named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
Advanced Placement Research Course
Year-long high school course where students develop and conduct original research on contemporary issues, culminating in a formal presentation; topics have included minority representation in media and social media’s emotional impact.
Free Afterschool and Summer Programming
Guaranteed free afterschool programming for all students, extending the school day until 5:45 pm and offering enrichment activities.
Grow the Whole Child Model
Comprehensive education framework integrating rigorous academics, social-emotional learning, athletics, health and wellness, and family and community engagement across all DREAM schools.
Legends Program
Provides up to six years of postsecondary support to alumni, including college success counseling and career launch assistance.
REAL Kids
Summer learning program tied to sports-based activities, launched in 1998 as a successor to Project Grand Slam.
activities · 7 groups
What they do
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College Preparatory Secondary Education 1 activity
- Deliver comprehensive academic instruction with college and career preparationProvides rigorous academic programming from pre-kindergarten through high school, including Advanced Placement courses and college counseling, resulting in 100% high school graduation and college acceptance rates among applying students, with strong performance on English Language Arts and Math assessments compared to city and state averages.
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Student Career Readiness and Internship Placement 1 activity
- Engage students in leadership and internship opportunitiesEngages over 100 high school students annually as interns in coaching, team leadership, and tutoring roles at DREAM summer camps, fostering leadership and workforce development.
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Individualized Academic Support 1 activity
- Implement co-teaching and wellness monitoring modelsUses an integrated co-teaching model with two teachers in every elementary classroom and employs technology-based wellness monitoring, such as heart rate trackers during recess, to assess physical activity and optimize student well-being.
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Charter School Operations 1 activity
- Operate extended-day, extended-year charter schools and youth programsOperates a network of free, extended-day, extended-year charter schools and community-based youth programs serving over 3,000 students and families in East Harlem and the South Bronx, from preschool through high school and into postsecondary support.
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Food Distribution and Hunger Relief 1 activity
- Provide family and basic needs support servicesDelivers family support services including food distributions through an on-site program serving over 677,000 meals annually, food pantry access for over 1,200 families, clothing drives, direct financial assistance, and case management.
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After-School Academic and Enrichment Programs 1 activity
- Provide free afterschool, summer, and bridge programsOffers guaranteed free afterschool and summer programming for all enrolled students, including the REAL Kids (PreK–4) and DREAM University (Grades 5–7) programs, which combine academic support, social-emotional learning, sports, and field trips, preventing learning loss with demonstrated gains in reading and math proficiency.
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College Access and Success Support 1 activity
- Support alumni through postsecondary success programsProvides up to six years of intensive postsecondary support through the Legends program and Legends Fellows initiative, offering academic advising, career exposure, mentorship, leadership development, and support for alumni in college or career pathways, with plans to expand from 500 to nearly 1,000 participants by 2030.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$67.47M
Contributions & grants$18.45M27%
Program service revenue$48.40M72%
Investment income$499K1%
Other revenue$118K
expenses
Total expenses$75.10M
Program expenses80%
Admin / overhead18%
Fundraising2%
Salaries & benefits$34.19M
Grants paid out$14K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$319.18M
Cash$5.16M
Investments$7.74M
Liabilities$321.01M
Net assets$-1.83M
Liquid reserves2.1 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +27.0%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 5
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEXIS WHITE | EAST HARLEM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | 40 | $202K |
| CORA NEVILLE | HIGHBRIDGE MIDDLE SCHOOL | 40 | $186K |
| ALISON SCHLOSS | EAST HARLEM MIDDLE SCHOOL | 40 | $182K |
| JA'KEEL DANIELS | HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL | 40 | $170K |
| SHANNEL RICHARDSON | HIGHBRIDGE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | 40 | $169K |
board members · 10
- ADAM MILLER — TRUSTEE
- ASHISH DOSHI — CHAIRMAN
- CHARLIE HOWE — TREASURER
- DON SAWYER III — TRUSTEE
- EMILY STECHER — TRUSTEE
- LIZ RICH — TRUSTEE
- MICHELE JOERG — VICE CHAIR & SECRETARY
- VICKI ZUBOVIC — TRUSTEE
- VILAS KUCHINAD — TRUSTEE
- ZAINAB ALI — TRUSTEE
relationships · 8
Who they work with
- Columbia University Partner — Two students from DREAM's Class of 2024 committed to Columbia University, one via the QuestBridge Match Scholarship.
- East Harlem Healthy Neighborhoods Initiative Funder — Provided grant funding for a pilot project using heart rate monitors to assess student physical activity during recess.
- Fast Company Partner — Covered DREAM Charter School's facility transformation in a feature article.
- Manhattan Center for Science and Mathematics Partner — Feeder public high school for DREAM Charter High School alumni
- Promise54 Network — Participated in Promise54's DEI survey and received an Advanced rating.
- Rob Saltares Partner — Youth development professional and former participant who now supports local youth, exemplifying long-term engagement with DREAM's programming.
- University of Pennsylvania Partner — One student from DREAM's Class of 2024 committed to the University of Pennsylvania.
- advancement@wearedream.org Government — Point of contact for offline donations, cryptocurrency, stock, wire, and planned giving.
strategies · 5
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.
- Equity-Centered Organizational Practicemethodology: equity_centered_systemsBy centering equity in hiring, programming, and family engagement, we produce more inclusive and effective outcomes, because diverse representation and fair systems strengthen trust, cultural responsiveness, and access for students and staff.
- Extended-Time Learning Modelmethodology: extended_year_learningBy extending the school day and year, we produce greater academic achievement and developmental continuity, because increased learning time allows for deeper instruction, relationship-building, and holistic support that traditional schedules cannot provide.
- Social-Emotional Learning as Foundational Practicemethodology: social_emotional_learningBy embedding social-emotional learning across the school experience, we produce students with stronger self-awareness, healthy relationships, and resilience, because emotional development is a prerequisite for academic engagement and lifelong success.
- Student Agency and Lifelong Support Pathwaymethodology: lifelong_support_with_agencyBy supporting student choice and maintaining postsecondary support through college and career, we produce higher postsecondary persistence and success, because sustained guidance and autonomy together empower students to navigate complex transitions.
- Whole Child Development Modelmethodology: whole_child_modelBy integrating academic, social-emotional, physical, and postsecondary supports within an extended-day, extended-year structure, we produce well-rounded, resilient students prepared for long-term success, because holistic development addresses the interconnected needs of children beyond academics alone.