Dreams of Hope

What Dreams of Hope does

Dreams of Hope is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2003 by Susan Haugh in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, that delivers performing arts, education, and community programming for LGBTQIA+ youth ages 13-26, with select intergenerational programming for older community members. The organization operates a portfolio of five core programs: theatriQ, a youth ensemble (ages 13-26) that devises and performs original theatre, spoken word, music, and visual art; sQool, an educational program delivering in-class and after-school queer-arts residencies to schools and community centers; speaQ, a creative-expression workshop and open-mic series; the Queer Youth Advisory Council (QYAC), a biweekly youth leadership program with stipends; and Queerness & Nature, a nature-centered creative series.

The organization's underlying 'platform' is its human creative practice — youth-devised original productions — supported by weekly in-person sessions at KST Alloy Studios (5530 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh), a residency partnership with Kelly Strayhorn Theater that provides an ADA-accessible venue with gender-neutral bathrooms, and a multichannel digital presence (Instagram, Facebook, X, YouTube, Mailchimp newsletter) used primarily for outreach rather than service delivery. There is no proprietary software, AI, or technical product; the technology stack is conventional (Wix website, Mailchimp email, social platforms).

Dreams of Hope's revenue mechanics are characteristic of a community-arts nonprofit: individual donations accepted across multiple payment rails (credit card, Venmo, PayPal, ACH, Apple/Google Pay, checks), foundation and corporate grants (Heinz Endowments, Cooper-Siegel Family Foundation, The Pittsburgh Foundation/A.W. Mellon, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Dollar Bank, Brooks/PNC, Gouge Family Foundation, McDonnell-O'Brien, Mukti Fund), regional government arts funding (Allegheny Regional Asset District, PA Partners in the Arts/PA Council on the Arts), federal funding (NEA American Rescue Plan), and an emerging fee-for-service booking channel that sells customizable theatriQ performances and sQool residencies to schools, businesses, and places of worship. The organization is governed by a tri-cohort board (volunteers, staff, youth), led by co-coordinators that include Artistic Director Bekezela Mguni, and is operationally small (1-10 employees), with no disclosed parent, investor, or M&A relationships.

Name

Dreams of Hope

Legal name

Dreams of Hope

Website

https://dreamsofhope.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Dreams of Hope is a Pittsburgh-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2003 that delivers performing arts, education, and youth leadership programming for LGBTQIA+ youth ages 13-26 through theatriQ, sQool, speaQ, and the Queer Youth Advisory Council.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Performing Arts Education

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Educational Services (611)

akta.pro primary industry

Arts, Sports & Recreation-Based Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAJ)

Keywords

• Queer youth arts
• Performing arts education
• Community arts programming
• Youth leadership development
• LGBTQ nonprofit services

Headquarters

HQ city

Pittsburgh

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals supporting LGBTQIA+ youth arts programming. Accepts credit cards, Venmo, PayPal, ACH Bank Transfer, checks, and mobile payments via Apple/Google Pay.
2. Foundation and Corporate Grants: Funding from foundations and corporate donors including Cooper-Siegel Family Foundation, Gouge Family Foundation, Heinz Endowments, Allegheny Regional Asset District, and others supporting general operations and specific programs.
3. Program Fees: Customized educational programming and performances booked for schools, organizations, and events. Programming includes in-class residencies, out-of-class residencies, professional development trainings, and one-time workshops.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Dreams of Hope is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides performing arts, educational programming, and creative expression opportunities for LGBTQIA+ youth ages 13-26 in the Pittsburgh region. Core offerings include theatriQ (a youth performing arts ensemble), sQool (in-school educational residencies), speaQ (creative expression workshops), the Queer Youth Advisory Council (leadership development), and annual original productions. The organization also books customized programming for schools, businesses, places of worship, and community organizations.

Product overview

Dreams of Hope is a nonprofit queer youth arts organization offering a portfolio of interconnected programs centered on empowering LGBTQIA+ youth ages 13-26 through the power of the arts. The core offerings include theatriQ (a performing arts youth ensemble creating original theatre, visual art, and music), sQool (educational programming bringing queer arts into schools and community centers), and speaQ (creative expression workshops). Additional programs include the Queer Youth Advisory Council (QYAC) for leadership development, Queerness & Nature (nature-centered creative spaces), annual original productions, events, booking services for external organizations, curated LGBTQ+ resources, and donation mechanisms. These programs work together to provide comprehensive arts education, performance opportunities, community building, and youth leadership development for queer and Trans young people in the Pittsburgh region.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• theatriQ: A performing arts youth ensemble for queer & Trans creatives, welcoming ages 13-26. Provides a welcoming environment for young people to grow in confidence, express themselves, and develop as leaders through original theatre, visual art, and music.
• sQool
• speaQ
• Queerness & Nature
• QYAC (Queer Youth Advisory Council)

