Skip to content
Nonprofiteer
← All organizations

BETTER WAY MINISTRIES

EIN 31-1173550 COLUMBUS, OH

Browse the largest nonprofits in Ohio

Revenue 2024
$1,665,090
Expenses 2024
$1,634,433

Program services were 80.2% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

As filed

Subsection
03
NTEE code
X20
Classification
7000
Street
38 W GREENWOOD AVE

These codes are the IRS's own and are shown exactly as filed. What each one means is in the Business Master File documentation (opens in a new tab).

Mission and programs · 2024

Mission

BETTER WAY MINISTRIES, D/B/A COLUMBUS DREAM CENTER, IS A VOLUNTEER-DRIVEN ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO PROVIDING HOPE TO LOW-INCOME, HOMELESS, AND UNDER-SERVED INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IN COLUMBUS, OHIO. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)THE DREAM CENTER FORMS PARTNERSHIPS WITH AREA CHURCHES, ORGANIZATIONS, AND INDIVIDUALS TO FUND AND PROVIDE RESOURCES FOR ITS VARIOUS OUTREACH PROGRAMS.

Activities or mission (Part I)

PROVIDE HOPE TO LOW-INCOME, HOMELESS, AND UNDER-SERVED INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES.

  • COLUMBUS DREAM CENTER SERVED THE COMMUNITY THROUGH VARIOUS EVENTS AND PROGRAMS INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING: ADOPT-A-BLOCK - A FREE GROCERY AND RESOURCE DELIVERY SERVICE TO 10 NEIGHBORHOODS ACROSS CENTRAL OHIO. SUMMER BLOCK PARTIES - PARTIES DURING THE SUMMER IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES TO CONNECT WITH THE KIDS AND FAMILIES OF THE AREA AND PROVIDE RESOURCES DURING THE NON-SCHOOL SEASON. SUPER SATURDAYS WHERE THE DREAM CENTER ENGAGED IN YOUTH MENTORSHIP ACTIVITIES FOR ELEMENTARY AGED KIDS. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)HOSTING MEAL NIGHTS, BREAKFAST SERVES, LAUNDRY/SHOWER SERVICES, AND HAIRCUTS TO THE HOMELESS COMMUNITY WEEKLY. BROTHERHOOD AND SISTERHOOD - PROGRAMMING SPECIFICALLY GEARED TOWARD MENTORING MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL BOYS AND GIRLS IN A SMALL GROUP SETTING. HOLIDAY-SPECIFIC OUTREACH FOR THANKSGIVING, CHRISTMAS, AND EASTER.

    Expenses $1,174,625 · Grants $548,863

  • THE COLUMBUS DREAM CENTER RESPONDED TO THE COVID-19 CRISIS IN 2020 WITH A LEARNING EXTENSION PROGRAM WHERE THEY OFFERED A SAFE SPACE FOR STUDENTS TO DO REMOTE SCHOOLWORK WITH SUPPORT AND MEALS. IN 2021, AS SCHOOLS RETURNED TO IN PERSON, THE DREAM CENTER DESIRED TO MAINTAIN CONNECTION WITH THE STUDENTS AND LAUNCHED THE AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS TO CONTINUE WITH SUPPORT ON HOMEWORK, RECEIVE SNACKS, AND BE CONNECTED WITH THE VOLUNTEERS AND STUDENTS IN THE AREA.

    Expenses $109,635 · Grants $50,000

  • HILLIARD DREAM CENTER - MEDICAL CLINIC - IN OCTOBER OF 2023, THE COLUMBUS DREAM CENTER LAUNCHED A FREE MEDICAL CLINIC TO ASSIST THOSE IN THE COMMUNITY WITH MEDICAL EVALUATIONS AND SERVICES. THE DELAWARE DREAMS CENTER HOSTED A MONTHLY LEGAL ADVICE CLINIC OFFERING FREE LEGAL COUNSEL TO THOSE IN THE COMMUNITY WHO CAN'T AFFORD A LAWYER.

    Expenses $27,140

As filed on the 2024 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Officers and directors · 2024

As listed in Part VII of the 2024 return, in the order the filer printed them. Each return names its own; this is not a roster the organization keeps with us.

  • Cris Gordon

    EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $156,239
    From this org
    $34,617
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $121,622
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $19,872
    Bonus
    $5,750
    Other
    $8,995
    Deferred
    $34,177
    Nontaxable benefits
    $87,445
    Filer's total
    $156,239

  • Todd Marrah

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $75,143
    From this org
    $0
    From related orgs
    $11,590
    Other
    $63,553
    Hours/week
    1 + 20 related

  • Steve Campbell

    PRESIDENT

    Total calculated
    $50,000
    From this org
    $0
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $50,000
    Hours/week
    1 + 1 related

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us. Earlier years are each on their own filing page.

Filings

  • 2024
    Revenue
    $1,665,090
    Expenses
    $1,634,433
    Contributions
    $1,644,057
    Grants paid
    $598,863
  • 2023
    Revenue
    $1,632,294
    Expenses
    $1,654,801
    Contributions
    $1,485,993
    Grants paid
    $571,123
  • 2022
    Revenue
    $1,264,720
    Expenses
    $1,611,014
    Contributions
    $1,258,609
    Grants paid
    $519,816

The four totals the IRS asks for on Part I of the Form 990, as filed. A dash means the figure was not present on the return — not that it was zero.

Other returns filed

  • 2021 · 990

    Revenue
    $1,523,951
    Expenses
    $1,435,842
    Assets (EOY)
    $1,186,561

  • 2014 · 990

    Revenue
    $554,102
    Expenses
    $544,651
    Assets (EOY)
    $249,347

  • 2013 · 990

    Revenue
    $499,152
    Expenses
    $427,724
    Assets (EOY)
    $239,896

  • 2012 · 990

    Revenue
    not reported
    Expenses
    $473,630
    Assets (EOY)
    $184,959

  • 2011 · 990

    Revenue
    not reported
    Expenses
    $421,611
    Assets (EOY)
    $157,861

Nonprofiteer parses Forms 990, 990-EZ and 990-PF, in a window of recent tax years. These returns are recorded from the IRS e-file index, so their figures were extracted by that index rather than read from the return here — treat them as a different source from the filings above, not as more of the same record. A dash means the index carries no figure; Form 990-T listings carry none at all.

Grants made

Where these grants went next →

Grants received

Related organizations

From Schedule R Part II, where a filer lists the tax-exempt organizations it is related to by control. It does not record shared board members or money.

Declared on its 2024 return

Other IRS files

Auto-Revocation List

Not listed. The IRS publishes this list for organizations whose exemption was automatically revoked for failing to file for three consecutive years.

Publication 78

Listed as of 13 October 2026, under deductibility PC.

These are two separate IRS files on two separate schedules, shown as published and not reconciled with each other. Neither is a statement about whether a contribution is deductible today: 19,245 organizations appear in Publication 78 while the IRS's own revocation file lists them as currently revoked, more than half of those revoked before 2019. Absence from Publication 78 is evidence of nothing, and presence is not evidence either. Verify current status with the IRS before relying on it.

What this page reflects

The registration facts above come from the IRS Business Master File published 13 October 2026 and read 1 November 2026, for every organization at once. Returns through tax year 2024, the newest we have parsed for this organization.