Garden of Dreams Foundation
Our mission is supported by three core pillars: 1) community projects - we provide direct financial support for improvements to community facilities, as well as for community-based sports, entertainment and media projects, that enhance the environment of young people where they live and grow. 2) education - we provide scholarships for college and trade schools as well as mentorship and career exposure programs that open the doors to opportunities and impact our young people's futures. 3) inspiration & joy - we provide unforgettable experiences that inspire young people in our communities, and foster healing and joy.
Garden of Dreams Foundation at a glance
In short: Garden of Dreams Foundation gave $983K across 4 grants in 2025 (avg $246K), mostly in New York. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $982,898
- -2.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 4
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $245,725
- -2.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $193,749
- Total assets
- $6,870,672
- +9.0% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- New York (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Garden of Dreams Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 4 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Scan-Harbor Inc ($575K). Together the top 4 received $983K.
Grant Size Distribution
32 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 14 grants of 32 (44%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 4 itemized grants.
Cities
How Garden of Dreams Foundation gives
- Giving grew 312% from 2022 to 2025. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $239K (2022) to $6.5M (2020). In 2025 it made 4 grants totaling $983K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Scan-Harbor Inc New York, NY | To Fulfill GDF'S Mission | $575,400 |
| Sunrise Day Camps Association Inc Oceanside, NY | To Fulfill GDF'S Mission | $275,000 |
| Northwell Health Foundation New Hyde Park, NY | To Fulfill GDF'S Mission | $112,498 |
| Harlem Dowling West Side Ctr New York, NY | To Fulfill GDF'S Mission | $20,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $6,870,672 | $8,931,458 | $8,537,226 | $982,898 | 4 | $212,557 |
| 2024 | $6,302,573 | $10,373,005 | $8,565,298 | $1,010,062 | 4 | $187,382 |
| 2023 | $4,016,825 | $5,971,126 | $6,296,809 | $655,732 | 6 | $226,243 |
| 2022 | $4,078,760 | $4,697,201 | $4,065,203 | $238,734 | 8 | $6,719 |
| 2021 | $3,221,064 | $1,261,659 | $1,122,854 | $368,711 | 10 | $5,915 |
| 2020 | $3,597,322 | $4,893,422 | $7,946,176 | $6,530,762 | 37 | $21,218 |
About Garden of Dreams Foundation
Based on IRS filings
Garden of Dreams Foundation is a public charity, based in New York, NY. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $6.9M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 4 grants totaling $983K. Net investment income was $213K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Garden of Dreams Foundation is led by Barry Watkins, Chairman on every filing since 2020; none of the 26 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Barry Watkins
Chairman
On filings since 2020
2.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Adam Graves
Director
On filings since 2020
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Andrea Greenberg
Director
On filings since 2020
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Darryl McDaniels
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Drew Nieporent
Director
On filings since 2020
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John Starks
Director
On filings since 2020
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mary Pat Clarke
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Matthew Modine
Director
On filings since 2020
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Whoopi Goldberg
Director
On filings since 2020
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Justin Tuck
Director
On filings since 2021
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Neil Goldmacher
Director
On filings since 2021
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Brad Karp
Director
On filings since 2022
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Randy Mastro
Director
On filings since 2022
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jamaal Lesane
Director
On filings since 2023
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jill Martin
Director
On filings since 2023
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Cristina Dolan
Director
On filings since 2024
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sujin Dolan
Director
On filings since 2024
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tara Lipton
Director
On filings since 2024
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Steve Shapiro
Director
New on the 2025 filing
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David Viniar
Co-Vice Chairperson
Director → Co-Vice Chairperson, 2022
On filings since 2020
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Gary Fuhrman
Co-Vice Chairperson
Vice Chair → Co-Vice Chairperson, 2021
On filings since 2020
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Joel Fisher
Co-Vice Chairperson
Director → Co-Vice Chairperson, 2021
On filings since 2020
0.8 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Victoria Mink
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rich Constable
Co-Vice Chairperson
Director → Co-Vice Chairperson, 2024
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Debra Shuwarger
Secretary
On filings since 2022
0.8 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Alex Shvartsman
Controller
New on the 2025 filing
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (14)
- Former: Howard Lorber (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Sandy Kapell (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Eric Lane (2021–2024) — Director · Filing note: From 11/2020
- Former: Jack Irulshami (2021–2024) — Director · Filing note: From 11/2020
- Former: Rich Claffey (2022–2024) — Director
- Former: David Hopkinson (2023–2024) — Director
- Former: Andy Lustgarten (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Hank Ratner (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Lawrence Burian (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Douglas Lowey (2021–2022) — Director · Filing note: From 11/2020
- Former: Riana Positano (2021–2022) — Secretary · Filing note: From 621
- Former: John Master (2020–2021) — Secretary · Filing note: Thru 221
- Former: Phil Suarez (2020–2021) — Director · Filing note: Thru 621
- Former: Michael Culoso (2020) — Controller · Filing note: Thru 820
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Garden of Dreams Foundation
How much does Garden of Dreams Foundation give each year?
Garden of Dreams Foundation gave $983K across 4 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $1.0M across 4 grants.
What is Garden of Dreams Foundation's typical grant size?
Garden of Dreams Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $193,749, and its average grant was $245,725, across 4 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Garden of Dreams Foundation give grants?
Garden of Dreams Foundation gives mostly in New York: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (2 grants).
Does Garden of Dreams Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 4 grants with a stated purpose on Garden of Dreams Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "To Fulfill GDF'S Mission" (4 grants).
How large is Garden of Dreams Foundation?
Garden of Dreams Foundation reported $6.9M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $8.9M.
What is Garden of Dreams Foundation's EIN?
Garden of Dreams Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-3979726. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS July 15, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS July 20, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS August 17, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS October 25, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS July 10, 2024)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Garden of Dreams Foundation funds
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Garden of Dreams Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?