Products and services

• theatriQ A performing arts youth ensemble for queer and Trans creatives ages 13-26. Provides a welcoming environment for young people to grow in confidence, express themselves, and develop as leaders through creating and sharing original work (theatre, visual art, music) exploring LGBTQIA+ themes. Rehearses weekly at KST Alloy Studios in East Liberty.
• sQool Educational program providing curricula tailored to queer and trans learners, facilitators, and educators. Engages youth and adults in schooling environments, community centers, and education venues through in-class residencies, out-of-class residencies, professional development trainings, and creative workshops.
• speaQ A space for queer and Trans creative expression, originally started as a poetry and spoken word workshop. Provides opportunities for young people to express themselves creatively through open mic and workshop formats.
• Queer Youth Advisory Council (QYAC) Youth leadership program providing opportunities for queer and Trans young people to creatively develop and practice leadership skills. Meets biweekly on Tuesday evenings; members set personal goals, explore leadership, connect with mentors, and earn stipends.
• Productions Annual original productions created and performed by theatriQ youth ensemble. Youth devise and present original songs, poems, movement, and theater to educate audiences about queer life and queer joy.
• Queerness & Nature A mutually creative space centering queerness and kinship with nature. Includes workshops, community events, and farm activities.
• Booking & Customized Programming Customizable arts programming for businesses, schools, places of worship, and other organizations. Includes theatriQ performances with Q&A, and sQool educational programming delivered as in-class residencies, out-of-class residencies, or workshops. Programming is tailored to meet partner goals.

Quantifiable outcome

• Hundreds of LGBTQ+ youth served as teaching artists, instructors, mentors, and facilitators since 2003
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Kelly Strayhorn TheatercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue partner providing residency at Alloy Studios for theatriQ ensemble. Co-presenter of performances and collaborator on programming.
• UPMC Center for Engagement and InclusionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPresenting partner for Hearts On Hold production and ongoing supporter of theatriQ ensemble.
• Pride Youth Theatre AlliancemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational network that advances the practice of queer youth theater by providing emerging and established leaders in the field with resources and opportunities to exchange, collaborate, and learn.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights2 records

Emerging players

• trans-lash: Media and storytelling organization centering transgender narratives, comparable as a nonprofit using narrative and creative expression to advance LGBTQ+ visibility and community.

Broad incumbents

• The Trevor Project: National organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention for LGBTQ+ youth, comparable as a large-scale LGBTQ+ youth-serving nonprofit with overlapping audiences and funder pools.
• Hetrick-Martin Institute: New York-based organization serving LGBTQ+ youth with arts, education, and wellness programs, comparable as a longer-established multi-service LGBTQ+ youth organization with arts programming.
• GLSEN: National education-focused organization creating safe K-12 environments for LGBTQ+ students. Comparable through shared focus on LGBTQ+ youth in school settings, particularly relevant to Dreams of Hope's sQool program.
• True Colors United: National organization working to prevent and end homelessness among LGBTQ+ youth, comparable as a national LGBTQ+ youth-serving nonprofit with creative programming and community engagement.
• Pride Youth Theatre Alliance: National network advancing queer youth theater practice. Dreams of Hope is a member; the network is comparable as an umbrella organization supporting similar member organizations.
• PFLAG: National organization supporting LGBTQ+ people, their families, and allies, comparable as a long-standing LGBTQ+ advocacy and support organization with overlapping community and youth audiences.

Direct peers

• National Queer Theater: New York-based LGBTQ+ theater company developing new work and providing opportunities for queer artists, directly comparable as a queer-focused performing arts organization serving community and youth.
• Kelly Strayhorn Theater: Pittsburgh-based contemporary performing arts venue and Dreams of Hope's venue partner, directly comparable as a regional presenting arts organization with overlapping audiences and programming.
• Theatre Offensive: Boston-based queer theater company producing original work and youth programming, directly comparable as a regional LGBTQ+ performing arts organization with youth and community programs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/dreamsofhopeorg
• YouTubeyoutube.com/dreamsofhopeorg
• Facebookfacebook.com/dreamsofhopeorg
• Instagraminstagram.com/dreamsofhopeorg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dreamsofhopeorg

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 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 Dreams of Hope