I Have A Dream Foundation

What I Have A Dream Foundation does

The "I Have A Dream" Foundation-Dallas (IHDF-Dallas) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) charitable organization (EIN: 75-2153030) headquartered at 4447 N Central Expy, Suite 110, PMB 128, Dallas, Texas. The Dallas chapter was established in 1987 as an affiliate of the national "I Have A Dream" Foundation, which was founded in New York City in 1981 by philanthropist Eugene M. Lang. Since founding, IHDF-Dallas has served more than 2,000 students from historically marginalized and under-resourced communities in North Texas, while the broader national network has supported over 18,000 Dream Scholars across the U.S. and New Zealand.

IHDF-Dallas provides long-term, individualized social, emotional, and academic support to young people from kindergarten through post-secondary education, alongside guaranteed tuition assistance. Programming is structured around six pillars: Mentoring & Support Networks, Family Partnership & Engagement, Academic Enrichment & Support, Social-Emotional Learning & Life Skills, Leadership/Civic Engagement & Service Learning, and Post-Secondary Preparation & Support. The organization delivers its core services through three program stages (Elementary School, Middle and High School, and Post-Secondary/Alumni), supplemented by named initiatives such as the Dream UP Conference and Great Expectations Program. Mentorship is delivered via Academic, Community, and Peer Mentoring tracks, with on-site school-based delivery at partner schools including Maple Lawn Elementary in Dallas ISD.

The organization's revenue model is diversified across individual giving (monthly tiers from $25-$500 and one-time donations), corporate and foundation grants, in-kind contributions (supplies, technology, event tickets, meals), and fundraising events. Go-to-market relies on a community-led motion built on partnerships with schools, volunteers, educators, and business leaders, supplemented by event-driven engagement through Dream UP Conferences, family celebrations, resource fairs, and giving campaigns such as North Texas Giving Day and Giving Tuesday. Core staff is small (Executive Director, Mentor Coordinator, Program Coordinator, and Grant Writer), with capacity augmented by AmeriCorps VISTA volunteers and a board composed of professionals from real estate, law, and business sectors. No technology platform or proprietary software is central to the operating model.

Name

I Have A Dream Foundation

Legal name

"I Have A Dream" Foundation-Dallas

Website

https://ihaveadreamdallas.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The "I Have A Dream" Foundation-Dallas is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides long-term academic, social-emotional, and guaranteed tuition support to under-resourced students in North Texas from kindergarten through post-secondary education. Founded in 1987, it has served more than 2,000 Dream Scholars across the Dallas region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Education and Mentorship Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (6117), Child and Youth Services (62411), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Mentoring & Positive Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

College Access, Scholarships & Student Success Nonprofits (BPAGADAE), After-School, Tutoring & Academic Enrichment Nonprofits (BPAGADAC)

Keywords

• Youth education programs
• Mentorship services
• College access support
• Nonprofit fundraising
• Community partnerships

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Monthly Donations: Recurring monthly donations from individual donors at various tiers ($25-$500/month) providing sustained funding for programs, scholarships, and wraparound services.
2. One-Time Donations: Single-occurrence donations from individual donors supporting Dream Scholars and organizational operations.
3. Corporate and Foundation Grants: Funding from corporate partners and foundations to support programs, operations, and scholarships.
4. In-Kind Support: Contributions of school supplies, books, event tickets, meals, technology, and other resources from in-kind supporters.
5. Fundraising Events: Proceeds from organized fundraisers at workplaces, schools, and community events including casual jeans days, birthday fundraisers, and community events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

I Have A Dream Foundation – Dallas provides cradle-to-career educational support for youth from historically marginalized communities, enrolling "Dream Scholars" starting in elementary school and accompanying them through high school graduation and post-secondary education. Services include individualized academic, social and emotional support, one-on-one mentorship, family engagement through a two-generational (2Gen) model, readiness programming through Great Expectations, and guaranteed tuition assistance funded by individual donors, corporate sponsors, and foundation grants.

