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GARDEN OF DREAMS FOUNDATION
NEW YORK, NY · EIN 133979726 · Form 990 · FY2023 · NTEE T30 · Philanthropy & Grantmaking · Large ($10M-$50M) · gardenofdreamsfoundation.org
revenue
$10.4M
expenses
$8.6M
net assets
$5.3M
employees
0
volunteers
35
program ratio
95%
mission · from form 990

The Garden of Dreams Foundation helps young people facing illness, financial challenges, or the death of a family member in uniform experience (continued on schedule o)

profile · synthesized from sources

The Garden of Dreams Foundation supports young people facing serious illness, financial hardship, or the loss of a family member in uniform by providing transformative experiences and educational support. The foundation partners with nonprofit organizations to deliver scholarships, capital improvement grants, and access to events at major venues like Madison Square Garden and Radio City Music Hall. It operates primarily in the New York area.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2023

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $2.37M
    THE GARDEN OF DREAMS GIVING PROGRAM: THE PROGRAM HELPS ITS PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS MEET THE CRITICAL NEEDS OF THE CHILDREN THEY SERVE, INCLUDING THROUGH DIRECT SUPPORT OF COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. EXAMPLES OF THESE GRANTS ARE REFURBISHMENTS OF GYMNASIUMS, DANCE STUDIOS, RECORDING STUDIOS AND CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL WINGS.
  2. #2 $334K
    COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS SUPPORT: IN RESPONSE TO THE PANDEMIC AND THROUGH ITS COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THE FOUNDATION PROVIDED ASSISTANCE TO FAMILIES SUFFERING FROM FOOD SCARCITY THROUGH THE PROVISION OF MEALS AND OTHER SUPPLIES.
named programs · 5 · from sources

What they call their work

Community Based Organizations Support
Provides emergency assistance during crises such as the pandemic, including meals and essential supplies to families experiencing food insecurity.
Events at Madison Square Garden and Partner Venues
Offers children and families access to concerts, sporting events, behind-the-scenes tours, and "Dream Nights" at major venues including Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall, and team training centers.
Garden of Dreams Giving Program
Provides grants to partner organizations for capital improvements such as gymnasiums, dance studios, recording studios, and children's hospital wings, as well as college scholarships for students in need.
Garden of Dreams Inspire Scholarship
Annual scholarship program awarding 20 high school seniors $15,000 per year, renewable for up to four years, totaling $60,000 per recipient for college education.
Hospital Support Program
Delivers joy and support to children with serious and life-threatening illnesses through visits, toy donations, catered suites, and event tickets at MSG venues.
activities · 4 groups

What they do

  • Local High School Scholarship Programs 1 activity
    • Award multi-year college scholarships to high school seniors
      Awards 20 high school seniors annually with a $15,000 per year scholarship, renewable for up to four years, totaling $60,000 per recipient.
  • Granting Wishes to Seriously Ill Children 1 activity
    • Deliver special experiences and emotional support to children facing serious challenges
      Provides non-cash grants and direct support including special experiences, behind-the-scenes tours, Dream Nights, event tickets, catered suites, toy chest donations, and hospital visits to children facing serious challenges such as illness, abuse, homelessness, and extreme poverty.
  • Community Foundation & United Way Support 1 activity
    • Fund partner organizations for college scholarships and capital improvement projects
      Funds partner organizations to provide college scholarships and support capital improvement projects such as gymnasiums, dance studios, recording studios, and children's hospital wings.
  • Holiday and Seasonal Essentials Distribution 1 activity
    • Provide direct donations of food, clothing, and essential items to families in need
      Provides direct donations including food, clothing, and essential items to families in need through an Adopt-a-Family drive during the holiday season, particularly during fiscal year 2021 when in-person events were restricted.
financials · form 990 · fy2023
revenue
Total revenue$10.37M
Contributions & grants$10.19M98%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$187K2%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$8.57M
Program expenses95%
Admin / overhead1%
Fundraising4%
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$6.88M
Largest expense lineFacilities
balance sheet
Total assets$6.30M
Cash$1.29M
Investments$3.23M
Liabilities$1.01M
Net assets$5.29M
Liquid reserves6.3 mo
5 years on record · 2019–2023 · YoY revenue +73.7%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2023

Who runs it

board members · 24
  • ADAM GRAVES — DIRECTOR
  • ANDREA GREENBERG — DIRECTOR
  • BARRY WATKINS — CHAIRMAN
  • BRAD KARP — DIRECTOR
  • CRISTINA DOLAN — DIRECTOR (AS OF 11/2023)
  • DARRYL MCDANIELS — DIRECTOR
  • DAVID HOPKINSON — DIRECTOR (THRU 4/2024)
  • DAVID VINIAR — CO-VICE CHAIRPERSON
  • DREW NIEPORENT — DIRECTOR
  • ERIC LANE — Director (thru 4/2024)
  • GARY FUHRMAN — CO-VICE CHAIRPERSON
  • HOWARD LORBER — Director (thru 4/2024)
  • JACK IRULSHAMI — Director (thru 4/2024)
  • JAMAAL LESANE — DIRECTOR
  • JILL MARTIN — DIRECTOR
  • JOEL FISHER — CO-VICE CHAIRPERSON
  • JOHN STARKS — DIRECTOR
  • JUSTIN TUCK — DIRECTOR
  • MARY PAT CLARKE — DIRECTOR
  • MATTHEW MODINE — DIRECTOR
  • NEIL GOLDMACHER — DIRECTOR
  • RANDY MASTRO — DIRECTOR
  • RICH CLAFFEY — DIRECTOR (thru 3/2024)
  • RICH CONSTABLE — CO-VICE CHAIRPERSON
relationships · 4

Who they work with

  • MSG Training Center Partner — Provides venue access for special events with MSG sports teams and educational/mentoring opportunities for children.
  • Madison Square Garden Partner — Provides access to events, venues, and programming including concerts, sporting events, and behind-the-scenes experiences for children served by the foundation.
  • Make-A-Wish Hudson Valley Partner — Collaborates with Make-A-Wish Hudson Valley to deliver Moments of Joy to children in need.
  • Radio City Music Hall Partner — Hosts events and provides venue access for foundation programming including special experiences and Dream Nights for children.
strategies · 2

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Positive Experience Therapy
    methodology: positive-experience-therapy
    By providing positive, transformative experiences to youth facing adversity, the foundation aims to counteract adverse childhood experiences and reshape their long-term emotional and psychological development, because positive memories can reframe a child’s perception of their past and build resilience.
  • Venue-Based Experiential Engagement
    methodology: venue-based experiential engagement
    By leveraging access to high-profile entertainment and sports venues, the foundation creates mentoring and educational opportunities that produce transformative experiences for children facing significant challenges, because unique, emotionally resonant environments increase engagement and foster lasting personal growth.