The Dream Defenders

What The Dream Defenders does

The Dream Defenders is a Black-led, feminist, socialist, abolitionist, and internationalist political formation founded in 2012 in Florida in response to the killing of Trayvon Martin. The organization advocates for the liberation, justice, and dignity of Black and marginalized communities across the United States, centering the leadership of Black women, queer, and gender-nonconforming people. It operates as a nonprofit political formation under the fiscal sponsorship of Tides Advocacy, which provides administrative, financial, and operational infrastructure.

The organization's core offerings are three interconnected organizing products: The Freedom Papers, a downloadable manifesto serving as a blueprint for racial justice, people power, and self-determination; the C.R.E.A.M. Pledge, a working-class membership commitment with five working groups (Comms, Research, Engagement, Action, Wellness) and campaigns such as ICE Free Zones; and the national Dream Defenders Membership Program providing orientation and access to political formation activities. There is no proprietary technology platform; distribution is handled through a self-serve website (dreamdefenders.org) integrated with EveryAction/FastAction activism tools, alongside a multi-channel social media presence on Instagram, Twitter/X, TikTok, Facebook, and Bluesky.

The business model is donation- and grant-driven rather than commercial. Revenue is generated through individual contributions via ActBlue (secure.actblue.com/donate/defendthedream) and likely grants channeled through Tides Advocacy. The organization does not sell products or services, and no pricing models, customers, or enterprise logos are disclosed. With 11-50 employees, the organization operates at small-membership nonprofit scale, with no external venture or institutional investors indicated.

Name

The Dream Defenders

Legal name

Dream Defenders

Website

https://dreamdefenders.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Dream Defenders is a Black-led nonprofit political formation founded in 2012 in Florida that organizes Black and marginalized communities for liberation, justice, and dignity through the Freedom Papers manifesto, the C.R.E.A.M. Pledge, and a national membership program funded by donations and grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Justice Advocacy and Political Organizing

NAICS

Human Rights Organizations (813311), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Other Social Advocacy Organizations (813319)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Human Rights & Anti-Discrimination Organizations (BPAGAFAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Civil Liberties & Constitutional Rights Advocacy (BPAGAFAA), Gender Equality & Women’s Rights Advocacy (BPAGAFAD), LGBTQ+ Rights & Advocacy Organizations (BPAGAFAE)

Keywords

• Community organizing
• Political advocacy
• Social justice organizing
• Grassroots mobilization
• Racial justice activism

Headquarters

HQ city

Florida

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Support: The organization accepts donations through ActBlue (secure.actblue.com/donate/defendthedream). As a project of Tides Advocacy, funding likely comes from individual donations, grants, and supporter contributions.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The Dream Defenders is a Black-led political organizing formation that develops and disseminates organizing frameworks (such as The Freedom Papers), member accountability tools (such as the C.R.E.A.M. Pledge), and a membership program structured around Working Groups. It conducts political education, campaigns, and grassroots mobilization in support of racial justice, prison abolition, and related causes. Its deliverables are organizing tools, educational materials, and mobilization campaigns offered free of charge to members and the broader public.

Product overview

The Dream Defenders is an advocacy organization (not a technology company) that offers three core products/services: The Freedom Papers (a comprehensive manifesto for liberation available in condensed and full downloadable versions), the C.R.E.A.M. Pledge (a membership commitment initiative with working groups for organizing), and a Membership Program providing orientation and access to the organization's political formation activities. These offerings work together as a coordinated advocacy and organizing ecosystem aimed at dismantling systemic oppression and building community power.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Freedom Papers: A manifesto for liberation and bold blueprint for racial justice, people power, and self-determination created by the Dream Defenders to dismantle systemic oppression and build thriving futures for Black and marginalized communities.

Products and services

• The Freedom Papers
• C.R.E.A.M. Pledge A member commitment/abstinence-and-accountability pledge that individuals sign to participate in Dream Defenders, codifying shared values and a code of conduct within the membership.
• Dream Defenders Membership Program The free membership program through which individuals join The Dream Defenders, sign the C.R.E.A.M. Pledge, and participate in the organization's Working Groups and campaigns.
• Dream Defenders Working Groups Internal member-led organizing units that carry out the organization's campaigns, political education, and direct-action efforts on priority issues such as prison abolition and racial justice.

Quantifiable outcome

• A manifesto challenging status quo and reimagining systems of governance, education, and justice for Black and marginalized communities.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• NAACP: The largest and oldest U.S. civil rights organization, with similar racial-justice advocacy, voter mobilization, and policy engagement work; comparable as a more established incumbent in the same advocacy space.
• American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU): Major national civil liberties and constitutional rights organization engaged in litigation, advocacy, and organizing — overlapping with Dream Defenders' focus on constitutional rights, racial justice, and dismantling policing systems.
• Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC): Civil rights advocacy and legal defense organization with deep focus on monitoring hate groups and defending marginalized communities; comparable as an established advocacy institution with overlapping mission on systemic racism and injustice.

Direct peers

• Movement for Black Lives (M4BL): Coalition of Black-led organizations advancing a shared policy platform on racial justice, policing, and abolition; closely comparable in its explicitly abolitionist, multi-issue political framing and grassroots organizing approach.
• Advancement Project: Racial-justice organization focused on organizing, policy, and litigation to dismantle systems of oppression; comparable as a multi-issue advocacy organization with strong organizing infrastructure for impacted communities.
• Black Lives Matter (BLM): National racial-justice movement network founded in 2013 around Black victimhood and police violence; directly comparable as a Black-led advocacy organization mobilizing grassroots activism and operating multi-issue campaigns.
• Color of Change: Largest online racial-justice organization in the U.S., mobilizing Black members on criminal justice, economic justice, and voting rights — directly comparable digital-led, member-driven advocacy model.
• Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ): National network of mostly white organizers supporting racial-justice movements and abolitionist campaigns; comparable in its grassroots organizing infrastructure and alignment with abolitionist policy goals.
• Faith in Action: National faith-based community organizing network advancing racial and economic justice through grassroots leadership development — overlapping as a multi-issue, member-driven advocacy organization targeting systemic change.

Emerging players

• ACRE (Action Center on Race and the Economy): Research and organizing hub supporting racial-justice campaigns against corporate power and the wealthy; comparable in its explicit anti-capitalist framing and intersectional analysis of race and economic systems.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Dreamdefenders
• Facebookfacebook.com/DreamDefenders
• Instagraminstagram.com/thedreamdefenders
• TikToktiktok.com/@thedreamdefenders
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dream-defenders-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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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 The Dream Defenders