Dreams for Change
Dreams for Change is a San Diego-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating Safe Parking, Safe Sleeping, free tax preparation, workforce training, and food distribution programs for individuals and families experiencing homelessness and financial insecurity across San Diego County and Imperial Valley.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2009
- HeadquartersSan Diego, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Dreams for Change does
Dreams for Change is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in May 2009 by Teresa Smith, Ph.D., headquartered in San Diego, California. The organization delivers social services through a "3 Paths to Stability" framework comprising Support (Safe Parking, Safe Sleeping, Case Management), Employment (Workforce Training, Dreams' Cuisine food-truck social enterprise), and Assets (Free Tax Preparation, Financial Literacy). Core programs include Safe Parking at government-owned sites across San Diego County (Oceanside, El Cajon, Spring Valley, and the City of San Diego), a Safe Sleeping Program operating 750 tents at two city-owned campsites, free VITA/CalEITC tax preparation for households earning under approximately $70,000-$79,000, weekly food distribution in partnership with Jacob & Cushman San Diego Food Bank, and a 12-week paid workforce training program. Dreams for Change employs 130+ team members and is led by an experienced management team under CEO Teresa Smith.
The business model is a hybrid of government contracting, philanthropic fundraising, and a small social enterprise revenue stream. Primary revenue comes from contracts with the City of San Diego, County of San Diego, and City of Oceanside (the latter at $229,400/year) to operate Safe Parking and Safe Sleeping programs on government-owned land. A secondary revenue stream comprises individual and corporate donations (one-time, recurring, stock, crypto, corporate matching, donor-advised funds). Dreams' Cuisine food-truck operations generate modest revenue through catering and food sales, reinvested into workforce training. The go-to-market relies on government referrals through 211 San Diego and municipal outreach teams, earned media coverage in outlets including the LA Times, Politico, and NBC San Diego, and a volunteer pipeline (126 IRS-certified VITA volunteers for the 2025-2026 tax season). Operationally, the organization uses Clarity (Bitfocus) HMIS for client-level outcomes tracking and measures impact against program metrics such as tax refunds returned ($11.3M in the 2025 season) and exits to housing or shelter (212+ individuals in mid-2025).
Dreams for Change firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Dreams for Change
- Legal name
- Dreams for Change
- Website
- https://dreamsforchange.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2009
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Dreams for Change is a San Diego-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating Safe Parking, Safe Sleeping, free tax preparation, workforce training, and food distribution programs for individuals and families experiencing homelessness and financial insecurity across San Diego County and Imperial Valley.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Dreams for Change industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Homeless Services and Social Support
- NAICS
- Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243), Community Housing Services (62422), Community Food Services (62421), Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Rare Disease & Special Needs Support Organizations (BPAGACAM)
Keywords
Where Dreams for Change is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Diego
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices6 records
Markets served
Dreams for Change business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Government Grants and Contracts: Primary revenue source from contracts with local governments including City of San Diego, County of San Diego, City of Oceanside, and other municipal entities to operate Safe Parking, Safe Sleeping, and other social service programs.
- Individual and Corporate Donations: Charitable contributions from individuals, corporations, and foundations. Multiple giving options including one-time gifts, monthly commitments, stock donations, cryptocurrency, corporate matching, and donor-advised funds.
- Social Enterprise Revenue: Dreams' Cuisine food truck operations generate revenue through catering and food sales, which is reinvested into workforce training programs.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free tax preparation services for households earning under $70,000-$79,000 annually |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
Dreams for Change product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Dreams for Change is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates a portfolio of direct human services for individuals and families experiencing homelessness and financial insecurity, including managed Safe Parking lots, Safe Sleeping tent campsites, a free IRS VITA tax preparation program, weekly food distribution, a 12-week paid Workforce Training program, and an employee-run food-truck social enterprise (Dreams' Cuisine). All services are delivered free of charge to participants and funded through government contracts, grants, donations, and social enterprise revenue.
Product overview
Dreams for Change operates as a nonprofit social services organization offering six integrated programs under a '3 Paths to Stability' approach: Support (Safe Parking, Safe Sleeping, Case Management), Employment (Workforce Training, Dreams' Cuisine food trucks), and Assets (Free Tax Preparation, Financial Literacy). The organization serves individuals experiencing homelessness and financial insecurity in San Diego County and Imperial Valley, providing pathways from emergency shelter to housing stability and employment.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Safe Parking Safe overnight parking program for individuals and families experiencing homelessness while living in their vehicles, offering case management, restrooms, charging stations, meals, security, and housing navigation to support a path out of vehicle homelessness.
- Safe Sleeping Low-barrier safe sleeping program providing legal tent camping spaces with amenities, meals, case management, healthcare, transportation, and veterinary care as an alternative to traditional congregate shelters for chronically unsheltered individuals.
- CalEITC Free Tax Preparation Free federal and state tax preparation for households earning under $70,000-$79,000, including EITC, CalEITC, Child Tax Credit, ITIN assistance, and direct deposit setup delivered by IRS-certified VITA volunteers at mall and community locations.
- Food Distribution Weekly free food distribution in partnership with the San Diego Food Bank, providing fresh produce, shelf-stable items, and referrals to additional programs for food-insecure families, seniors, and individuals.
- Workforce Training 12-week paid workforce training program for individuals facing significant employment barriers, offering on-the-job training, personal development, job readiness, financial literacy, clothing/supplies, and job placement services.
- Dreams' Cuisine Social enterprise operating a small fleet of food trucks that provides freshly cooked affordable meals to the community and unsheltered individuals while serving as the on-the-job training platform for the Workforce Training program.
