Garden of Dreams Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $4,913,619 (2023)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available (closed partner network)
• Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
• Grant Range: Varies by program type (Community projects: $250,000-$500,000+; Scholarships: $10,000-$25,000 annually)
• Geographic Focus: Primarily New York tri-state area, with some programs extending to Chicago, Burbank, and Las Vegas

Contact Details

Address: 2 Pennsylvania Plaza, 15th Floor, New York, NY 10121

Phone: (212) 465-4170

Website: www.gardenofdreamsfoundation.org

Fundraising Contact: Alyssa Guberman, Senior Manager, (212) 631-5362

Overview

Founded in 1997 and renamed in 2006 as a partnership between Madison Square Garden and Cheering for Children, the Garden of Dreams Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charity dedicated to bringing life-changing opportunities to young people in need. Since its inception in 2006 under its current name, the Foundation has impacted more than 425,000 young people and their families. With 2023 revenue of $5,971,126 and grant distributions of $4,913,619, the Foundation operates in partnership with MSG Entertainment, MSG Sports, and Sphere Entertainment—including the Knicks, Rangers, Rockettes, Westchester Knicks, and regional sports and entertainment networks. The Foundation has earned a 4/4 Star rating (95%) on Charity Navigator, reflecting its strong financial health and commitment to accountability and transparency. The Foundation focuses exclusively on working with 30 established partner organizations throughout the tri-state area to serve young people facing illness, financial challenges, or the loss or injury of a family member in uniform.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Community Projects Grants: Direct financial support for improvements to community facilities and community-based sports, entertainment, and media projects. Recent examples include:

• $500,000+ to construct two Ronald McDonald Family Rooms in the Pediatric Clinic at NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan
• $380,000 to SCO Family of Services for HVAC system installation in indoor basketball court at Ottilie Campus (2023)
• $250,000 to Make-A-Wish NJ for theatre equipment revitalization
• $1 million COVID-19 emergency grant program to support partner organizations (2020)

Garden of Dreams Inspire Scholarship: Provides high school seniors from the 30 Garden of Dreams partner organizations with financial assistance to advance their education. Awards $15,000 per year, renewable for up to 4 years ($60,000 total). In 2025, 20 scholarships will be awarded totaling $300,000 in new commitments. Since inception in 2015, over $4.84 million has been committed to 91 students. Applications submitted through online portal at https://aim.applyists.net/Garden/ with program key "Garden."

Priority Areas

The Foundation's activities are driven by three core pillars:

1. Community Projects: Improvements to community facilities where young people live and grow, particularly healthcare facilities, recreation centers, and educational spaces
2. Education: Scholarships for college and trade schools, mentorship, and career exposure programs
3. Inspiration & Joy: Unforgettable experiences through MSG venues and events that inspire young people and foster healing

Target Population:

• Young people facing illness or financial challenges
• Children experiencing homelessness, extreme poverty, abuse, hunger, or foster care
• Children of uniformed personnel (police, firefighters, military) who have been lost or injured while serving communities

Geographic Focus: Primarily the New York tri-state area, with some programs extending to areas where MSG has venues and offices (Chicago, Burbank, Las Vegas)

What They Don't Fund

The Foundation operates exclusively through a closed network of 30 partner organizations. Organizations outside this partner network cannot apply for grants or scholarships through the Foundation's programs.

Governance and Leadership

Executive Director: Maggie Jacobs

Leadership Team:

• Carla Downie, Senior Manager of Operations
• Beth Dukes, Senior Manager of Program Design and Implementation
• Julianna Sabra, Head of Foundation Operations & Education
• Alyssa Guberman, Senior Manager (Fundraising)

Board Member (identified): Darryl "DMC" McDaniels

The Foundation operates as a public charity (501(c)(3)) with strong governance practices reflected in its 4-star Charity Navigator rating.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Important Note: The Garden of Dreams Foundation does not have a public application process for organizational grants or to become a partner organization. The Foundation works exclusively with an established network of 30 partner organizations throughout the tri-state area.

For Community Projects Grants: Only the 30 established partner organizations are eligible. The Foundation selects projects in collaboration with these partners. There is no open application process for organizations to join the partner network or for non-partner organizations to apply for grants.

For Inspire Scholarships: High school seniors must be affiliated with one of the 30 Garden of Dreams partner organizations to be eligible. Eligible students can apply through the online portal at https://aim.applyists.net/Garden/ with program key "Garden." Requirements include:

• Minimum 3.0 GPA on 4.0 scale (or documentation of learning need)
• Affiliation with a Garden of Dreams partner charity
• Planning to enroll in college or trade school
• Application deadline typically in late February (2025 deadline was February 26)

Partner Organizations

The Foundation's 30 partner organizations include hospitals, wish organizations (Make-A-Wish chapters for Hudson Valley, Metro New York, New Jersey, and Suffolk), and community-based organizations. Some identified partners include:

• Ronald McDonald House New York (founding partner from 2006)
• SCO Family of Services
• enCourage Kids Foundation
• Maria Fareri Children's Hospital
• Children's Aid
• Children's Village
• SCAN-Harbor
• Madison Square Boys & Girls Club
• WHEDco
• Wounded Warrior Project
• Multiple Make-A-Wish Foundation chapters

A complete partner list is available at nhl.com/rangers/community/gdf-partner-charities.

