SUNSHINE FOUNDATION
SEE WHAT A DREAM CAN DO...
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
The Sunshine Foundation is the only national wish granting organization that answers dreams or wishes to children with life-long chronic illnesses and conditions. All other national wish granting organizations limit their programs to children diagnosed with a life-threatening or critical diagnosis.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Special Dreams Program
Sunshine Foundation's sole purpose is to answer the dreams of disadvantaged children with chronic illnesses, physical challenges from diseases, brain or spinal injuries, and those suffering from the trauma of abuse. We work with children ages three to eighteen, whose families cannot fulfill their requests due to their limited incomes and the financial strain that the child's illness may cause. Sunshine Foundation is the only national wish granting organization that answers the dreams of children that have a chronic, life-long medical condition rather than a life-threatening or critical diagnosis.
The most common request is a Magical Dream to visit the central FL theme parks and stay at the Sunshine Foundation Dream Village.
We also answer Special Dreams: shopping sprees, computers, iPads, above ground swimming pools, outdoor playsets, family trips, sensory rooms, adaptive tricycles and other special needs equipment.
Magical Dreams Program
Sunshine Foundation's sole purpose is to answer the dreams of disadvantaged children with chronic illnesses, physical challenges from diseases, brain or spinal injuries, and those suffering from the trauma of abuse. We work with children ages three to eighteen, whose families cannot fulfill their requests due to their limited incomes and the financial strain that the child's illness may cause. Sunshine Foundation is the only national wish granting organization that answers the dreams of children that have a chronic, life-long medical condition rather than a life-threatening or critical diagnosis.
Most of the children we serve wish to visit the Central Florida theme parks and attractions when asked the simple question: “If you could have one dream, what would it be?” Since this has been the #1 dream request every year, the Sunshine Foundation Dream Village was built 1988-1989 just a few minutes from Disney World, and officially opened in January 1990. The Dream Village is a 22-acre resort nestled in a fairy tale setting and offers amenities and activities, all specially designed to be accessible for wheelchairs and other special needs. Each cottage has a unique and magical theme designed especially for children. The Dream Village is celebrating it's 30th Anniversary this year.
The Sunshine Foundation provides everything for the entire family, including airfare, transportation, lodging, tickets to the attractions and spending money. These once-in-a-lifetime, Dreams Come True, have a lasting impact on the children and their family members. The parents or guardians of the children share with us that these moments of joy are their happiest memories. The memories of laughter and fun made at the Dream Village and theme parks have helped their child during current struggles, and will help them during future struggles. They discovered that they can do more as a family, travelling and exploring, and that their child is not limited to home and/or a wheelchair. These week-long trips provide a bright spot in their childhood that has been filled with on-going hospital treatments, surgeries and therapies.
The Sunshine Foundation’s programs run continuously throughout the year and the organization operates and provides dreams as we receive donations to help us do so. Our long-term funding strategies for this program include: grants from corporations and foundations, donations from individuals, fundraising events organized by volunteer chapters throughout the country, fundraising events held on our behalf by corporate and civic groups, fundraising events organized by our staff and local volunteers, and from employee giving campaigns (CFC/United Way and corporations). Each dream costs approximately $6,000 per family.
The children we serve suffer from chronic, life-long illnesses and conditions including spina bifida, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, Down syndrome, profound low-functioning autism, brain and spinal injuries, Type 1 diabetes, post-traumatic stress disorder, injury from abuse, and many others.
Dream Village
Sunshine Foundation's sole purpose is to answer the dreams of disadvantaged children with chronic illnesses, physical challenges from diseases, brain or spinal injuries, and those suffering from the trauma of abuse. We work with children ages three to eighteen, whose families cannot fulfill their requests due to their limited incomes and the financial strain that the child's illness may cause. Sunshine Foundation is the only national wish granting organization that answers the dreams of children that have a chronic, life-long medical condition rather than a life-threatening or critical diagnosis.
