The Dream Builders Project

What The Dream Builders Project does

The Dream Builders Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in October 2013 and headquartered in Los Angeles, California, operating under a 'charity for charities' model in which it raises and funnels funds, volunteers, and awareness to a portfolio of vetted beneficiary nonprofits. Its core programs include the annual A Brighter Future for Children charity gala, sustained sponsorship of the Mark Taper - Johnny Mercer Artists Program (art and music therapy) and the Amerman Family Foundation Dog Therapy Program at Children's Hospital Los Angeles, annual holiday toy and gift events at partner schools and community centers, a back-to-school supply drive, and ongoing support for Eunime Orphanage in Tijuana, Mexico. Since 2016, the organization has donated over $95,000 to CHLA's Art & Music Therapy program, with a single 2019 gala generating $45,000 of that total.

The organization employs 11-50 staff and operates with a community-led go-to-market motion, acquiring supporters through volunteer opportunities, internship programs, and event participation. Revenue is generated entirely through individual donations (processed via PayPal on its Squarespace-hosted website), corporate sponsorships, and proceeds from the annual gala series including live auctions, poker tournaments, and live performances. The team consists of Founder & Board Member Mayer Dahan, Director of Events Sophie Dahan, Team Leader Raven Rush, and Events Coordinator Shahana Behbahany. There is no proprietary technology platform; the organization's distribution is event- and relationship-driven across Los Angeles and selectively into Baja California, Mexico.

The organization is not restricted to a single cause and supports initiatives spanning homelessness, child abuse and neglect, education, human trafficking, and children's health, with named beneficiaries including Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Eunime Orphanage, Synergy Charter Academy, Hollygrove Family Uplift Center, and Cesar E. Chavez Elementary School. It holds the GuideStar Platinum Seal of Transparency (2021) and the Great Nonprofits 2019 Top-Rated Award, and maintains earned media coverage in outlets including the Los Angeles Times, US Magazine, Daily Mail, LA Magazine, and Telemundo.

Name

The Dream Builders Project

Legal name

The Dream Builders Project

Website

https://dbpla.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Dream Builders Project is a Los Angeles-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2013 that operates as a 'charity for charities,' raising funds through an annual gala and donations to support vetted beneficiary nonprofits addressing homelessness, child abuse, education, and human trafficking, with Children's Hospital Los Angeles as its anchor partner.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Charitable Nonprofit Services

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB)

Keywords

• Nonprofit fundraising services
• Charity event management
• Community outreach programs
• Donor engagement services
• Volunteer coordination

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: The organization raises funds through financial donations from individuals and corporate sponsors. Donations are accepted via PayPal and processed through the organization's website.
2. Special Events and Galas: Annual charity galas including A Brighter Future for Children generate proceeds for beneficiary organizations. Events include live auctions, poker tournaments, and live performances.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Dream Builders Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that operates as a "charity for charities," raising funds and awareness through annual galas, holiday events, and targeted programs to support vetted nonprofit partners across causes including homelessness, education, child abuse and neglect, human trafficking, art and music therapy, and dog therapy. Its core activities include hosting the A Brighter Future for Children gala, coordinating volunteer and internship programs, accepting financial donations, and disbursing funds to beneficiary organizations such as Children's Hospital Los Angeles programs.

Product overview

The Dream Builders Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization operating as a 'charity for charities' based in Los Angeles, California. Founded in October 2013, the organization does not offer technology products but instead provides charitable programs including annual galas (A Brighter Future for Children), support for hospital therapy programs (Art & Music Therapy, Dog Therapy), holiday events for families, back-to-school supply drives, and international orphanage assistance. The organization facilitates volunteer participation, accepts financial donations, and offers internship opportunities to engage the community in giving back.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• A Brighter Future for Children Gala Annual charity gala event raising funds and awareness for children's causes, featuring live performances, poker tournaments, and silent/live auctions.
• Art & Music Therapy Program Support Partnership with the Mark Taper - Johnny Mercer Artists Program at Children's Hospital Los Angeles, providing donations exceeding $95,000 and art/music supplies for therapeutic creative expression for young patients.
• Dog Therapy Program Support Sponsorship of the Amerman Family Foundation Dog Therapy Program at Children's Hospital Los Angeles, funding 100 dog therapy teams that visit patients 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
• Holiday Event Program Annual holiday events partnering with local nonprofits to provide crafts, new toys, and visits with Santa for disadvantaged families and children.
• Back-to-School Event and Supply Drive Educational support initiative providing backpacks filled with school supplies to children in poverty-stricken neighborhoods in Los Angeles.
• Causes We Support Charitable giving and support for various vetted nonprofit organizations including Habitat for Humanity, Polaris Project, Uplift, and other partner charities.
• Eunime Orphanage Assistance International charitable support for Eunime Orphanage in Tijuana, Mexico, including donations of supplies, renovations, and assistance for children affected by HIV/AIDS.
• Volunteer Program Recruitment and coordination of volunteers for charitable events throughout the year, with opportunities for long-term internships.
• Financial Donation Services Acceptance of monetary donations through a PayPal platform integrated into the organization's website to support charitable activities and partner nonprofits.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $95,000 donated to Mark Taper - Johnny Mercer Artists Program at Children's Hospital Los Angeles since 2016
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 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