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines for community project grants are not publicly disclosed. The Foundation appears to work collaboratively with its established partner network on an ongoing basis rather than operating on fixed grant cycles.

For scholarships, applications are reviewed following the late February deadline, with awards announced for the following academic year.

Success Rates

The Foundation made 6 awards in 2023 from its total grant budget of $4,913,619. Success rates for becoming a partner organization or for community project grants are not applicable as there is no open application process.

For the Inspire Scholarship, 20 scholarships were awarded in 2025 from eligible students across the 30 partner organizations.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable for organizational grants due to the closed partner network. For scholarships, awards are renewable annually for up to 4 years based on continued eligibility and academic standing.

Application Success Factors

Since the Foundation works exclusively with 30 established partner organizations, success factors relate to project selection within this partnership model:

Alignment with Core Pillars: Projects should clearly align with one or more of the Foundation's three pillars—Community Projects, Education, or Inspiration & Joy. Recent successful projects have focused on:

• Healthcare facility improvements that serve pediatric populations
• Recreation and sports facility enhancements
• Equipment and infrastructure that creates lasting community benefit

Target Population Focus: Projects must serve young people facing illness, financial challenges, homelessness, extreme poverty, abuse, hunger, foster care, or children of uniformed personnel who have been lost or injured.

Capital Improvements: The Foundation shows strong preference for tangible, lasting improvements to facilities (HVAC systems, family rooms, gymnasium renovations, medical equipment) rather than operating support.

Measurable Impact: Successful projects demonstrate clear benefit to young people, such as the 135 pediatric patients per day served by the Ronald McDonald Family Rooms at NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan.

For scholarship applicants from partner organizations:

• Maintain minimum 3.0 GPA or provide documentation of learning needs
• Must be connected to one of the 30 partner organizations
• Clear plans for college or trade school enrollment
• Submit through official portal by deadline

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Closed Network Model: The Garden of Dreams Foundation operates exclusively with 30 established partner organizations and does not accept applications from organizations outside this network. This is not a traditional open grantmaking foundation.

• Long-Term Partnership Approach: Partner relationships appear to be sustained over many years (Ronald McDonald House since 2006), suggesting the Foundation values deep collaboration over rotating partnerships.

• Capital Projects Preferred: Recent grants focus heavily on facility improvements and capital projects ($380K for HVAC, $500K+ for family rooms, $250K for theatre equipment) rather than program operating support.

• Significant Grant Sizes: Community project grants range from $250,000 to over $500,000, representing substantial investments in fewer, high-impact projects rather than many small grants.

• MSG Integration is Core Value: The unique value proposition includes not just funding but access to MSG venues, events, and experiences—partner organizations should be positioned to leverage these opportunities for the young people they serve.

• Students Can Access Through Partners: While organizations cannot apply to become partners, students affiliated with any of the 30 partner organizations can apply for the Inspire Scholarship program, which offers substantial renewable awards of up to $60,000 over four years.

References

• Garden of Dreams Foundation official website: https://www.gardenofdreamsfoundation.org (accessed March 2026)
• Charity Navigator rating profile: https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/133979726 (accessed March 2026)
• Garden of Dreams Foundation GuideStar profile: https://www.guidestar.org/profile/13-3979726 (accessed March 2026)
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer Form 990 data: https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/133979726 (accessed March 2026)
• "Garden of Dreams Foundation supports partner organizations with $1 million grant program," Bronx Times: https://www.bxtimes.com/garden-of-dreams-foundation-supports-partner-organizations-with-1-million-grant-program/ (accessed March 2026)
• "Garden of Dreams announces $380K grant for Briarwood special needs treatment facility," QNS, August 2023: https://qns.com/2023/08/garden-of-dreams-announces-380k-grant-for-briarwood-special-needs-treatment-facility/ (accessed March 2026)
• "The Garden of Dreams Foundation and Ronald McDonald House New York Unveil Brand-New Family Rooms," NYC Health + Hospitals press release: https://www.nychealthandhospitals.org/pressrelease/the-garden-of-dreams-foundation-and-ronald-mcdonald-house-new-york-unveil-brand-new-family-rooms-at-nyc-health-hospitals-metropolitan/ (accessed March 2026)
• Garden of Dreams Partner Charities, New York Rangers: https://www.nhl.com/rangers/community/gdf-partner-charities (accessed March 2026)
• Instrumentl 990 Report for Garden of Dreams Foundation: https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/garden-of-dreams-foundation (accessed March 2026)
• MSG Entertainment Community Programs: https://www.msgentertainment.com/our-community/ (accessed March 2026)