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55 NE 5TH AVE
Boca Raton FL 33432-4000
Boca Raton FL | IRS ruling year: 2016 | EIN: 81-3693206
Organization Mission
Sweet Dream Makers' mission is to promote the health and wellness of children and families by providing, beds, bedding and essential furniture. Sweet Dream Makers pr ... (More)
Sweet Dream Makers' mission is to promote the health and wellness of children and families by providing, beds, bedding and essential furniture. Sweet Dream Makers provides new beds at no cost to children and families sleeping on the floor, sharing beds or sleeping in unsafe, unsanitary conditions. Each child gets to choose their own bedding to go with their new bed. (Less)
Great
This charity's score is 99%, earning it a Four-Star rating. If this organization aligns with your passions and values, you can give with confidence.
This overall score is calculated from multiple beacon scores, weighted as follows: 80% Accountability & Finance, 10% Leadership & Adaptability, 10% Culture & Community. Learn more about our criteria and methodology.
We recognize that not all metrics and beacons equally predict a charity’s success. The percentage each beacon contributes to the organization’s overall rating depends on the number of beacons an organization has earned.
Use the tool below to select different beacons to see how the weighting shifts when only one, two, or three beacons are earned.
Rating histories are available for a growing number of rated organizations. Check back later to see if this organization has a rating history!
The IRS is significantly delayed in processing nonprofits' annual tax filings (Forms 990). As a result, the Accountability & Finance score for Sweet Dream Makers Inc. is outdated and the overall rating may not be representative of its current operations. Please check with the charity directly for any questions you may have.
Sweet Dream Makers Inc. has earned a 100% for the Accountability & Finance beacon. See the metrics below for more information.
This beacon provides an assessment of a charity's financial health (financial efficiency, sustainability, and trustworthiness) and its commitment to governance practices and policies.
This Accountability & Finance score represents IRS Form 990 data up until FY 2020, which is the most recent Form 990 currently available to us.
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Full Credit
Partial Credit
No Credit
Not ApplicableBoard Composition - 8/8 - 25/25 ptsBoard Composition - 8/8 - 25/25 pts
Charity Navigator looks for at least 3 board members, with more than 50% of those members identified as independent (not salaried).
The presence of an independent governing body is strongly recommended by many industry professionals to allow for full deliberation and diversity of thinking on governance and other organizational matters.
Source: IRS Form 990
Independent Audit or Financial Review - Has Audit/Review - 20/20 ptsIndependent Audit or Financial Review - Has Audit/Review - 20/20 pts
An Audit, Review, or Compilation provides important information about financial accountability and accuracy. Organizations are scored based on their Total Revenue Amount:
| Total Revenue Amount | Expectation to Receive Credit |
|---|---|
| $1 million or higher | Expected to complete an audit |
| $500,000 - $1 million | Expected to complete an audit, review, or compilation |
| Less than $500,000 | No expectation (removed from scoring methodology) |
Source: IRS Form 990
Conflict of Interest Policy - Listed - 3/3 ptsConflict of Interest Policy - Listed - 3/3 pts
Charity Navigator looks for the existence of a conflict of interest policy on the Form 990 as an accountability and transparency measure.
This policy protects the organization and by extension those it serves, when it is considering entering into a transaction that may benefit the private interest of an officer, director and/or key employee of the organization.
Source: IRS Form 990
Board Meeting Minutes - Documented - 3/3 ptsBoard Meeting Minutes - Documented - 3/3 pts
Charity Navigator looks to confirm on the Form 990 that the organization has this process in place as an accountability and transparency measure.
An official record of the events that take place during a board meeting ensures that a contemporaneous document exists for future reference.
Source: IRS Form 990
Document Retention and Destruction - Listed - 3/3 ptsDocument Retention and Destruction - Listed - 3/3 pts
Charity Navigator looks for the existence of a document retention and destruction policy per the Form 990 as an accountability and transparency measure.
This policy establishes guidelines for the handling, backing up, archiving and destruction of documents. These guidelines foster good record keeping procedures that promote data integrity.
