Common Dreams Inc
Common Dreams Inc shows recent deficit spending but maintains zero liabilities and no officer compensation.
EIN: 203368194 · Portland, ME · NTEE: V99 · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $1.7M |
| Total Expenses | $1.4M |
| Program Spending | 85% |
| Net Assets | $273K |
| Transparency Score | 85/100 |
Is Common Dreams Inc Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Common Dreams Inc directs 85% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Common Dreams Inc
Common Dreams Inc (EIN: 203368194) is a nonprofit organization based in Portland, ME, classified under NTEE code V99. The organization reported total revenue of $1.7M and total assets of $481K according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Common Dreams Inc's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Common Dreams Inc is a mid-size nonprofit that has been operating for 19 years, with 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 6.1%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $1.2M |
| Total Expenses | $1.4M |
| Surplus / Deficit | $-267,672 |
| Total Assets | $273K |
| Net Assets | $273K |
| Operating Margin | -22.8% |
| Months of Reserves | 2.3 months |
Financial Health Grade: C
In 2023, Common Dreams Inc reported a deficit of $268K with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 2.3 months of operating reserves (limited).
Financial Trends
Over 13 years of filings (2011–2023), Common Dreams Inc's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.1%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | -24.9% | -9.8% | -49.5% |
| 2022 | +25.3% | -11.9% | -6.2% |
| 2021 | -46.0% | +11.9% | -49.6% |
| 2020 | +47.4% | +11.3% | +151.2% |
| 2019 | +19.4% | +27.1% | +40.7% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 2007 |
Classification data from ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Additional BMF data may be available after enrichment.
AI Transparency Report
Mission Effectiveness Score
NonprofitSpending's AI analysis rates Common Dreams Inc with a Mission Score of 85 out of 100 (Excellent). This score reflects the organization's overall financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance indicators derived from IRS 990 public filings.
Spending Breakdown
- admin: 10%
- programs: 85%
- fundraising: 5%
According to IRS 990 filings, Common Dreams Inc allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 10%, programs: 85%, fundraising: 5%. With 85% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- The organization reported a deficit of $268K, with expenses exceeding revenue.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Common Dreams Inc consistently reports 0% officer compensation across all available filings, indicating that no salaries or benefits are paid to its officers, which is highly unusual and suggests a volunteer-led or very lean executive structure.
Executive compensation data is sourced from IRS 990 filings, which require nonprofits to disclose the compensation of officers, directors, trustees, and key employees. NonprofitSpending analyzes this data relative to the organization's total revenue and sector benchmarks to assess whether executive pay is reasonable.
Red Flags
The following concerns were identified during AI analysis of Common Dreams Inc's IRS 990 filings:
- Consistent deficit spending in recent years (e.g., 2023, 2022, 2021) where expenses exceeded revenue.
- Significant fluctuation in annual revenue, making financial planning potentially challenging.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Common Dreams Inc:
- Zero liabilities reported across all 13 filings, indicating a debt-free operation.
- Consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation, suggesting a highly mission-focused approach to leadership.
- Maintained positive assets despite periods of deficit spending, demonstrating some financial resilience.
- Extensive filing history (13 filings) indicates strong transparency and compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions about Common Dreams Inc
Is Common Dreams Inc a legitimate charity?
Common Dreams Inc (EIN: 203368194) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in Maine. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 85/100. It has 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $1.7M. 2 red flags identified. 4 strengths noted. Financial health grade: C.
How does Common Dreams Inc spend its money?
Common Dreams Inc directs 85% of its spending to programs and services. Fundraising costs 5%. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark.
Are donations to Common Dreams Inc tax-deductible?
Common Dreams Inc is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 203368194). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
What percentage of Common Dreams Inc's spending goes to programs?
Common Dreams Inc directs 85% to programs, 5% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
How does Common Dreams Inc compare to similar nonprofits?
With a transparency score of 85/100 (Excellent), Common Dreams Inc is above average for NTEE category V99 nonprofits. The score reflects financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance quality based on IRS 990 data.
Where is Common Dreams Inc located?
