What Dreaming Out Loud does

Dreaming Out Loud is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit incorporated in Washington, D.C. (EIN 26-1286043) that has operated since 2008 as a vertically integrated food hub addressing food apartheid in the city's Wards 7 and 8. The organization runs two urban farms — Kelly Miller Farm in Ward 7 and Fort Stanton Farm in Ward 8 (opened May 11, 2024) — alongside weekly farmers' markets, a customizable Community Supported Agriculture subscription program (shop.dolgrocery.org) with weekly, bi-weekly and monthly delivery cadence, and a wholesale procurement portal (dolwholesale.localfoodmarketplace.com) that sources from farmers and producers within 500 miles of D.C. and sells to schools, food banks, churches and other institutions. Its customer base spans low-income residents east of the Anacostia River, WIC and SNAP participants (redeemed through the CSA platform), packaged food and beverage entrepreneurs served by the DREAM Program bootcamp, regional farmers receiving technical assistance through Farm Brigade, and healthcare partners in the Food Is Medicine program with Children's National Hospital (funded by Kaiser Permanente). The organization also operates catering services and is building out the Marion Barry Avenue Market & Cafe, a planned full-service grocery, cafe and demo kitchen in Ward 8 where only one major grocery store currently exists.

The technology stack supporting operations is functional rather than differentiated: a third-party CSA e-commerce storefront (Local Food Marketplace), a wholesale ordering portal, a VolunteerHub-based volunteer management system, and WordPress-based marketing and content sites (dreamingoutloud.org and the DREAM Program landing pages on HubSpot). No proprietary software, AI/ML systems, patents, or mobile applications are disclosed; the competitive moat is community-rooted rather than technology-rooted.

Dreaming Out Loud earns revenue through a diversified mix: CSA subscription fees (recurring), wholesale produce sales (transaction-based), catering and prepared foods, government benefit-program pass-through (WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program, SNAP, Produce Plus), and a substantial share of philanthropic and grant funding (Kresge Foundation 2020 and 2022, Sharing the Power Foundation 2024, Kaiser Permanente). Pricing for CSA box sizes and wholesale volumes is not publicly disclosed; the DREAM Program is free to participants. The organization accepts donations, stock gifts, planned gifts, and workplace giving (CFC/CHC), with gifts of $5,000+ qualifying donors for the Community Shapers Society.

Name

Dreaming Out Loud

Legal name

Dreaming Out Loud, Inc.

Website

https://dreamingoutloud.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Dreaming Out Loud is a Washington, D.C. 501(c)(3) nonprofit that since 2008 has operated a vertically integrated food hub — urban farms, CSA, farmers' markets, wholesale, and food-entrepreneurship programs — to address food apartheid in Wards 7 and 8.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. CSA Subscription Revenue: Community Supported Agriculture grocery subscription boxes sold directly to consumers. Customers choose from various box sizes with weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly delivery options. Supports SNAP, WIC, and Produce Plus benefit redemption, broadening the customer base to underserved populations. This is a recurring revenue stream from individual consumers and families.
2. Wholesale Produce Sales: Wholesale procurement from local farmers and food producers, redistributed to schools, food banks, churches, and other institutional buyers. The Food Hub facilitates bulk purchasing and distribution, creating a sustainable regional food ecosystem.
3. Catering and Prepared Foods: Culinary team prepares and sells food at farmers' markets, catered events, and the upcoming Marion Barry Avenue Market & Cafe. Uses ingredients sourced from the farms and network of local farmers and food producers.
4. Donations and Philanthropic Support: The organization relies heavily on donations from individuals, corporate sponsors, and grant support. EIN 26-1286043 is listed for charitable contributions. Major gift threshold for Community Shapers Society recognition is $5,000+. Accepts stock donations, planned gifts, and workplace giving through CHC/CFC.
5. WIC Home Delivery Program: Partnership with DC Health to provide fresh, locally sourced produce delivery to WIC participants in the DC metro area. WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program Benefits are redeemed through the CSA platform, creating a government-funded revenue stream.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Dreaming Out Loud operates an integrated urban food hub that combines urban farming on two sites, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) grocery subscriptions, seasonal farmers' markets, wholesale produce distribution to institutions, catering, and a community market/cafe in development. The organization also runs food-entrepreneurship programs (DREAM Program bootcamp and Farm Brigade technical assistance) and food-access programs (WIC Home Delivery, Medically Tailored Meals, Food Is Medicine) targeted at residents of Washington D.C.'s historically underserved Wards 7 and 8.