Source: IRS Form 990
Whistleblower Policy - Listed - 3/3 ptsWhistleblower Policy - Listed - 3/3 pts
Charity Navigator looks for the existence of a whistleblower policy per the Form 990 as an accountability and transparency measure.
This policy outlines procedures for handling employee complaints, as well as a confidential way for employees to report financial or other types of mismanagement.
Source: IRS Form 990
Website - Listed - 3/3 ptsWebsite - Listed - 3/3 pts
Charity Navigator looks for a website on the Form 990 as an accountability and transparency metric.
Nonprofits act in the public trust and reporting publicly on activities is an important component.
Source: IRS Form 990
Full CreditPartial CreditNo CreditNot ApplicableLiabilities to Assets Ratio - 4.00% - 15/15 ptsLiabilities to Assets Ratio - 4.00% - 15/15 pts
The Liabilities to Assets Ratio is determined by Total Liabilities divided by Total Assets (most recent 990). This ratio is an indicator of an organization’s solvency and/or long-term sustainability.
| Liabilities to Assets Ratio | Amount of Credit Received |
|---|---|
| Less than 50% | Full Credit |
| 50% - 59.9% | Partial Credit |
| 60% or more | No Credit |
Source: IRS Form 990
Program Expense Ratio - 93.68% - 25/25 ptsProgram Expense Ratio - 93.68% - 25/25 pts
The Program Expense Ratio is determined by Program Expenses divided by Total Expense (average of most recent three 990s). This measure reflects the percent of its total expenses a charity spends on the programs and services it exists to deliver.
| Program Expense Percentage | Amount of Credit Received |
|---|---|
| 70% or higher | Full Credit |
| 60% - 69.9% | Partial Credit |
| 50% - 59.9% | Zero Points for Program Expense Score |
| Below 50% | Zero Points for Both Program Expense AND Liabilities to Assets Scores |
Source: IRS Form 990
This chart displays the trend of revenue and expenses over the past several years for this organization, as reported on their IRS Form 990.
Presented here are up to five of this organization's highest compensated employees. This compensation data includes salary, cash bonuses, and expense accounts and is displayed exactly how it is reported to the IRS. The amounts do not include nontaxable benefits, deferred compensation, or other amounts not reported on Form W-2. In some cases, these amounts may include compensation from related organizations. Read the IRS policies for compensation reporting
Source: IRS Form 990 (page 7), filing year 2020
Below are some key data points from the Exempt Organization IRS Business Master File (BMF) for this organization. Learn more about the BMF on the IRS website
Foundation Status:
Organization which receives a substantial part of its support from a governmental unit or the general public 170(b)(1)(A)(vi) (BMF foundation code: 15)
Affiliation:
Independent - the organization is an independent organization or an independent auxiliary (i.e., not affiliated with a National, Regional, or Geographic grouping of organizations). (BMF affiliation code: 3)
The Form 990 is a document that nonprofit organizations file with the IRS annually. We leverage finance and accountability data from it to form Encompass ratings. Click here to search for this organization's Forms 990 on the IRS website (if any are available). Simply enter the organization's name (Sweet Dream Makers Inc.) or EIN (813693206) in the 'Search Term' field.
This organization was impacted by COVID-19 in a way that effected their financial health in 2020. This normally would have reduced their star rating. Due to the unprecedented nature of the pandemic, we give charities such as this one the opportunity to share the story of COVID's impact on them, and doing this pauses our revision of their rating. Charities may submit their own pandemic responses through their nonprofit portal.
Sweet Dream Makers Inc. reported being impacted by COVID-19 in the following ways:
Fundraising Capacity
How COVID-19 impacted the organization's operations financially:
All in-person fundraising events were canceled. We resorted to mailed and emailed appeals at mid-year and end-of-year as well as a Facebook Live event. We applied and received the PPP loan which was used to pay staff.