Quantifiable outcome
- 16,011 tax returns filed in 2025 season, $11.3 million in refunds returned to community
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Dreams for Change
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Dreams for Change technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Dreams for Change partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and key.
- County of San DiegocoreGovernment partner operating Safe Parking lots on county land near Spring Valley and El Cajon. Dreams for Change provides case management, housing navigation, and workforce services to county program participants.
- North County LGBTQ Resource CenterkeyOceanside-based resource center provides parking spaces and services at their Apple Street mall property for the Oceanside Safe Parking program. Contract with city for approximately $59,000 to provide site and services to Dreams for Change clients.
- City of OceansidekeyContracted Dreams for Change for $229,400 annually to operate Oceanside's first Safe Parking program. Site opened April 2025.
- Jacob & Cushman San Diego Food BankcorePartnership to address food insecurity by providing fresh produce and shelf-stable food to individuals and families in need. Dreams for Change hosts weekly food distribution in partnership with the food bank.
- United Way of San DiegocoreEITC Coalition partner since 2011. United Way provides coalition coordination, outreach support, scheduling infrastructure, and funding for VITA/tax preparation programs. Dreams for Change has completed over 20,000 tax returns through this partnership.
- United Way of CaliforniacorePartnership through MyFreeTaxes.org platform - a free, IRS-approved online tax filing platform offered to community members who cannot access in-person services.
- 2-1-1 San DiegocorePartnership for scheduling tax appointments and benefit screening for San Diego and Imperial Counties. 2-1-1 serves as primary referral pathway and appointment scheduling system for tax services.
- PATH (People Assisting The Homeless)keyHousing partner that helped connect program participants to Permanent Supportive Housing. Collaboration on housing placement for individuals transitioning from Safe Sleeping program.
- City of San DiegocoreCity partners with Dreams for Change to operate the Safe Sleeping Program at city properties. Mayor Todd Gloria expanded the program to 750 tents across two campsites.
Scale indicators12 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Dreams for Change competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- PATH (People Assisting The Homeless): San Diego-based nonprofit operating housing, shelter, and supportive services for people experiencing homelessness. Dreams for Change explicitly partners with PATH for Permanent Supportive Housing placement, making it a closely aligned operator in the same regional continuum of care.
- Father Joe's Villages: Large San Diego nonprofit providing shelter, housing, and supportive services for people experiencing homelessness. Operates similar emergency-shelter-to-housing pathways and competes for the same county/city homeless-services contracts.
- Alpha Project for the Homeless: San Diego nonprofit providing shelter, transitional housing, and services across the same homeless-services continuum as Dreams for Change, including outreach, case management, and workforce programming.
- Interfaith Community Services: San Diego County-based nonprofit providing housing, homeless services, food assistance, and workforce programs. Comparable scale and a similar mix of emergency assistance and stabilization programming.
Emerging players
- DignityMoves: California nonprofit building interim safe sleeping/sheltering villages for people experiencing homelessness. Directly comparable to Dreams for Change's Safe Sleeping program and operates in adjacent California markets.
- Pallet Shelter: Provider of prefabricated transitional shelter villages for homeless individuals, operating Safe Sleeping-style sites across multiple U.S. cities. Comparable low-barrier emergency-sheltering model to Dreams for Change.
- Lava Mae / Project Restore: California nonprofit delivering mobile hygiene, showers, and reentry services to people experiencing homelessness. Adjacent in providing non-congregate, dignity-first services to the unsheltered.
Broad incumbents
- San Diego Housing Commission: Public agency administering federal, state, and local housing subsidies and homelessness programs in San Diego. A primary funder/contractor for homeless-services operators including Dreams for Change.
- United Way of San Diego County: Coalition partner of Dreams for Change since 2011 (EITC/VITA coalition), and a broader regional funder/convener for nonprofits serving low-income and homeless populations.
Others
- Jacob & Cushman San Diego Food Bank: Partner organization supplying food for Dreams for Change's weekly food distribution program. Closely aligned mission around food insecurity and serves overlapping client populations in San Diego County.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Dreams for Change social profiles
Digital presenceDreams for Change financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Dreams for Change leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Dreams for Change funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Dreams for Change M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Dreams for Change
What does Dreams for Change do?
Dreams for Change is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates a portfolio of direct human services for individuals and families experiencing homelessness and financial insecurity, including managed Safe Parking lots, Safe Sleeping tent campsites, a free IRS VITA tax preparation program, weekly food distribution, a 12-week paid Workforce Training program, and an employee-run food-truck social enterprise (Dreams' Cuisine). All services are delivered free of charge to participants and funded through government contracts, grants, donations, and social enterprise revenue.
Is Dreams for Change a public or private company?
Dreams for Change is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Dreams for Change founded?
Dreams for Change was founded in 2009. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Dreams for Change based?
Dreams for Change is headquartered in San Diego, United States, in the North America region.
How does Dreams for Change make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Government Grants and Contracts are the primary driver. The others are individual and Corporate Donations and social Enterprise Revenue.
Who are Dreams for Change's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are PATH (People Assisting The Homeless), Father Joe's Villages, Alpha Project for the Homeless and Interfaith Community Services. Emerging players are DignityMoves, Pallet Shelter and Lava Mae / Project Restore. Broad incumbents are San Diego Housing Commission and United Way of San Diego County. Jacob & Cushman San Diego Food Bank is listed as an others.
Does Dreams for Change have an API?
No public API is recorded for Dreams for Change.
What industry is Dreams for Change in?
Dreams for Change's product category is Homeless Services and Social Support. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGACAG, Disability Services & Independent Living Support, with a secondary code of BPAGACAM, Rare Disease & Special Needs Support Organizations. Its NAICS code is 6243 and its SIC code is 8300.