The Dream Factory

Name

The Dream Factory

Legal name

The Dream Factory Foundation

Website

https://thedreamfactory.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Children's Wish-Granting Charity Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (624110), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Family & Parenting Support Services (BPAGAEAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

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

Keywords

• Wish-granting charity
• Children's wish foundation
• Family support services
• Community fundraising events
• Nonprofit charitable organization

Headquarters

HQ city

Winnipeg

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-time and monthly donations from individuals. Monthly giving program called 'Dream Builders' with tiers at $10, $25, $50, $100 per month.
2. Signature Event Fundraising: Major annual events including the Dream Maker Auction (30th annual raised over $1.2 million) and Josh Morrissey Classic golf tournament (raised over $1 million in 7 years, $281,000 in 2025).
3. Corporate Sponsorships: Event sponsorships from companies including Gauthier Automotive Group (presenting sponsor), Johnston Group (matching sponsor), and various hole sponsors for golf tournament.
4. Planned Giving / Bequests: Legacy giving program called 'Forever Dreamers' including bequests in wills, RRSP/RRIF beneficiary designations, life insurance beneficiary designations, and charitable remainder trusts.
5. Securities Donations: Accepts publicly traded stocks, bonds, or mutual funds as donations with full market value tax receipts and elimination of capital gains taxes.
6. In-Kind Donations: Accepts toys, event prizes, services, media support, and unique experiences from donors and local Manitoba businesses.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Dream Factory is a Manitoba-based children's charity that grants life-changing wish experiences (Big Dreams) to children battling life-threatening illnesses and provides ongoing family support for 5-7 years from diagnosis through treatment and beyond. Core offerings include dream trips to destinations like Disney World and Hawaii, celebrity meet-and-greets, gaming setups and bedroom makeovers, plus $3,000 in flexible family funds, hospital parking passes, gas and grocery gift cards. Services are delivered through direct in-person engagement at the Winnipeg community space and via hospital referrals.

Product overview

The Dream Factory is a Manitoba-based children's charity (not a technology company) offering a portfolio of programs to support children with life-threatening illnesses. The core offering consists of the Big Dreams Program that grants wishes like dream trips and celebrity meet-and-greets, Family Support Services providing financial assistance ($3,000 funds, parking, groceries), and a Community Space featuring the Dream Machine and Dream Room. Signature fundraising events include the Dream Maker Auction (annual, raised $1.2M in 2026) and the Josh Morrissey Classic golf tournament (raised $281,000 in 2025). Additional programs include Dream Party Club for birthday fundraising, Dream Builders monthly giving, Forever Dreamers planned giving, and various community events. The organization operates solely in Manitoba and is 100% community funded.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Big Dreams Program The flagship program that grants life-changing dreams to Manitoba children battling life-threatening illnesses, including dream trips (Disney World, Hawaii, LEGOLAND), celebrity meet-and-greets, gaming setups, bedroom makeovers, and shopping sprees. For use by children aged toddler through teen with cancer, leukemia, brain tumors, sickle cell anemia, and other serious medical conditions.
• Family Support Services Ongoing financial and practical support for Manitoba families with sick children, including $3,000 in flexible family funds for each new family, hospital parking assistance, gas and grocery gift cards, and restaurant gift cards for stress-free family meals. Support is provided for 5-7 years from initial diagnosis through treatment and beyond.
• Dream Community Space A child-centric community space in Winnipeg featuring The Dream Machine interactive contraption, claw machine (always wins), community kitchen with kid-height fridge, and Dream Room with toys, video games, and arts and crafts. Designed specifically for sick children outside of medical environments, where Dream Kids and families participate in activities, receive dream reveals, and connect with support.
• Dream Maker Auction Annual signature fundraising event held in April at RBC Convention Centre in Winnipeg. The 30th annual auction in 2026 raised over $1.2 million, with proceeds supporting the Big Dreams Program. Presented by Gauthier Automotive Group.
• Josh Morrissey Classic Annual charity golf tournament held in September at Pine Ridge Golf Club, hosted by Winnipeg Jets defenseman Josh Morrissey. Has raised over $1 million in seven years; the 2025 event raised a record-breaking $281,000.
• Community Events Program Various community-hosted fundraising events including Deadlifts For Dreams, Endeavour's Hill Of Dreams, Dream Ride, Cut-A-Thon, Kids Fest, and Pancakes With Purpose to support Dream Kids and families throughout Manitoba.
• Dream Party Club A birthday fundraising program for children who choose to celebrate by giving back. Includes a FUNdraising kit with party favors and items from local Manitoba businesses. Donations are matched up to $10,000 by presenting sponsor Johnston Group.
• Dream Builders Monthly Giving Program Monthly donation program where donors contribute $10, $25, $50, or $100 per month to support Dream Kids. Members receive monthly Building Reports with impact updates and are part of a community of recurring supporters.
• Forever Dreamers Planned Giving Legacy giving program including bequests in wills, RRSP/RRIF beneficiary designations, life insurance beneficiary designations, and charitable remainder trusts for donors including The Dream Factory in their estate plans.
• Securities Donation Program Tax-efficient way to donate publicly traded stocks, bonds, or mutual funds directly to The Dream Factory. Donors receive a charitable tax receipt for full market value and eliminate capital gains taxes. Securities are managed through Scotia Wealth Management (Account Number: 78050563-19, Contact: Paul Deniset).