How COVID-19 impacted the organization's delivery of programs:
Due to social distancing, we modified the delivery procedure of new beds and bedding. Beds were dropped at the front door. Families were notified of delivery. Families were left with instructions on how to assemble the beds. In addition, all new bedding and cribs were delivered via UPS. Our warehouse of gently used furniture was closed until it was safe for our drivers to enter a donor's home and for families to come to the warehouse and pick up what they needed. The warehouse has a large garage door and all of our employees and families are expected to wear masks.
How this organization adapted to changing conditions caused by COVID-19:
When home visits were prohibited, case managers at our partner agencies interviewed families via Zoom meetings. They further verified the need for beds with photos. Our vendor shut down all delivery of beds during the initial 4 weeks of the pandemic so we quickly pivoted to our using our own truck and workers to pick up the new beds from our vendor's warehouse and deliver directly to the families we serve. Due to social distancing, beds were dropped off at the front door and families had to assemble them.
Innovations the organization intends to continue permanently after the pandemic:
We will continue to ask for photo verification of the need when warranted. In addition, we will continue to ship bedding items and cribs via UPS moving forward.
Not Currently Scored
Sweet Dream Makers Inc. cannot currently be evaluated by our Impact & Results methodology because either (A) it is eligible, but we have not yet received data; (B) we have not yet developed an algorithm to estimate its programmatic impact; (C) its programs are not direct services; or (D) it is not heavily reliant on contributions from individual donors.
Note: The absence of a score does not indicate a positive or negative assessment, it only indicates that we have not yet evaluated the organization.
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Sweet Dream Makers Inc. reported its largest program on its FY 2020 Form 990 as:
Spent in most recent FY
Percent of program expenses
During the period 1/1/20 12/31/20, Sweet Dream Makers provided 2433 new beds and bedding (including a few like-new beds) to children and their caregivers' ages birth thru 19. Families in great need ar ... (More)
During the period 1/1/20 12/31/20, Sweet Dream Makers provided 2433 new beds and bedding (including a few like-new beds) to children and their caregivers' ages birth thru 19. Families in great need are referred by over 50 social service agencies in Palm Beach County. Our signature program, A Bed of My Own is generously supported by monetary contributions from approximately 975 donors in 2020.Additionally, in 2020, our warehouse program provided gently used essential furniture and housewares free of charge to over 200 families who also received new beds. In order to collect all donations, Sweet Dream Makers had contact with over 125 in-kind furniture and housewares donors in the local community who participated in helping those among us with the greatest need by generously donating their quality, gently used furniture and household goods. (Less)
Sweet Dream Makers Inc. has earned a 93% for the Culture & Community beacon. See the metrics below for more information.
This beacon provides an assessment of the organization's culture and connectedness to the community it serves.
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Full CreditPartial CreditNo CreditNot ApplicableConstituent Feedback - Data Available - 100/100 ptsConstituent Feedback - Data Available - 100/100 pts
30% of beacon score
This organization reported that it is collecting feedback from the constituents and/or communities it serves. Charity Navigator believes nonprofit organizations that engage in inclusive practices, such as collecting feedback from the people and communities they serve, may be more effective.
Who are the people you serve with your mission? Describe briefly.
Sweet Dream Makers serves children and families with a financial need, as determined by our partner agencies. The vast majority of those we serve are working poor - low and moderate-income families who, despite having stable housing and working hard, still do not have enough to afford furniture items like beds. These families work in our restaurants, hotels, and hospitals. They are teachers and healthcare professionals, who work to make ends meet for their families and still cannot afford beds, bedding, and essential furniture. PBC is the second most expensive county in FL in which to live, and most are shocked to learn how many children from working poor families right here in PBC are sleeping on the floor, sharing beds, or are in otherwise unsafe and unsanitary conditions.
How is your organization collecting feedback from the people you serve?
SMS text surveys, Electronic surveys (by email, tablet, etc.), Case management notes
How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, Other means
With whom does your organization share the feedback you got from the people you serve?
Our staff, Our board, Our funders, Our community partners
How has asking for feedback from the people you serve changed your relationship with them or shifted power - over decisions, resources, rules or in other ways - to them?