Most of the children we serve wish to visit the Central Florida theme parks and attractions when asked the simple question: “If you could have one dream, what would it be?” Since this has been the #1 dream request every year, the Sunshine Foundation Dream Village was built 1988-1989 just a few minutes from Disney World, and officially opened in January 1990. The Dream Village is a 22-acre resort nestled in a fairy tale setting and offers amenities and activities, all specially designed to be accessible for wheelchairs and other special needs. Each cottage has a unique and magical theme designed especially for children. The Dream Village is celebrating it's 30th Anniversary this year.
The Sunshine Foundation provides everything for the entire family, including airfare, transportation, lodging, tickets to the attractions and spending money. These once-in-a-lifetime, Dreams Come True, have a lasting impact on the children and their family members. The parents or guardians of the children share with us that these moments of joy are their happiest memories. The memories of laughter and fun made at the Dream Village and theme parks have helped their child during current struggles, and will help them during future struggles. They discovered that they can do more as a family, travelling and exploring, and that their child is not limited to home and/or a wheelchair. These week-long trips provide a bright spot in their childhood that has been filled with on-going hospital treatments, surgeries and therapies.
The Sunshine Foundation’s programs run continuously throughout the year and the organization operates and provides dreams as we receive donations to help us do so. Our long-term funding strategies for this program include: grants from corporations and foundations, donations from individuals, fundraising events organized by volunteer chapters throughout the country, fundraising events held on our behalf by corporate and civic groups, fundraising events organized by our staff and local volunteers, and from employee giving campaigns (CFC/United Way and corporations). It costs approximately $30,000 per month to operate the Dream Village.
The children we serve suffer from chronic, life-long illnesses and conditions including spina bifida, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, Down syndrome, profound low-functioning autism, brain and spinal injuries, Type 1 diabetes, post-traumatic stress disorder, injury from abuse, and many others.
Where we work
Awards
William Sample 1981
President Ronald Reagan's Volunteer Action Award
Lifetime Achievement Award 2010
Association of Fundraising Professionals
No Name 1983
Father Baker Award
No Other Name 1977
City of Philadelphia Award
Great Friend to Kids Award 2003
Please Touch Museum
ASAH Legacy of Caring Award 2014
ASAH Legacy of Caring Award
External reviews
Photos
Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of children served
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Children, Chronically ill people, Low-income people, People with physical disabilities, People with other disabilities
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Covid19 Pandemic reduced program numbers during 2020 and 2021 due to travel restrictions and concerns for children and families that may have compromised immune systems.
Number of family members included of child who received services
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Children, People with other disabilities, People with physical disabilities, Chronically ill people, Low-income people
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Sunshine Foundation's goal is to increase our funding and finding new sources of revenue to increase the number of children we are able to help every year and provide an even better experience at the Sunshine Foundation Dream Village.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Sunshine Foundation plans on increasing awareness of the Foundation's mission through social media outreach as well as more traditional means of media. We have started Dream Come True programs which the child is hand delivered the good news of their dream come true. This will help increase our reach and secure new donors and increase awareness.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Sunshine Foundation has utilized social media platforms to increase awareness. We are also expanding our Board of Directors in hopes of gaining even more awareness nation wide.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
We are proud to have spread Sunshine into the lives of over 41,500 children since 1976. We hope to increase the number of children we are able to help every year by increasing funding and awareness nationwide.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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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, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response, We act on the feedback we receive
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
We don't have any major challenges to collecting feedback
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
SUNSHINE FOUNDATION
Board of directorsas of 10/12/2023
Amanda Agati
PNC Financial Services Group
Jacquelyn J. Ager
Eckert Seamans
Amanda Agati
PNC Financial Services
Michael Ksiazek
Stark & Stark
Kurt Kamrad
Miami Air International
Amy Welde
Julio Rodriguez Burgos
Hilton Grand Vacations
Christopher Shermer
Pennsylvania Property & Casualty Insurance Guaranty Assoc
Jordan Hauge
Temple Fox School of Business - Board Fellow
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? No -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? No
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Transgender Identity
Sexual orientation
Disability
No data