Product overview

I Have A Dream Foundation - Dallas operates as a nonprofit educational organization offering a comprehensive youth development program structured around six pillars of support: Mentoring & Support Networks, Family Partnership & Engagement, Academic Enrichment & Support, Social-Emotional Learning & Life Skills, Leadership/Civic Engagement & Service Learning, and Post-Secondary Preparation & Support. The core programming spans Elementary School, Middle and High School, and Post-Secondary/Alumni phases, providing long-term individualized social, emotional, and academic support from kindergarten through post-secondary education, along with guaranteed tuition assistance. The organization also offers named donation tiers (Mentorship Navigator, Resource Advocate, Experience Guide, and Legacy Creator) that function as modular support packages at different contribution levels. Key branded initiatives include the Dream UP Conference and Great Expectations Program. The program is built around a two-generational (2Gen) model that supports both students and their families.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Elementary School Program Long-term academic, social, emotional, and family support for Dream Scholars beginning in elementary school, forming the early stage of the cradle-to-career continuum.
• Middle and High School Programs Continued individualized academic, social, and mentorship support for Dream Scholars through middle and high school, including college-readiness preparation and life skills development.
• Post-Secondary and Alumni Programs Continued academic, career, and community support for Dream Scholars after high school graduation, including guaranteed tuition assistance and alumni engagement.
• Mentorship Program One-on-one mentoring program that pairs community volunteer mentors with Dream Scholars to provide sustained academic, social, and professional guidance.
• Great Expectations Program Future-readiness program that prepares Dream Scholars for college, career, and life success through structured learning experiences and skill-building activities.
• Dream UP Conference Annual conference that brings Dream Scholars together with mentors, alumni, and community partners for inspiration, college and career preparation, and community building.

Quantifiable outcome

• 90% high school graduation rate for Dream Scholars vs. significantly lower rates for peers from similar demographics
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Maple Lawn (Dallas ISD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partner school where IHDF-Dallas delivers its elementary school programs providing year-round academic and social support to Dream Scholars.
• After8 to EducatecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization supporting youth education and development initiatives in the Dallas area.
• AmeriCorps VISTAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational service program providing volunteer support to IHDF-Dallas through VISTA members who serve in program and development roles.
• Project UnityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity organization partnering to provide enrichment opportunities for Dream Scholars.
• University of Texas at Arlington (School of Social Work)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner providing educational resources and potentially internship opportunities for social work students.
• Dallas West EndminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner organization in the Dallas West End area supporting IHDF programs.
• Flight MuseumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural institution providing enrichment experiences and field trip opportunities for Dream Scholars.
• NDMVA (National Defense and Military Veterans)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVeterans organization providing mentorship and civic engagement opportunities for Dream Scholars.
• Dallas Farmers MarketminorOthersProvides in-kind support and community engagement opportunities.
• Morningstar StorageminorOthersCorporate partner providing in-kind support for IHDF operations.
• Giving TuesdayminorOthersGlobal generosity movement that IHDF participates in for end-of-year giving campaigns.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Big Brothers Big Sisters of America: National youth mentoring nonprofit pairing adult mentors with young people from under-resourced communities. Closest direct peer to IHDF on the long-term, one-to-one mentoring model and donor-supported mission, though it lacks IHDF's tuition-guarantee component.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas: Regional youth development nonprofit operating school-based and after-school academic, mentoring, and college-readiness programs in North Texas. Directly comparable to IHDF-Dallas on geography, target population, and programmatic pillars.
• Bottom Line: Nonprofit that partners with first-generation students from low-income backgrounds through high school and college with dedicated advisors. Directly mirrors IHDF's long-term, one-on-one advisor model and college-completion focus.
• Year Up: National workforce-development nonprofit serving young adults from under-resourced communities with training, mentorship, and corporate internships. Comparable on the long-term, wraparound-youth-development model and post-secondary/career outcomes focus.
• Summer Search: National youth development nonprofit pairing low-income high school students with long-term mentors, experiential programs, and college persistence support. Comparable on multi-year mentoring, post-secondary access focus, and outcomes-oriented program design.
• Communities In Schools: National nonprofit that places site coordinators inside schools to deliver integrated academic, social-emotional, and post-secondary support. Closely comparable to IHDF's school-based delivery model and wraparound-service approach, particularly in Texas affiliates.
• College Track: National nonprofit providing college access, persistence, and career support to first-generation and under-resourced students from high school through graduation. Highly comparable mission, multi-year commitment horizon, and guaranteed-support framing.
• Reading Partners: National nonprofit mobilizing volunteer tutors to deliver literacy intervention in under-resourced elementary schools. Comparable on volunteer-driven, school-based academic support, though narrower in scope than IHDF's multi-pillar model.

Others

• Mentor: The National Mentoring Partnership: Umbrella organization that supports, advocates for, and funds the youth-mentoring field nationally. Adjacent ecosystem player rather than a direct competitor — IHDF-Dallas could plausibly be a Mentor affiliate or grantee.

Regional players

• KIPP Texas: Texas-based public charter school network serving under-resourced students with a college-prep focus. Comparable on education-equity mission and Texas footprint, though it operates schools rather than a wraparound-mentoring model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ihaveadreamdallas

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 I Have A Dream Foundation