I Have A Dream Foundation

THE "I HAVE A DREAM" FOUNDATION (IHDF) EXPANDS EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHILDREN LIVING IN UNDER-RESOURCED COMMUNITIES BY EMPOWERING THEM TO ACHIEVE HIGHER EDUCATION AND PROVIDING THEM WITH GUARANTEED TUITION SUPPORT AND EQUIPPING THEM WITH THE SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE NEEDED TO GAIN ENTRY TO AND SUCCEED IN COLLEGE AND BEYOND. OUR VISION IS THAT ONE DAY, ALL CHILDREN FROM LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES WILL HAVE AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY TO COMPLETE HIGH SCHOOL, ACHIEVE POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION, AND FULLY CAPITALIZE ON THEIR TALENTS AND ASPIRATIONS TO BECOME PRODUCTIVE GLOBAL CITIZENS. WE SPONSOR COHORTS OF STUDENTS IN UNDER-RESOURCED PUBLIC SCHOOLS OR HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS, AND WORK WITH THESE "DREAMERS" FROM EARLY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ALL THE WAY THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL. UPON HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION, EACH DREAMER RECEIVES GUARANTEED TUITION ASSISTANCE FOR HIGHER EDUCATION. WHILE EACH "I HAVE A DREAM" PROGRAM IS LOCALIZED TO MEET THE SPECIFIC NEEDS OF ITS DREAMERS, ALL OF OUR PROGRAMS SHARE COMMON ELEMENTS

DREAMER & AFFILIATE SUPPORT - THE "I HAVE A DREAM" FOUNDATION PROVIDES GUIDANCE, RESOURCES, AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO 17 "I HAVE A DREAM" AFFILIATES ACROSS THE NATION, WITH THE GOAL OF ENSURING THAT OUR 2,146 STUDENTS, CALLED "DREAMERS", GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL PREPARED TO ENROLL IN AND COMPLETE A POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION. OUR OFFICE WORKS WITH AFFILIATES TO PROVIDE BEST PRACTICES, LEARNING EXCHANGES, AND NATIONAL CONVENINGS, AS WELL AS MORE TARGETED PROGRAM SUPPORT THROUGH SITE VISITS, PHONE CONSULTATIONS, AND OTHER TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. IN ADDITION, THE NATIONAL OFFICE DEVELOPS PARTNERSHIPS TO PROVIDE RESOURCES TO OUR DREAMERS AND AFFILIATES. THE FOUNDATION SPONSORS AN ANNUAL LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE FOR MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL DREAMERS FROM ACROSS THE UNITED STATES. EACH YEAR WE HOLD THE DREAMER CONFERENCE ON A COLLEGE CAMPUS IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.

PROGRAM STRATEGY & DESIGN - THE "I HAVE A DREAM" FOUNDATION IS WORKING TO INCREASE THE ORGANIZATION'S IMPACT BY CONSTANTLY IMPROVING OUR EFFORTS TO SUPPORT CURRENT AFFILIATES. AS PART OF THIS EFFORT, THE FOUNDATION CONDUCTED SURVEYS TO EVALUATE CURRENT PROGRAMS' OFFERINGS ACROSS THE AFFILIATE NETWORK AND PROVIDED RESOURCES TO ADDRESS AREAS THAT NEEDED IMPROVEMENT. THE FOUNDATION RECENTLY IMPLEMENTED OUR COLLEGE SAVINGS ACCOUNT (CSA) PROGRAM WITH THREE AFFILIATES (NEW YORK-METRO, DES MOINES, AND OREGON), WITH THE GOAL OF ROLLING OUT THE PROGRAM ACROSS THE BROADER NETWORK. CSAS HAVE BEEN SHOWN TO INCREASE A STUDENT'S COLLEGE-GOING MINDSET AND POSITIVELY IMPACT THE COLLEGE-GOING RATE OF CHILDREN LIVING IN UNDER-RESOURCED COMMUNITIES. IHDF'S GOALS IN CREATING CSA'S FOR DREAMERS INCLUDE INCREASING THE NUMBER OF DREAMERS GETTING TO AND THROUGH COLLEGE, AND ALLOWING THE PUBLIC TO HELP SUPPORT DREAMERS' COLLEGE DREAMS BY PROVIDING A SAFE AND ACCESSIBLE INVESTMENT VEHICLE.

DATA & PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT - THE "I HAVE A DREAM" FOUNDATION CONTINUES TO BUILD OUT A CENTRAL REPOSITORY OF CURRENT AND HISTORICAL PERFORMANCE DATA ACROSS THE "I HAVE A DREAM" NETWORK IN ORDER TO MEASURE THE ORGANIZATION'S COLLECTIVE IMPACT, DRIVE CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT EFFORTS AND RESOURCE ALLOCATION, AND STRENGTHEN PERFORMANCE ACCOUNTABILITY.