Ticket to Dream Foundation
Ticket to Dream Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Roseville, California. Established in 2008, the organization works nationwide to improve the lives of foster children by partnering with corporate sponsors, local communities, and a network of foster care-focused nonprofit organizations. The foundation operates through a combination of in-kind donations and monetary contributions to ensure foster youth have access to essential items and enriching opportunities.
Key facts about Ticket to Dream Foundation
- EIN
- 90-0355853
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,098,213
- Grants made (2025)
- 165
- Average grant
- $6,656
- Median grant
- $5,500
- New grantees (estimate)
- 5% first-time grantees (8 of 165, 2025)
- Total assets
- $3,468,640
- Primary geography
- California (15% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Who Ticket to Dream Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Ticket to Dream Foundation's 165 itemized 2025 grants were California (15%), Texas (7%) and Florida (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Sacramento, CA (4 grants), Seattle, WA (3 grants), Minneapolis, MN (2 grants) and Indianapolis, IN (2 grants). None of its 165 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Foster Kids Program" (165 grants).
Is Ticket to Dream Foundation open to new grantees?
5%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 8 of 165 grantees (5%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $5K; repeat grants $7K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $6K repeat.
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with Ticket to Dream Foundation
- How to evaluate Ticket to Dream Foundation as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
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Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$3.5M
-21.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.1M
-43.5% YoY
Grant Count
165
-10.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$7K
-37.0% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: To ensure those experiencing the foster care system have everyday essentials and opportunities to thrive by working in partnership with a nationwide network of supporters, corporations, and nonprofits.
The foundation operates three primary program areas:
Essentials Program — Collects, purchases, and distributes essential items including clothing, hygiene products, shoes, and school supplies to meet the everyday needs of foster youth. The program also provides cash support for local purchases of specific essential needs and shopping experiences for children.
Ally Program — Provides targeted cash support and essentials to address unmet needs facing Black, Hispanic, and LGBTQ+ youth in foster care. The program also works to recruit more foster parents, kinship parents, mentors, and adoptive parents from these populations.
Take Flight Program — Provides cash support to boost programming focused on improving graduation rates for foster youth, reducing homelessness for youth aging out of care, and increasing employment opportunities.
Grantmaking
The foundation distributes grants to nonprofit organizations working with foster children. Based on the most recent tax filing (2024), total giving reached $11,904,772. Grant awards typically range from $6,509 to $247,244.
Ready to take the next step with Ticket to Dream Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's reach has expanded significantly since its inception. While initially focused on the West Coast where corporate partners Sleep Train, Mattress Discounters, and Sleep Country USA operated, the organization now serves all 50 states through a network of over 220 foster care nonprofit partners.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 165 itemized 2025 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024 (most recent tax filing):
- Total Assets: $4,405,022
- Total Revenue: $12,335,335
- Total Expenses: $13,127,284
- Total Liabilities: $315,000
- Total Giving: $11,904,772
- Staff: 13 employees
The organization maintains a four-star rating with a 98% overall score, reflecting strong performance in accountability, finance, impact measurement, leadership, and community culture.
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $3,468,640 | $4,405,022 | $4,961,093 |
| Revenue | $11,118,129 | $12,335,335 | $12,377,193 |
| Expenses | $11,981,936 | $13,127,284 | $12,922,149 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $132,587 | $109,475 | $42,439 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
Grant Size Distribution
900 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest recipients include Family Alternatives ($22,500), Partnership for Strong Families ($19,500), Kids Matter Inc ($19,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| FAMILY ALTERNATIVES Minneapolis, MN | FOSTER KIDS PROGRAM | $22,500 |
| PARTNERSHIP FOR STRONG FAMILIES Gainesville, FL | FOSTER KIDS PROGRAM | $19,500 |
| KIDS MATTER INC Milwaukee, WI | FOSTER KIDS PROGRAM | $19,000 |
| ONE MORE CHILD Lakeland, FL | FOSTER KIDS PROGRAM | $18,500 |
| ARROW CHILD & FAMILY MINISTRIES Spring, TX | FOSTER KIDS PROGRAM | $18,400 |
| FOSTERING HOPE Pottstown, PA | FOSTER KIDS PROGRAM | $17,000 |
| KVC NEBRASKA Omaha, NE | FOSTER KIDS PROGRAM | $16,500 |
| OLIVE CREST - LOS ANGELES Bellflower, CA | FOSTER KIDS PROGRAM | $16,500 |
| EMBRELLA Princeton, NJ | FOSTER KIDS PROGRAM | $16,000 |
| THE VILLAGES OF INDIANA Indianapolis, IN | FOSTER KIDS PROGRAM | $16,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Gina Davis — Chief Executive Officer
- Mary Carson — President
- Meghan Renken — Marketing Director
- Mauri Knowles — Program Director
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mary Carson | President | 4 | — |
| Rebekah Heiskell | Treasurer | 5 | — |
| Angie Alves | Secretary | 5 | — |
| Kathy Carlsen | Board Member | 2 | — |
| Sunni Goodman | Board Member | 2 | — |
| Teres Mugnaini | Board Member | 2 | — |
| Cordelia Cranshaw | Board Member | 2 | — |
| Brian Baxter | Board Member | 2 | — |
| Latrice Cole | Board Member | 2 | — |
| Dale Carlsen | Board Member | 2 | — |
| Kathy Stephenson | Board Member | 2 | — |
| Mark Payne | Board Member | 2 | — |
| Jeanmarie Davis | CEO | 40 | $154,500 |
| Mauri Knowles | Program Director | 40 | $112,513 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has achieved significant milestones in partnership with major retailers. Famous Footwear partnered with Ticket to Dream to help reach their 1 millionth foster child through the organization's programs. The foundation has also been recognized by Jewelers for Children as a beneficiary organization for supporting children in need.
Famous Footwear Helps Their 1 Millionth Foster Child Through PartnershipSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Ticket to Dream Foundation fund?
**Mission:** To ensure those experiencing the foster care system have everyday essentials and opportunities to thrive by working in partnership with a nationwide network of supporters, corporations, and nonprofits. The foundation operates three primary program areas: **Essentials Program** — Collects, purchases, and distributes essential items including clothing, hygiene products, shoes, and school supplies to meet the everyday needs of foster youth. The program also provides cash support for l…
How do I apply for a grant from Ticket to Dream Foundation?
The foundation distributes grants to nonprofit organizations working with foster children. Based on the most recent tax filing (2024), total giving reached $11,904,772. Grant awards typically range from $6,509 to $247,244. The foundation has distributed over 4.8 million essential items to foster children and provided over 60,000 youth with access to extracurricular activities and vital support services for youth aging out of care.
Where does Ticket to Dream Foundation make grants?
The foundation's reach has expanded significantly since its inception. While initially focused on the West Coast where corporate partners Sleep Train, Mattress Discounters, and Sleep Country USA operated, the organization now serves all 50 states through a network of over 220 foster care nonprofit partners.
What size grants does Ticket to Dream Foundation award?
In 2025, Ticket to Dream Foundation awarded 165 grants totaling $1.1M — an average of about $7K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Ticket to Dream Foundation's EIN?
Ticket to Dream Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 90-0355853. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.