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Children's Hospital Los Angeles - Amerman Family Foundation Dog Therapy ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Dream Builders Project is a sponsor of the Amerman Family Foundation Dog Therapy Program at Children's Hospital Los Angeles. The program operates with 100 dog teams visiting 7 days a week year-round. The Dream Builders Project pledges donations to cover essential program costs through its Dog Therapy Campaign.
• Children's Hospital Los Angeles - Mark Taper - Johnny Mercer Artists ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership since 2016 to support the Mark Taper - Johnny Mercer Artists Program which provides art and music therapies for Children's Hospital Los Angeles patients. The Dream Builders Project has donated over $95,000, hosted arts and crafts events for patients, and donated art and music supplies.
• Children's Hospital Los Angeles - Audrey Hepburn CARES CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInitial beneficiary of the A Brighter Future for Children charity gala starting in 2013. The CARES Center provides comprehensive medical and psychiatric care for children affected by abuse and neglect. The inaugural gala in 2013 raised funds for the expansion of this center.
• After School All Stars Los AngelesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Holiday Event 2019 hosted at Synergy Charter Academy in East Los Angeles, California. The event served 100 students with holiday activities, crafts, and gift donations.
• Hollygrove Family Uplift CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue for Holiday Event 2016 in Los Angeles. The event included holiday activities, family photos, and distribution of over 50 personalized gift boxes created by volunteers.
• Downtown Women's CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReferenced as a Los Angeles organization that supports women experiencing chronic homelessness, providing housing, medical care, education, and job readiness programs. Featured in Women's History Month content.
• Step Up Women's NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLos Angeles organization that mentors young girls from under-resourced communities. Featured in Women's History Month content as an example of organizations supporting women in the community.
• WriteGirlminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLos Angeles-based creative writing and mentoring organization that offers workshops and one-on-one mentoring for young girls. Featured in Women's History Month content as an organization doing impactful work.
• Eunime OrphanagecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrphanage in Tijuana, Mexico providing a loving home for children affected by HIV/AIDS. The Dream Builders Project has supported through donations of personal supplies, sanitation supplies, food, medical supplies, cleaning supplies, and renovations since 2014.
• H.O.M.E. (Beverly Hills)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVenue partner for the inaugural A Brighter Future for Children charity gala in 2014. Located in Beverly Hills, CA.
• Taglyan Complex (Los Angeles)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVenue partner for A Brighter Future for Children charity galas in 2015 and 2017. Located in Los Angeles, CA.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• The Los Angeles Community Foundation: LA-based community foundation aggregating donations and distributing grants to vetted local nonprofits across multiple causes. Most directly comparable peer given shared geography, multi-cause grantmaking model, and intermediary role.
• Pasadena Community Foundation: Regional community foundation serving the greater LA area with grantmaking, donor-advised funds, and nonprofit capacity-building. Similar in scale and operational model to DBP's community foundation positioning.
• California Community Foundation: Large LA-based community foundation making grants across causes including education, health, and housing. Comparable as a multi-cause grantmaking intermediary serving Southern California nonprofits.
• Coastal Community Foundation: Community foundation aggregating donor funds and regranting to vetted local nonprofits across education, health, and human services. Comparable in structure even though based in a different region (Pacific Northwest).
• United Way of Greater Los Angeles: Donor-funded intermediary that aggregates contributions and distributes them across a portfolio of vetted health, education, and homelessness programs in the LA region. Closely aligned operating model as a 'fund-of-charities'.

Broad incumbents

• Charity Navigator: National nonprofit that vets and rates charities to help donors make informed giving decisions. Operates adjacent to DBP's vetting-first value prop, but does so by rating rather than grantmaking.
• The Annenberg Foundation: Major LA-based private foundation funding education, youth development, and the arts at significantly larger scale than DBP. Comparable on cause area (arts/education) and geography, but operates at a much broader institutional level.

Peers

• MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger: National nonprofit intermediary that aggregates donations from supporters and distributes grants to a vetted portfolio of anti-hunger and poverty organizations. Directly comparable 'fund of charities' operating model and vetting-first thesis.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Builders Project