Product overview

Dreaming Out Loud operates as an integrated food hub combining urban farming, food distribution, and economic empowerment programs. The core offerings include Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Subscriptions for direct-to-consumer grocery delivery, Farmers' Markets at two locations, a Wholesale Program for institutional buyers, and the upcoming Marion Barry Avenue Market & Cafe in Ward 8. Supporting these are two urban farms (Kelly Miller Farm in Ward 7 and Fort Stanton Farm in Ward 8) that grow produce and host community events. Economic empowerment programs include the DREAM Program bootcamp for food entrepreneurs and Farm Brigade technical assistance. Food access is addressed through WIC Home Delivery, Medically Tailored Meals, and Food Is Medicine initiatives. The organization also provides catering services and conducts advocacy for food system policy changes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• DREAM Program: Dreaming Out Loud Resilient Enterprise Accelerated Module - a cohort-based program supporting packaged food and beverage entrepreneurs across the DMV area.
• Marion Barry Avenue Market

Products and services

• Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Subscriptions

Quantifiable outcome

• Distributed food to approximately 1,200 members across 20 community-based sites during Summer seasons of 2020 and 2021
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and supporting.

• City BlossomscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity Blossoms is a key operational partner that works with DOL to steward public land owned by the Department of Parks and Recreation for urban farming. City Blossoms joined DOL for the official ribbon cutting ceremony at Fort Stanton Farm on May 11, 2024. They co-manage the farm properties in Wards 7 and 8.
• USDA (United States Department of Agriculture)majorOthersUSDA is listed as a partner organization supporting Dreaming Out Loud's food access and agricultural programs. USDA programs include the WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program which DOL leverages for the WIC Home Delivery Program.
• DC Central KitchencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDC Central Kitchen is a key nonprofit food organization partner working on food access and distribution in the DC metro region. Listed as a partner supporting DOL's mission of creating a healthy, equitable food system.
• Martha's TablecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMartha's Table is a community partner supporting food access and economic opportunity programs in Washington D.C. Collaborates with DOL on community food initiatives east of the river.
• Bread for the CitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBread for the City is a nonprofit partner providing services to underserved communities in Washington D.C. Works with DOL on food access and community support programs.
• Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED)majorOthersDMPED is the DC government agency focused on economic development. Listed as a partner supporting DOL's economic empowerment and food system work in underserved communities.
• Nourish DCsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNourish DC is a collaborative focused on improving nutrition and food access across Washington D.C. Partnership involves awareness of funding opportunities and policy coordination for food access programs.
• FRESHFARMsupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFRESHFARM operates farmers' markets in the DC metro area. DOL participates in markets hosted by strategic partners including FRESHFARM, extending distribution reach beyond its own market locations.
• Spur LocalsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerSpur Local is listed as a partner organization supporting local food systems and community development. Serves as a connector to local resources and community engagement.
• Children's National HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChildren's National is a healthcare partner in the Food Is Medicine program, receiving healthy produce from DOL for families undergoing medical treatment at their facility. Partnership addresses nutrition insecurity as part of patient care.
• DC HealthcoreOthersDC Health partners with DOL on the WIC Home Delivery Program, determining creative ways for WIC participants in the DC metro area to redeem their Farmers Market Nutrition Program Benefits. DOL provides the ordering and delivery infrastructure for fresh produce redemption.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• DC Central Kitchen: Washington, D.C. nonprofit food organization operating culinary job training, school meals, and food distribution. Directly comparable as a D.C.-based nonprofit food hub tackling hunger and food access through an integrated model, and listed as a DOL partner.
• Martha's Table: D.C. nonprofit providing healthy food, education, and economic opportunity to underserved communities. Directly comparable as a D.C. food access and economic empowerment nonprofit, and listed as a DOL partner organization.
• Bread for the City: D.C. nonprofit providing food, clothing, medical care, and social services to low-income residents. Comparable mission and target geography, and listed as a DOL partner.
• FRESHFARM: D.C.-region nonprofit operating farmers' markets and food access programs. Directly comparable on farmers' market operations and food access mission, and listed as a DOL partner that hosts DOL in its markets.

Broad incumbents

• The Food Trust: Philadelphia-based nonprofit addressing food access through farmers' markets, healthy corner stores, and nutrition incentive programs. Comparable as a regional food access nonprofit with farmers' market, healthy retail, and policy advocacy work similar to DOL.
• Wholesome Wave: National nonprofit focused on nutrition incentive programs that double SNAP/WIC value at farmers' markets and for CSAs. Comparable on integrating government nutrition benefits into CSA and farmers' market channels, which is core to DOL's CSA platform.
• Capital Area Food Bank: Regional food bank serving the D.C. metro area, distributing food to hundreds of partner organizations. Comparable as a large-scale D.C. food access nonprofit with wholesale distribution operations similar to DOL's Food Hub.
• Fair Food Network: National nonprofit running Double Up Food Bucks and other nutrition incentive programs. Comparable on SNAP doubling at farmers' markets and policy advocacy for food access, similar to DOL's benefit-integrated CSA.

Regional players

• City Harvest: New York City food rescue and hunger-relief nonprofit. Comparable food access and distribution model, but operating in a different geography (NYC vs. D.C.).

Emerging players

• City Blossoms: D.C.-based nonprofit operating youth-centered urban gardens and farms, with overlapping farm locations. Directly comparable urban farming mission in Wards 7 & 8, and listed as a core operational partner co-managing DOL's farm properties.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dreaming-out-loud-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Dreaming Out Loud