Urban Dreams

What Urban Dreams does

Urban Dreams is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1985 and headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa, that delivers social services to underserved inner-city populations, with core offerings in outpatient substance abuse treatment, OWI (Operating While Intoxicated) diversion programming, workforce development, youth employment, mental health access, food security, and community-police engagement. The organization operates the Wellmark Urban Dreams Community Center at 1615 2nd Avenue, a secondary community center at 601 Forest Avenue (containing the Prairie Meadows E-Sports Learning Lab and the public golf simulator), and a satellite office in Cedar Rapids opened in August 2020; it has run the Iowa Brown & Black Presidential Forum (part of Project V.O.T.E.) since 1984.

The core technology stack is modest and operationally oriented: telehealth delivery for OWI and chemical-dependency counseling statewide, the Toucan video-conferencing system for remote collaboration, public computer workstations and laptops in the E-Sports Learning Lab, and a state-of-the-art golf simulator used for lessons ($50/hour) and free K-12 training. OWI diversion classes are offered in 12-hour and 48-hour formats across nine Iowa cities. Service delivery is partner-integrated through Des Moines Public Schools (Deferred Expulsion case management, youth employment referrals), Broadlawns Medical Center (embedded therapist and CNA Registered Apprenticeship Program), UnityPoint Health (mobile crisis counseling), Polk County Housing Trust Fund, and the Des Moines Police Department (community-trust programming). Annual reach is documented at 1,750+ chemical-dependency clients, 15,000+ families engaged via events, and 100,000+ individuals reached through service awareness.

Revenue is generated through a hybrid nonprofit model: tax-deductible individual, corporate, and foundation donations; OWI class fees; community-center rental (minimum $35/hour); golf lessons; and corporate event sponsorships. Go-to-market is community-led, with intake via court referrals (OWI), school district partnerships, healthcare partner referrals, direct community outreach, and recurring signature events (Summer on Sixth, Summer City Hoops, Rendezvous on Riverview, MLK Day of Service, Community Car Checkup). Leadership comprises a 22-member Board of Directors chaired by Rona Berinobis (Athene) and includes executives from Athene, MercyOne, UnityPoint Health, DMACC, and DMPS, with Executive Director Izaah Knox, a 2019 Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses alumnus.

Name

Urban Dreams

Legal name

Urban Dreams

Website

https://urbandreams.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Urban Dreams is a Des Moines-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit, founded in 1985, that delivers outpatient substance abuse treatment and OWI diversion classes at nine Iowa locations, youth workforce development, mental health services, food pantry access, and community engagement events for underserved populations in Des Moines and Cedar Rapids.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Social Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Community Food Services (624210), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAAAOAD

Youth & Young Adult Workforce Programs (Out-of-School Youth)

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Workforce Development Initiatives

SECONDARYBPAGADAL

Dropout Prevention, Alternative Education & Re-Engagement Nonprofits

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Education & Youth Development Nonprofits

SECONDARYBPAGADAK

Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Education & Youth Development Nonprofits

SECONDARYBPAIAJAK

Behavioral Health & Substance Use Public Health Programs

Business & Public Services/Public Sector & Government Administration/Public Health Administration & Regulation

Keywords

• Substance abuse treatment
• OWI diversion classes
• Youth workforce development
• Community outreach programs
• Nonprofit social services

Headquarters

HQ city

Des Moines

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Tax-deductible donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations. Urban Dreams is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization classified under Sections 509(a)(1) and 170(b)(1)(A)(vi) of the Internal Revenue Code.
2. Program Fees - OWI School: Fees collected for OWI weekend diversion classes (12-hour and 48-hour formats) offered at nine locations statewide. Classes serve individuals with alcohol/drug-related offenses as an alternative to jail time.
3. Community Center Rental: Revenue from renting the community center facility for events including baby showers, holiday parties, and corporate events. Minimum donation of $35/hour required.
4. Golf Simulator and Lessons: Golf simulator open to public for reservations, and golf lessons offered by board member Jon Augspurger at $50/hour per person. K-12 students train for free.
5. Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorships for summer youth employment events including Summer on Sixth, Summer City Hoops, and Rendezvous on Riverview. Sponsors receive logo placement and social media visibility.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Urban Dreams is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers outpatient substance abuse treatment and OWI diversion classes across nine Iowa locations, youth employment and workforce development programs, case management for at-risk and expelled students, community food assistance, voter education via the Iowa Brown & Black Presidential Forum, and recurring community engagement events. Services are funded through donations, sponsorships, program fees, and grants, and reach approximately 1,750 individuals with chemical dependency services, 25 youth per summer, and 15,000+ community members annually.

