West Orange Dream Center

What it reported doing in 2024

Youth and senior programming in 2024, we supported children and teens through afterschool programming that fostered literacy, mentorship, and personal growth. For elementary and middle school students, we partnered with eight waves, a nonprofit that provided reading-focused curriculum and volunteers. We offered the facility and connection to the community, enabling their team to reach families in the neighborhood. For teens, we ran a separate program in collaboration with community partners, offering a safe environment for mentorship, enrichment activities, and relationship-building. For senior citizens, we operated the dream kings and queens program, which met weekly for fellowship, a shared meal, and engaging activities. Recognizing that many of our seniors live alone and face challenges related to food insecurity and social isolation, we combined community-building efforts with practical support-often supplementing their needs through our supply pantry. Throughout the year, we collaborated with other organizations to host a stem fair, summer camps, and weekend community activities that brought joy and enrichment to local families. One of our key initiatives supports children with incarcerated parents, providing wraparound mentorship and care for both the children and their families-including celebrations such as birthdays and holiday gifts they might not otherwise receive. Many of the programs offered at our facility are made possible through partnerships with other nonprofits, who rely on our space and community connections to reach residents. In addition to these partnerships, we also operate our own programs that respond directly to the needs of our neighborhood. We are proud to serve as a hub for meaningful relationships, education, and emotional support for all ages.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 67.9%; rating input score 68
• Program expense ratio: 81%; rating input score 81
• Fundraising efficiency: Limited

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 64th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: Limited
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• 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: 6 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 75
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Missing
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Fail

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 17.3%; rating input score 70; 70th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.22; rating input score 46; 46th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0; rating input score 54; 54th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 17.5%; rating input score 22; 22nd percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 3.6% per year; rating input score 100; 47th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 11.8% per year; rating input score 100; 77th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 49.8% per year; rating input score 100; 96th percentile among comparable filings