOUSEHOLD INCOME 34,868), PRIORITIZING LOW-INCOME FAMILIES, CHILDREN IN POVERTY (60.8%), SENIORS (15.9% POVERTY), INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES, SINGLE-FEMALE-HEADED HOUSEHOLDS (29.7%), AND THOSE FACING ADDICTION OR LIMITED MOBILITY. DDC COORDINATES 25-35 VOLUNTEERS MONTHLY INTO FOUR TEAMS: SETUP/TEARDOWN, COOKING/SERVING, MINISTRY (DOOR-KNOCKING/INTRODUCTIONS), AND HANDS-ON (FULFILLING NEEDS). KEY PARTNERS INCLUDE LIVING WORD CHURCH, DAYTON FOOD BANK, LOCAL CHURCHES, DAYTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS (E.G., HORIZON SCIENCE ACADEMY), MONTGOMERY COUNTY JOB & FAMILY SERVICES, RECOVERY PARTNERS (E.G. ETHAN'S CROSSING, HOPE LINE, SIDEWALK SOLDIERS) AND PREMIER HEALTH (ON-SITE MOBILE MEDICAL TRUCK).
  2. $262,835 spent. SUDS N DUDS PROGRAM - ON-SITE SHOWERS, CLOTHING, AND LAUNDRY MINISTRY. OUR LAUNDRY FACILITY IS EQUIPPED WITH 4 COMMERCIAL WASHERS AND DRYERS, SHOWER ROOMS, AND A CLOTHING AREA STOCKED WITH MEN'S, WOMEN'S AND CHILDREN'S CLOTHING AND SHOES. BLANKETS, COATS, HATS, GLOVES AND HAND WARMERS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE DURING WINTER MONTHS. SHAMPOO, BODY SOAP, WASH CLOTHES, TOWELS, LAUNDRY SOAP AND FABRIC SOFTNER IS ALSO PROVIDED. GUESTS CAN SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT FOR SUDS N DUDS SERVICES IN PERSON OR OVER THE PHONE. DAYS OF OPERATION ARE TUESDAY AND THURSDAY 12-4:30PM (BY APPOINTMENT ONLY). 3,715 INDIVIDUALS SERVED FROM JUNE 2024-JUNE 2025. WE PROVIDE A HOT MEAL TO EACH GUEST WHILE THEY WAIT ON THEIR APPOINTMENT.
  3. $35,044 spent. DC AFTER SCHOOL KIDS PROGRAM - DAYTON DREAM CENTER ACTIVELY ENGAGES THE CHILDREN OF EAST DAYTON EVERY WEEK DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR. OUR KIDS PROGRAM PROVIDES A SAFE SPACE FOR KIDS TO GROW, LEARN, AND HAVE FUN TOGETHER. THE CENTER OFFERS TUTORING, MATH AND READING PROGRAMS, AS WELL AS GAMES. SNACKS, AND TAKE-HOME MEALS ARE THE KIDS. AVERAGED 30 KIDS PER WEEK DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR AND SERVED 2,756 MEALS FROM THE PERIOD OF JUNE 2024-JUNE 2025.

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 February 2022.

    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.