After learning that families needed more help setting up their beds, specifically bunk beds, we swiftly changed vendors from an online source to a local furniture vendor who delivers and sets up all beds provided. We also provide bed bug mattress protectors for each mattress. We learned that these items often shipped weeks after the mattress was delivered and families were less likely to use them. In response, we pivoted to buying mattress protectors in bulk and working with our local furniture vendor to warehouse the protectors and deliver one with each mattress. Thru photos of families' bedrooms and sleeping environments, we learned that dressers were needed after seeing clothing in piles on the floor. So again we worked closely with our furniture vendor to provide dressers to families.
What challenges does your organization face in collecting feedback from the people you serve?
We don't have any major challenges to collecting feedback
Briefly describe a recent change that your organization made in response to feedback from the people you serve.
When checking up on a client, we discovered that our families were having a difficult time setting up the beds that were delivered. Specifically bunk beds. We then contracted with our vender to ave all beds set up and all packing material removed. In addition to beds, Sweet Dream Makers purchases bedding, cribs and toddler beds from Walmart. Another issue the families we serve encountered was theft of these items delivered via UPS and left at their front door. An issue people all over the country are having. We changed our policy to have our recipients pick up all bedding, cribs and toddler beds at a Walmart most convenient for them. Lastly, we provide individual solutions to accommodate what is best for each family. Recently we purchased and assembled a triple bunk bed.
Equity Practices - Data Available - 90/100 ptsEquity Practices - Data Available - 90/100 pts
70% of beacon score
This organization's score of 90 is a passing score. The organization reported that it is implementing 7 Equity Practices. Charity Navigator believes nonprofit organizations implementing effective equity policies and practices can enhance a nonprofit's decision-making, staff motivation, innovation, and effectiveness.
Equity Practices (3/7) | |
|---|---|
We review compensation data across the organization (and by staff levels) to identify disparities by race. | |
We ask team members to identify racial disparities in their programs and/or portfolios. | |
We analyze disaggregated data and root causes of race disparities that impact the organization/'s programs, portfolios, and the populations served. | |
We disaggregate data to adjust programming goals to keep pace with changing needs of the communities we support. | |
We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders. | |
We disaggregate data by demographics, including race, in every policy and program measured | |
We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization. | |
Equity Policies and Procedures (4/7) | |
|---|---|
We use a vetting process to identify vendors and partners that share our commitment to race equity. | |
We have a promotion process that anticipates and mitigates implicit and explicit biases about people of color serving in leadership positions. | |
We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization. | |
We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board. | |
We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability. | |
We measure and then disaggregate job satisfaction and retention data by race, function, level, and/or team. | |
We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization. | |
Sweet Dream Makers Inc. has earned a 100% for the Leadership & Adaptability beacon. See the metrics below for more information.
This beacon provides an assessment of the organization's leadership capacity, strategic thinking and planning, and ability to innovate or respond to changes in constituent demand/need or other relevant social and economic conditions to achieve the organization's mission.
Learn more
Full CreditPartial CreditNo CreditNot ApplicableMission - 10/10 ptsMission - 10/10 pts
The nonprofit organization presents evidence of strategic thinking through articulating the organization's mission
Sweet Dream Makers' mission is to promote the health and wellness of children and families by providing, beds, bedding and essential furniture. Sweet Dream Makers provides new beds at no cost to children and families sleeping on the floor, sharing beds or sleeping in unsafe, unsanitary conditions. Each child gets to choose their own bedding to go with their new bed.
Vision - 10/10 ptsVision - 10/10 pts
The nonprofit organization presents evidence of strategic thinking through articulating the organization’s vision.
Together with our partners and supporters, we are working toward the simple, yet ambitious, goal to improve the lives of our community’s children, one bed at a time! Our vision is to work with community partners, social service agencies, and advocates to ensure that every child has access to a good night’s sleep, thereby immediately improving their school performance, health, and well-being. Sweet Dream Makers is dedicated to ensuring the basic comfort and security necessary for each child to reach their full potential. With a safe, clean, and appropriate place to sleep each night, these families have made great strides in health and well-being outcomes, school performance, and the ability to meet everyday needs.