Product overview

Urban Dreams is a non-profit social services organization offering a diverse portfolio of community programs and services, not a unified technology product. The organization provides substance abuse treatment, workforce development, youth employment, food assistance, recreational facilities (e-sports lab, golf simulator), community event programming, voter education, and social mediation services. Programs operate from their Des Moines community center and serve the broader Iowa community through statewide OWI services and partnerships.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Outpatient Substance Abuse Treatment & OWI Services Outpatient substance abuse treatment and OWI (Operating While Intoxicated) weekend diversion classes offered statewide across nine Iowa locations, serving over 1,750 individuals with chemical dependency-related issues via in-office services and telehealth. Both 12-hour and 48-hour class formats available.
• Youth Employment Program Employment program serving 25 youth ages 14-19 from Des Moines Public Schools each summer, providing work experience, community engagement projects, and soft skills development through the Skills to Pay the Bills curriculum. Participants earn $12/hour.
• Community Food Pantry Daily community food pantry offering rotating selections of fresh and non-perishable items, supported by partnerships with local businesses and restaurants including the Food Bank of Iowa and Atlantic Bottling Co., Casey's, Costco, Dollar General, Whole Foods, and others.
• E-Sports Learning Lab Public computer lab with workstations, laptops, and monitors utilized by after-school clubs and community members needing computer access; available by reservation at the community center.
• Community Center Rental Event venue rental space with capacity for 275 people standing, up to 15 round tables seating 8 each, three mounted TVs, one mobile TV, high-speed WiFi, kitchenette, and Toucan video conference system; minimum donation of $35/hour required.
• Golf Simulator State-of-the-art golf simulator open to the public for reservations, offering immersive real-world course simulation for practice and play. Golf lessons are provided by board member Jon Augspurger at $50/hour per person; K-12 students train for free.
• ISU Extension Outreach Nutrition Program Free 8-week nutrition class hosted by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, teaching money-saving strategies, cooking skills, and new recipes to community members.
• DMPS Deferred Expulsion Program Case management services for at-risk or expelled Des Moines Public School students (typically for drugs and guns), aimed at re-enrollment and diploma graduation. Students are referred through DMPS/Urban Dreams Restorative Facilitators.
• Iowa Brown & Black Presidential Forum Non-partisan voter education initiative and presidential forum focused on issues of African Americans and Latinos, conducted since 1984 as part of Project V.O.T.E. (Voting Opportunities Through Education); recognized as the oldest continuous minority presidential forum in America and the nation's only such forum.
• Community Connectivity Events Community engagement events and community-police relations initiatives bringing together over 15,000 families annually, including Summer on Sixth (weekly block party), Summer City Hoops (basketball tournament), Rendezvous on Riverview (weekly Friday event), MLK Day of Service, and the Community Car Checkup.
• Information & Referral Services Referral services connecting community members to needed resources, with facilities for free local phone calls, internet access, and shelter from weather at the community center.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,750+ individuals helped with chemical dependency-related issues annually
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Broadlawns Medical CentercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 July 2023CNA Registered Apprenticeship Program partnership where Broadlawns collaborates with Urban Dreams to provide healthcare career pathways. Additionally, Broadlawns provides embedded therapist Will Thomas (tLMHC) who works on-site at Urban Dreams, and staff member Will Thomas serves as Board of Directors member representing Broadlawns.
• Des Moines Public SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultiple partnership layers: Deferred Expulsion Program for at-risk students, youth employment referrals, OWI/telehealth services for students, and general workforce development collaboration.
• Iowa State University Extension and OutreachcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFree 8-week nutrition class program taught by ISU Extension, helping community members save money, build cooking skills, and try new recipes.
• Des Moines Police DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity-police relations initiatives and collaborative public safety work. Urban Dreams hosts events that create positive out-of-car experiences for law enforcement and build community trust.
