Dreaming Out Loud

Dreaming Out Loud does not meet the following 8 Standards for Charity Accountability:

Standard 1 (Oversight of Operations and Staff)
Organizations shall have a board of directors that provides adequate oversight of the charity's operations and its staff. Indication of adequate oversight includes, but is not limited to, regularly scheduled appraisals of the CEO's performance, evidence of disbursement controls such as board approval of the budget, fund raising practices, establishment of a conflict of interest policy, and establishment of accounting procedures sufficient to safeguard charity finances.

DOL does not meet this Standard because its board of directors does not:

• Review the performance of the Chief Executive Officer at least once Every 2 Years.
• Have an approved conflict of interest policy.
• Receive a copy of the organization’s IRS Form 990.
• Have a voting member of the board who is assigned the responsibility of serving as the treasurer.

Standard 6 (Board Policy on Effectiveness)
Have a board policy of assessing, no less than every two years, the organization's performance and effectiveness and of determining future actions required to achieve its mission.

DOL does not meet this Standard because:

• The board of directors does not have a written policy stating that, at least Every 2 Years, an appraisal be done assessing the organization’s performance and effectiveness and determining future actions required to achieve its mission.

Standard 7 (Board Approval of Written Report on Effectiveness)
Submit to the organization's governing body, for its approval, a written report that outlines the results of the aforementioned performance and effectiveness assessment and recommendations for future actions.

DOL does not meet this Standard because:

• The organization has not completed an effectiveness assessment in the last two years.

Standard 8 (Program Service Expense Ratio)
Spend at least 65% of its total expenses on program activities.

DOL does not meet this Standard because:

• According to the organization's audited financial statements for the year ended September 30, 2025, DOL spent $2,571,124 or 61% of its total expenses on programs.

Standard 14 (Budget)
Have a board-approved annual budget for its current fiscal year, outlining projected expenses for major program activities, fund raising, and administration.

DOL does not meet this Standard because, when the organization provided budget information, it indicated that the budget:

• The organization did not produce a budget for the year ending September 30, 2026.

Standard 16 (Annual Report)
Have an annual report available to all, on request, that includes: (a) the organization's mission statement, (b) a summary of the past year's program service accomplishments, (c) a roster of the officers and members of the board of directors, (d) financial information that includes (i) total income in the past fiscal year, (ii) expenses in the same program, fund raising and administrative categories as in the financial statements, and (iii) ending net assets.

DOL does not meet this Standard because:

• The organization states it does not have an annual report covering activities conducted for the year ended September 30, 2025.

Standard 17 (Web Site Disclosures)
Include on any charity websites that solicit contributions, the same information that is recommended for annual reports, as well as the mailing address of the charity and electronic access to its most recent IRS Form 990.

DOL does not meet this Standard because the organization’s website, https://dreamingoutloud.org/, does not include all of the recommended information for those charity websites that solicit for donations. Specifically, it does not include:

• Electronic access to the organization’s IRS Form 990 for the year ended September 30, 2024.
• A summary of 2024-2025 program service accomplishments.
• A roster of the board of directors.
• The organization’s mailing address.

Standard 18 (Privacy for Written Appeals & Internet Privacy)
Address privacy concerns of donors by (a) providing in written appeals, at least annually, a means (e.g., such as a check off box) for both new and continuing donors to inform the charity if they do not want their name and address shared outside the organization, (b) providing a clear, prominent and easily accessible privacy policy on any of its websites that tells visitors (i) what information, if any, is being collected about them by the charity and how this information will be used, (ii) how to contact the charity to review personal information collected and request corrections, (iii) how to inform the charity (e.g., a check off box) that the visitor does not wish his/her personal information to be shared outside the organization, and (iv) what security measures the charity has in place to protect personal information.

DOL does not meet this Standard because the privacy policy on its website, https://dreamingoutloud.org/, does not indicate:

• What personal information is being collected and how it will be used.
• How to contact the charity to review personal information that is collected and request corrections.
• How to inform the charity that the visitor does not want his/her information shared with others.
• What security measures are in place to protect personal information that is collected.

The BBB Wise Giving Alliance requested but did not receive complete information from the organization and is unable to verify the organization's compliance with the following Standard(s) for Charity Accountability: 3

Dreaming Out Loud meets the remaining 11 Standards for Charity Accountability.