Source: Nonprofit submitted responses
Goals - 20/20 ptsGoals - 20/20 pts
The nonprofit organization presents evidence of strategic thinking and goal setting through sharing their most important strategic goals.
Goal One: Broward Cty Expansion: As we build relationships with partners and stakeholders in S. Florida, we have heard that our simple, yet transformational programming is in desperate need in neighboring areas
Goal Type: Grow, expand, scale or increase access to the existing programs and services.
Goal Two: Adults in Need– in consultation with our partner agencies, provide beds to the homeless in rapid-rehousing programs, seniors in need, those struggling with mental health, victims of domestic violence.
Goal Type: New program(s) based on observed changes in needs among our constituencies/communities served.
Goal Three: Direct Connect will bring SDM programming directly to children in identified underserved areas throughout Palm Beach County. We will establish a protocol for outreach, vetting, and follow-up.
Goal Type: Grow, expand, scale or increase access to the existing programs and services.
Leadership Development - 15/15 ptsLeadership Development - 15/15 pts
The nonprofit provides evidence of investment in leadership development
Just prior to the pandemic we were scheduled to attend a 2-day conference in NYC hosted by Donor Perfect on Donor Relations, communications, and stewardship. Since that time we have participated in numerous Donor Perfect webinars.
Mobilizing for Mission - 15/15 ptsMobilizing for Mission - 15/15 pts
The nonprofit provides evidence of leadership through focusing externally and mobilizing resources for the mission.
Strategic Partnerships
Networks of Collective Impact Efforts
Raising Awareness
SDM is an innovative program, working alongside 50+ local social service agencies to identify families in need and serve an average of 75 families each month through the A Bed of My Own program, matching each member of the household with a bed best suited to their needs. Since its inception, there has been a sharp increase in requests attributed to two factors: first, no other agency is directly addressing the need for beds; second, as our reputation as a quick and efficient provider has grown, more caseworkers are turning to us for help. SDM is collaborative by design. By providing beds, families can get the sleep they need, allowing referring caseworkers to do the work they need to serve their clients' best interests. Lastly, we speak to local community groups, religious organizations and businesses to create awareness of the staggering need and encourage the participation of all ages through community service projects.
Adaptability Story - 30/30 ptsAdaptability Story - 30/30 pts
The nonprofit has an opportunity to tell the story of how the organization adapted to tremendous external changes in the last year.
Our vetting process has become more creative since our referring partner agencies have had to resort to virtual rather than in-home interviews with families in need of wrap-around services. By using a robust database program we are able to keep track of the thousands of families who have received our services since 2017. As the pandemic reached its peak, our services were desperately needed, and the increase in requests has continued. We administer post-surveys within 90 days of receiving beds. Here are two of the responses we have received during the COVID crisis. This mom cried when she received beds for her children. "We lost our home and our furniture and were homeless. We moved into our apartment with nothing but the clothes we had. Then Sweet Dream Makers showed up with beds for our sons and us. I cried because our kids did not have to sleep on the floor. It made such a huge impact on our family. It was one of the most important things to receive as a gift. It gave my family hope to know everything will be okay. To have a bed to sleep in. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts." Another family had lost everything and was starting over from scratch. "We had lost our home, our vehicle, and all our clothes and belongings. Once we had found a home, Sweet Dream Makers gave us our first pieces of furniture....our beds. It felt amazing to have our own home, and even more amazing to have beds to sleep in. I cannot describe the immense joy we all felt. Sweet Dreams Makers was a Godsend." There are many stories like these received during a year fraught with unprecedented difficulty for families in need. We are certain that the many beds we have provided during the pandemic are more meaningful than ever to the children and families we served who, in addition to the everyday stresses that poverty levels, faced the added uncertainties of distance learning, and social isolation. The comfort of a good night's sleep our beds provided has been more crucial than ever before.
Impact & Results
Accountability & Finance
Culture & Community
Leadership & Adaptability
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