GOLD2023

Dreams of Hope

Queer Youth Arts

Pittsburgh, PA   |  www.dreamsofhope.org

Mission

Mission: Through the power of the arts, Dreams of Hope provides the region's LGBTQ and allied youth a welcoming environment to grow in confidence, express themselves, and develop as leaders. Their creative contributions educate audiences, build awareness, and increase acceptance. Vision: Dreams of Hope sees a future where LGBTQ and all youth are nurtured, have freedom of expression, and live in communities that embrace them. Guiding Principles: All youth deserve respect.All people are creative.Creative expression connects people.Open dialogue is a foundation for empathy and peace.Multidisciplinaryarts develop the entire person.

Ruling year info

2005

Artistic Director

Bekezela Mguni

Development Director

Ada Gay Griffin

Main address

PO Box 4912

Pittsburgh, PA 15206 USA

Show more contact info

EIN

43-2057957

NTEE code info

orming Arts (Aer)

Services to Promote the Independence of Specific Populations (P80)

IRS filing requirement

This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.

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Communication

Programs and results

What we aim to solve

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Our programs

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?

theatriQ

Each year this flagship multidisciplinary arts program assembles a diversely talented performance troupe of LGBTQA+ and allied youth to devise and present a mainstage original theater production. Mentored by professional artists and educators, each group creates and performs new dramatic work infused with original dialogue, songs, dance, and poetry about queer life and joy. Participants aged 13 to 26 share their stories, interpretations, and commentaries on queer life. They attend weekly sessions and workshops, develop their skills, and lead workshops at venues located throughout Pittsburgh such as schools, libraries, art spaces, and community centers culminating in an annual production at the Kelly Strayhorn Theatre's Alloy Studio in Pittsburgh’s East End art district. ASL interpretation, a student matinee, and a closed caption webcast are typically provided for each production. Performances conclude with the ensemble in a conversation about the show.

Population(s) Served
Ethnic and racial groups

SQOOL is adaptable multi-disciplinary programming tailored to meet the priorities, needs, and goals of queer, and trans youth and those who interact with them. sQool activities cultivate positive LGBTQ+ youth development through planning and programming collaborations. We engage youth and adults in schools, cultural venues, community-based settings, and other learning environments. Our curricular goals are aligned with core standards. SQool also provides contracted educational services, including:
• IN-SCHOOL RESIDENCIES connect teaching artists with schools and classrooms to augment curriculum, learning, and LGBTQ integration
• ONE-TIME ARTS WORKSHOPS inside or outside the classroom expose students and educators to LGBTQ topics through art creation and conversation.
• PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS for adults who work with youth to become more effective in their interactions with LGBTQ youth and families.
• DROP-BY ART MAKING includes pop-up activities at events.

Population(s) Served

Dreams of Hope advances a forever commitment to provide LGBTQA+ youth with support, advocacy, and resources to help them achieve their goals and succeed in life. Our work empowers young people to build community networks, connect with artistic mentors, apprenticeships, and residencies, and participate in art creation, artist training, and art appreciation opportunities of exceptional quality while cultivating learning, leadership, careers, and community service through the arts. DOH works with dozens of local artists, educators, and creatives to offer programs such as "Queerness in Nature Walks," group visits to professional performances, guided behind-the-scenes and exhibition tours, our "SpeaQ" open mic series for new performing artists, artist skill-building sessions, the "DOH Quarterly" newsletter, as well as workshops and other opportunities to explore the visual, performing, and digital/ media arts, and queer perspectives in the humanities throughout the year.

Population(s) Served

Where we work

Awards

20 Years of Service to Queer and Trans Youth 2023

1st Annual Mr.Ms.&Mx. Pageant

How we listen

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.

done We shared information about our current feedback practices.

  • 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 identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals

  • Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?

    We take steps to get feedback from marginalized or under-represented people, 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

  • What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?

    It is difficult to get the people we serve to respond to requests for feedback, We don’t have the right technology to collect and aggregate feedback efficiently, The people we serve tell us they find data collection burdensome, Staff find it hard to prioritize feedback collection and review due to lack of time

Financials

Dreams of Hope
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Operations

The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.

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lock

Connect with nonprofit leaders

Subscribe

Build 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.

Dreams of Hope

Board of directors
as of 07/08/2023
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization
Board co-chair

Terrance McGeorge

Project Silk/Project Matters

Term: 2024 - 2021


Board co-chair

Ashanti Dunkin

University of Pittsburgh

Term: 2023 - 2027

Susan Haugh

Dreams of Hope, Founder

Bekezela Mguni

Black Unicorn Library and Archive

Ada Gay Griffin

Griffin Commons

Malachiah kai koehler

Rachel Rosnick

Kids Voice

Amanda Howard

Sisterson & Company

Oe (Zoe) Zelmanovich

Board leadership practices

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.

  • 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? No
  • 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? Yes

Organizational demographics

SOURCE: Self-reported; last updated 7/8/2023
info Candid has made improvements to the race and ethnicity options.

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
Black/African American
Sexual orientation
Decline to state
Disability status
Decline to state

The organization's co-leader identifies as:

Race & ethnicity
Black/African American
Sexual orientation
Decline to state
Disability status
Decline to state

Race & ethnicity

Gender identity

No data

 

No data

Sexual orientation

Disability

No data

We do not display disability information for organizations with fewer than 15 staff.

Equity strategies

Last updated: 07/08/2023

GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more

Data
  • 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.
Policies and processes
  • 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.