Dream Charter School
Dream Charter School reported $67.5 million in revenue and $75.1 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $79.97 went to program services, $18.28 to management and general costs and $1.75 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 71.7% of the total. Government grants made up 21.2%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $201,923 (EAST HARLEM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL). 30 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 228% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $75MFor context, the median across 5,499 covered education charities: $85.56 programs, $13.59 management, $0.85 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $67MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 80.0% | 84.4% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 18.3% | 13.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 1.7% | 0.8% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.07 | $0.04 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 27.3% | 19.1% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 21.2% | 1.1% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 71.7% | 69.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $201,923 | $331,578 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.27% | 1.28% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 30 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | -0.3 | 13.3 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 10 of 10 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
FY2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseProgram a: elementary school: founded in 2008, dream's unique grow the whole child education model is powered by four distinct, yet interconnected, elements that drive transformative change for youth. Rigorous academics; social-emotional learning; athletics, health, and wellness; and family and community engagement are all equal, crucial parts of the everyday at dream. Elementary scholars in grades k-5 receive extensive support with two teachers in the classroom so that scholars at all levels are able to learn and thrive in a positive environment. Our elementary school curriculum ranges from…
Highest reported compensation
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EAST HARLEM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $184,685 | $0 | $17,238 | $201,923 |
| HIGHBRIDGE MIDDLE SCHOOL Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $166,588 | $0 | $19,853 | $186,441 |
| EAST HARLEM MIDDLE SCHOOL Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $141,040 | $0 | $40,663 | $181,703 |
| HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $155,877 | $0 | $14,162 | $170,039 |
| HIGHBRIDGE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $147,160 | $0 | $22,207 | $169,367 |
30 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Dream Charter School (Part VII, line 2).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
FY2025 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b10 · 10 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aNo
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4No
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 5541
- Volunteers Part I, line 6290
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| RED RABBIT LLC School food service | $462,122 |
| EVENSONBEST LLC Contract furniture and distributor | $319,183 |
| BRIGAID LLC Culinary management services | $192,500 |
| DBI PROJECTS LLC Project management services | $180,158 |
| 5 K CONSTRUCTION RESOURCES LLC Repair & maintenance services | $117,300 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 5 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
8 private foundations reported grants to Dream Charter School totaling $1.4M on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from Dream Charter School's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Dream Charter School, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Dream Charter School spent in FY2025, $79.97 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Charlotte Country Day SchoolCharlotte, NC · revenue $67M · programs 83.9% · FY2025
- University of JamestownJamestown, ND · revenue $68M · programs 92.9% · FY2025
- McPherson CollegeMcPherson, KS · revenue $67M · programs 85.5% · FY2025
- The McCallie SchoolChattanooga, TN · revenue $68M · programs 87.2% · FY2025
- Doane UniversityCrete, NE · revenue $67M · programs 90.6% · FY2025
Questions people ask
How much of Dream Charter School's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, Dream Charter School reported that 80.0% of its $75.1 million in expenses went to program services, 18.3% to management and general and 1.7% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Dream Charter School pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Dream Charter School reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $201,923, for the role of EAST HARLEM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Dream Charter School get its money?
Of $67.5 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 27.3% came from contributions and grants (including 21.2% from government grants) and 71.7% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Dream Charter School a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 26-1841386 as a 501(c)(3) organization (school), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- FY2025: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, object 202611189349302036 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202510809349300301 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202441019349300914 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202341299349304134 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202220629349300522 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202141209349300809 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 26-1841386: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.