Dream Project Inc

What it reported doing in 2024

Scholar, and alumni support: dream project scholarship recipients received comprehensive support through activities and programming designed to foster success in college and careers: dream summit: the dream project hosts an annual, week-long dream summit for students focused on supporting student success in college and beyond. This year's summit focused on resilience and wellbeing. Coaching services: college can be a significant adjustment especially for first-generation students. In 2024-2025, the dream project partnered with beyond 12 to provide personalized college coaching services that helped students thrive academically and professionally. Coaching was offered to all first-year students, and students transferring from two-year to four-year institutions. Beginning in 2025-2026, these college coaching services have been brought in-house to further strengthen continuity of support and community connection. Mental health support: recognizing that emotional well-being is essential to academic and personal success, the dream project partners with the center for psychological services (cps) to cover the cost of eight individual telehealth counseling sessions for students. These confidential, professional services address challenges such as depression, anxiety, chronic stress, eating disorders, and other mental health concerns. Case management: as needed, the dream project's case manager connected students with internal and external community and government resources providing additional physical and mental health support services. Loans: the molly and joseph herman dream scholar loan fund, which provided interest-free loans to eligible students for unexpected emergencies and daca application fees. Students received loans up to $2,000 for undergraduate educational expenses, payable directly to educational institutions. Non-daca loans are repaid after graduation within two years, while daca loans are repaid in monthly installments over five months. Emergency relief fund: the emergency relief (erf) is a targeted financial resource designed to support dream project scholars experiencing temporary, critical external emergencies that pose a direct threat to their ability to complete a college or career and technical education (cte) degree. In light of current and anticipated risks, including political instability, immigration enforcement, and the threat of detention or deportation. The erf will focus exclusively on immigration-related legal emergencies that create a direct and immediate barrier to completing a college or cte program. Computer aid: a reliable computer is essential for college. The computer aid program either pays for the repairs or provides scholars with a refurbished computer. Sharing our stories: sharing our stories is a six-week workshop that creates a supportive space for reflection, connection, and healing through personal storytelling. Facilitated in small groups meeting weekly for 75 minutes, participants explore their challenges and strengths through poetry, art, and writing. The program fosters resilience, community, and a deep sense of belonging, allowing participants to share at their own pace. Solidarity circle: the solidarity circle is a monthly virtual gathering for dream project scholars and alumni, facilitated by belinda passafaro, case manager and senior consultant. This inclusive and confidential space offers tools and strategies for wellness, mindfulness, and mutual support. Participants are invited to reflect, connect, and grow together building a stronger, more supportive community. Legal consultation: the dream project understands that navigating the legal system can be complex and intimidating. The dream project is dedicated to providing its scholars with access to quality legal information and resources. As part of its efforts to achieve this goal, dream project offers one or more free consultations in the area of immigration law to answer questions or provide a second opinion with volunteer at

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 85.1%; rating input score 85
• Program expense ratio: 85.9%; rating input score 86
• Fundraising efficiency: $9.16 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 35; 35th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: Limited
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 100%; rating input score 100; 76th percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 7 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 88
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Fail
  • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 1.9%; rating input score 42; 42nd percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.23; rating input score 49; 49th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.19; rating input score 32; 32nd percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 7.9%; rating input score 44; 44th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 21% per year; rating input score 100; 84th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 13.7% per year; rating input score 100; 76th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 20.2% per year; rating input score 100; 82nd percentile among comparable filings