Achieving the Dream
Achieving the Dream reported $22.7 million in revenue and $20.8 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $66.06 went to program services, $32.10 to management and general costs and $1.84 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 58.8% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $695,836 (PRESIDENT & CEO). 32 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 7% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $21MFor context, the median across 5,499 covered education charities: $85.56 programs, $13.59 management, $0.85 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $23MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 66.1% | 84.4% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 32.1% | 13.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 1.8% | 0.8% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.03 | $0.04 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 58.8% | 19.1% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 1.3% | 1.1% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 33.8% | 69.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $695,836 | $331,578 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 3.35% | 1.28% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 32 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 23.4 | 13.3 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 13 of 13 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
FY2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseI. Network engagements -servicesachieving the dream (atd) is a partner and champion of more than 300 community colleges across the country. Drawing on our expert coaches, groundbreaking programs, and national peer network, we provide institutions with integrated, tailored support for every aspect of their work from foundational capacities such as leadership and data to intentional strategies for supporting students holistically, building k12 partnerships, and more. We call this whole college transformation. We know that with the right partner and the right approach, colleges can drive access…
Ii. Network programs our work in this area focuses on the ideation, design and incubation of programmatic supports for the colleges and partners we serve as well as strengthening atd's capacity to do this work. Atd's prioritizing adult community college enrollment initiative supports 20 community colleges across the nation scale promising efforts to reenroll adult learners in community colleges, with support from the lumina foundation for education. In partnership with jff, atd also supported 9 colleges and 3 states to guide adult learners on to and through programs to economic and social…
Highest reported compensation
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRESIDENT & CEO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $601,949 | $0 | $93,887 | $695,836 |
| CHIEF LEARNING OFFICER Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $235,050 | $0 | $25,001 | $260,051 |
| CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $239,235 | $0 | $19,800 | $259,035 |
| CHIEF PROGRAM AND NETWORK OFFICER Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $233,268 | $0 | $20,805 | $254,073 |
| CHIEF STRAT. OFFICER, VP EXT. PSHIPS Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $225,746 | $0 | $18,825 | $244,571 |
| EXEC. DIRECTOR, PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $175,151 | $0 | $35,431 | $210,582 |
| CHIEF OF STAFF Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $180,366 | $0 | $25,968 | $206,334 |
| EXEC.DIR., NETWORK ENGAGEMENT Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $177,865 | $0 | $26,740 | $204,605 |
32 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Achieving the Dream (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $2.0M (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
FY2025 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b13 · 13 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4No
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 577
- Volunteers Part I, line 613
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL Events | $1,021,651 |
| INSPIRE EVENT TECHNOLOGIES LLC Events | $440,001 |
| ARABELLA ADVISORS LLC Research | $290,000 |
| EDUCATION NORTHWEST Education-training and research | $218,757 |
| SRI INTERNATIONAL Education-training and research | $180,000 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 14 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
12 private foundations reported grants to Achieving the Dream totaling $3.9M on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from Achieving the Dream's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Achieving the Dream, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Achieving the Dream spent in FY2025, $66.06 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Jm Perry Institute of Trades Industries and AgricultureYakima, WA · revenue $23M · programs 75.5% · FY2025
- Alternative Paths Training SchoolDumfries, VA · revenue $23M · programs 82.4% · FY2025
- Southland College Prep Charter SchoolRichton Park, IL · revenue $23M · programs 76.0% · FY2025
- Northern Kentucky University FoundationHighland Heights, KY · revenue $23M · programs 85.2% · FY2025
- Fellowship Christian SchoolRoswell, GA · revenue $23M · programs 82.3% · FY2025
Questions people ask
How much of Achieving the Dream's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, Achieving the Dream reported that 66.1% of its $20.8 million in expenses went to program services, 32.1% to management and general and 1.8% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Achieving the Dream pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Achieving the Dream reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $695,836, for the role of PRESIDENT & CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Achieving the Dream get its money?
Of $22.7 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 58.8% came from contributions and grants (including 1.3% from government grants) and 33.8% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Achieving the Dream a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 27-1635830 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- FY2025: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, object 202513149349303676 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202443179349308659 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202323179349302127 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202203189349313100 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202123169349303537 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202033219349306543 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 27-1635830: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.