Quantifiable outcome

• 900+ dreams fulfilled over 40+ years
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Josh MorrisseycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerWinnipeg Jets Defenseman and Dream Factory Ambassador who hosts the annual Josh Morrissey Classic golf tournament, visits with Dream Kids at events, and golfs in the tournament. Has helped raise over $1 million in seven years.
• Gauthier Automotive GroupcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting sponsor of the Dream Maker Auction, helping make the annual signature event possible.
• Glays FamilycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGenerously matched all winning bids for Special Dream Lots in the Live Auction up to $200,000, making it possible to bring 28 amazing Dreams to life.
• Johnston GroupcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting sponsor of the Dream Party Club program, matching every dollar raised by the club up to $10,000.
• Fort Group Chartered Professional AccountantsminorOthersIndependent auditor of The Dream Factory's financial statements, audited in accordance with Canadian accounting standards as of December 31.
• Scotia Wealth ManagementminorOthersManages The Dream Factory's brokerage account for receiving securities donations. Contact: Paul Deniset. Account Number: 78050563-19.
• K&P Community FundminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGenerously supports the $3,000 family funds program providing flexible financial support to new Dream Families.
• Kindred FoundationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSupports hospital parking program providing five monthly parking spaces at the hospital for families during appointments and treatments.
• Red River CooperativeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProvides gas and grocery gift cards to families in need, easing financial stress during their child's medical journey.
• Local Manitoba BusinessesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVarious local businesses provide items and experiences for Dream Party Club kits and event prizes, including toys, party supplies, and unique experiences.
• Give Kids The World VillagecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMagical resort outside Disney World where children with life-threatening illnesses stay during their Disney Trip, featuring rides, pools, character meet-and-greets, and around-the-clock fun.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Ronald McDonald House Charities Canada: National charity providing lodging and family-support services to families of sick children receiving treatment. Operates in adjacent child-illness family-support space with national reach and significant corporate sponsorship.

Direct peers

• Sunshine Foundation of Canada: Canadian charity granting dreams to children living with life-threatening illnesses, physical disabilities, and other serious conditions. Direct overlap on the wish-granting core mission and donor-base profile.
• Make-A-Wish Canada: Canada's largest wish-granting charity for children with life-threatening illnesses. Directly comparable mission (granting dreams to medically critical children) with national footprint and shared hospital referral pipelines.
• Children's Wish Foundation of Canada: National Canadian charity granting wishes to children with high-risk diagnoses (cancer, cardiac, etc.). Operates an overlapping referral pipeline through pediatric hospitals and serves a similar pediatric ill-child population.
• Starlight Children's Foundation Canada: Canadian chapter of an international charity delivering wish-related programming and in-hospital services to seriously ill children. Comparable model combining dream experiences with ongoing family and hospital support.

Regional players

• Children's Hospital Foundation of Manitoba: The primary hospital-foundation fundraiser in Manitoba serving the same Children's Hospital that refers families to The Dream Factory. Competes for the same Manitoba corporate donor dollars and healthcare-aligned sponsorships.
• ChildCan: Ontario-based childhood cancer support nonprofit providing financial and emotional support to families. Similar family-financial-assistance model ($3,000 equivalents) but limited to Ontario.

Emerging players

• Camp Quality Canada: Provides camping and recreational experiences for children with cancer and their families. Overlaps with The Dream Factory's experiential programming for ill children and shares the same pediatric cancer beneficiary base.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-dream-factory

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 The Dream Factory