Common Dreams Inc is headquartered in Portland, Maine and files with the IRS under EIN 203368194. It is classified under NTEE code V99.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Common Dreams Inc have?
Common Dreams Inc has 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record at NonprofitSpending. This extensive filing history provides a strong basis for evaluating long-term financial trends. The most recent filing shows $1.7M in total revenue.
Is Common Dreams Inc financially sustainable given recent deficit spending?
While Common Dreams Inc has experienced deficit spending in recent years (e.g., $1,442,980 in expenses vs. $1,175,308 in revenue in 2023), its consistent reporting of $0 liabilities and positive asset base ($480,668) suggests it has reserves to cover these shortfalls. However, this trend is not sustainable long-term without increased revenue or reduced expenses.
How does Common Dreams Inc manage without officer compensation?
The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all filings is highly unusual for an organization of its size and revenue. This could indicate a volunteer-led executive team, or that executive functions are absorbed into other staff roles, or that compensation is reported under different categories not explicitly labeled as 'officer compensation' in the provided summary.
What caused the significant revenue fluctuation, particularly the peak in 2020?
Revenue peaked at $2,312,397 in 2020, significantly higher than other years. Without further detail, it's difficult to pinpoint the exact cause, but it could be attributed to a successful fundraising campaign, a large one-time grant, or increased donor engagement during that specific period, possibly related to global events.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Common Dreams Inc showing financial trends over 13 years of public records:
Over 13 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Common Dreams Inc's revenue has grown by 103.6%, moving from $577K to $1.2M. Total assets increased by 515.8% over the same period, from $44K to $273K. Total functional expenses rose by 155.4%, from $565K to $1.4M. In its most recent filing year (2023), Common Dreams Inc reported a deficit of $268K, with expenses exceeding revenue.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $1.2M | $1.4M | $273K | $0 | — | — |
| 2022 | $1.6M | $1.6M | $541K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $1.2M | $1.8M | $577K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $2.3M | $1.6M | $1.1M | $0 | — | — |
| 2019 | $1.6M | $1.5M | $455K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $1.3M | $1.1M | $324K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $1.1M | $1.1M | $158K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $959K | $984K | $151K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $903K | $848K | $176K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $752K | $953K | $121K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $936K | $766K | $322K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $750K | $642K | $153K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $577K | $565K | $44K | $0 | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $1.2M, expenses of $1.4M, and assets of $273K (revenue -24.9% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $1.6M, expenses of $1.6M, and assets of $541K (revenue +25.3% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $1.2M, expenses of $1.8M, and assets of $577K (revenue -46.0% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $2.3M, expenses of $1.6M, and assets of $1.1M (revenue +47.4% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $1.6M, expenses of $1.5M, and assets of $455K (revenue +19.4% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $1.3M, expenses of $1.1M, and assets of $324K (revenue +23.8% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $1.1M, expenses of $1.1M, and assets of $158K (revenue +10.7% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $959K, expenses of $984K, and assets of $151K (revenue +6.2% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $903K, expenses of $848K, and assets of $176K (revenue +20.1% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $752K, expenses of $953K, and assets of $121K (revenue -19.7% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $936K, expenses of $766K, and assets of $322K (revenue +24.7% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $750K, expenses of $642K, and assets of $153K (revenue +29.9% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $577K, expenses of $565K, and assets of $44K.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Common Dreams Inc:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Common Dreams Inc is generated by NonprofitSpending's AI analysis engine. The data is sourced from publicly available IRS 990 filings accessed through the ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer API and IRS electronic filing records. The Mission Score, spending breakdown, and other analytical insights are produced by artificial intelligence and should be used as one of multiple factors when evaluating a nonprofit organization.
IRS 990 forms are annual information returns that most tax-exempt organizations must file with the IRS. These forms provide detailed financial information including revenue, expenses, assets, liabilities, and compensation of officers. NonprofitSpending processes this data to provide accessible transparency reports for donors, researchers, and the general public.
Disclaimer
AI-generated analysis based on IRS public records. Not financial or legal advice. Verify information directly with the organization.