• Central Iowa Shelter & ServicesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership during COVID-19 response for meal distribution to community members affected by power outages following the August 2020 derecho storm.
• Food Bank of IowacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFood pantry partnership providing food access to neighborhood members. Food Bank of Iowa supplies food items distributed through Urban Dreams' community food pantry.
• AE DairyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in 5th Annual Community Car Checkup event, providing support for free pre-winter vehicle inspections.
• Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity event partnership for programs and career development opportunities. Board member Mary Chapman is retired DMACC Provost.
• Orchestrate HospitalityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMeal program partnership during COVID-19 response alongside Central Iowa Shelter & Services and Food Bank of Iowa.
• Polk County Housing Trust FundminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoard member Julian Neely serves as Director of Advancement & Community Investment. Partnership for housing support and community investment initiatives.
• UnityPoint HealthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoard member Elizabeth Huebsch serves as Mobile Crisis Counselor. Mental health and crisis intervention partnership.
• MercyOneminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoard member Dennis Zachary, M.D. serves as Vice Chair and Physician at MercyOne South Des Moines Family Medicine Clinic.
• Food Pantry PartnerscoreOthersFood pantry operations supported by: Atlantic Bottling Co., Casey's, Centro, Costco, Dollar General, Food Bank of Iowa, Garbazno, Gilroy's, Hiland Bakery, Kum & Go, Kwik Star, Malo, Pizza Hut, Price Chopper, Sam's Club, Whole Foods, World Market. These businesses and restaurants donate food items for community pantry.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Orchard Place: Iowa-based nonprofit specializing in children's behavioral health and family counseling. Comparable to Urban Dreams in delivering embedded youth mental health and case management, though with a deeper clinical/therapeutic specialization.
• Primary Health Care (Des Moines): Des Moines community health center offering outpatient substance abuse treatment, mental health, and patient navigation. Comparable to Urban Dreams in providing outpatient OWI/substance use services and embedded mental health counseling.
• Children & Families Urban Ministries: Des Moines inner-city nonprofit serving at-risk youth and families with youth programs, case management, and food assistance — closely paralleling Urban Dreams' deferred-expulsion case management, youth employment, and food pantry work.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Iowa: Central Iowa youth development nonprofit offering after-school programming, teen employment, and civic engagement — directly comparable to Urban Dreams' e-sports learning lab, summer youth employment, and community events serving Des Moines youth.
• House of Mercy: Des Moines-based nonprofit providing emergency shelter and social services to inner-city populations. Directly comparable to Urban Dreams as a fellow community-based provider offering case management, food assistance, and referral services in overlapping Des Moines neighborhoods.
• Goodwill of Central Iowa: Iowa nonprofit offering workforce development, job training, and youth employment programs. Direct peer to Urban Dreams' Youth Employment Program and Skills to Pay the Bills curriculum, with more scale and broader employer network in the same Iowa market.
• EveryStep: Iowa-wide nonprofit providing family support, counseling, and case management. Comparable in offering community-based mental health and family services across Iowa, overlapping Urban Dreams' embedded therapist and OWI behavioral-health offerings.
• YWCA of Central Iowa: Iowa nonprofit focused on racial justice, women's empowerment, and youth programs — comparable to Urban Dreams' voter/civic engagement, at-risk youth case management, and community-police relations work in the same Des Moines footprint.

Broad incumbents

• Iowa Workforce Development: State agency administering workforce programs, including youth and young adult workforce initiatives. Government-sector peer to Urban Dreams' Youth Employment Program and Skills to Pay the Bills soft-skills curriculum.
• United Way of Central Iowa: Regional umbrella funder and convener across Des Moines health and human services. Indirect peer and partner/funders of many Urban Dreams' programs; competitor for corporate workplace giving dollars.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/UrbanDreams
• Facebookfacebook.com/urbandreamsorg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/urban-dreams

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Urban Dreams