Achieving the Dream INC

Tax-deductible

Silver Spring, MD501(c)(3)Since 2009EducationEIN 27-1635830Revenue $22.7M in FY2025

On file with the IRSachievingthedream.org8484 Georgia Ave Ste 500, 20910-5606 · Silver Spring, MDTax-exempt since Mar 2010Publicly supported charity — 170(b)(1)(A)(vi)

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Lead a network of community colleges to achieve sustainable institutional transformation.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
66¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 13 volunteers and 71 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2025 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2025
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
3 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $3.7M a year · 16% of revenue · last 5 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 3 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
66%
of spending
Fine: 66% of spending went to programs; 65% to 75%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$2.6M
to officers and key staff · 12% of spending
Top officer’s pay higher than 94% of similar orgs
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 12% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
2 mo
of spending, in cash
Fine: 2.1 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
2
named funders · $106K
Fine: 2 funders name it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$5.7M
12% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 12% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
13
of 13 voting members
Looks good: 13 of 13 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$22.7M
+34% vs prior year
Spent
$20.8M
To programs
66%
Net assets
$40.6M
By yearFY2021–FY2025
Revenue
$22.7M
FY2025▲ +34%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2021$35.9M
FY2022$23.2M
FY2023$16.9M
FY2024$16.9M
FY2025$22.7M
Expenses
$20.8M
FY2025▼ -0.6%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2021$13.4M
FY2022$17.3M
FY2023$24.6M
FY2024$20.9M
FY2025$20.8M
Net assets
$40.6M
FY2025▲ +10%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2021$42.4M
FY2022$44.5M
FY2023$38.3M
FY2024$36.9M
FY2025$40.6M

From the FY2025 Form 990 (year ending June 2025) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Mar 2010.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

66 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 66% · $13.7M Management & general 32% · $6.7M Fundraising 2% · $383K

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

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Who runs it and what they're paid

25 people listed on the 990; $2.6M paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2024); the FY2025 filing did not itemize Part VII
President & CEO
$601,949Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Operating Officer
$239,235Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Learning Officer
$235,050Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Program and Network Officer
$233,268Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Strat. Officer, VP Ext. Pships
$225,746Pt VII · Sec A
Chief of Staff
$180,366Pt VII · Sec A
Exec.dir., Network Engagement
$177,865Pt VII · Sec A
Exec. Director, Program Development
$175,151Pt VII · Sec A

Karen a Stout’s $602K as President & CEO is at the 94th percentile of top reported officer pay among 3683 $10–100M education nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 8 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021
Karen a Stout$601,949$683,834$512,385$471,945$417,982
Emily Froimson$239,235$228,541$222,495$210,357$199,243
Susan Mayer$235,050$225,817$223,785$203,980$203,016
Monica Parrish Trent$233,268—$219,583$208,060—
Jaqueline Cortez Wang$225,746$215,445$209,920——
Monica Parrish Trent Chief—$221,889———
Khalisa Jacobs$180,366$172,095$169,596$144,177—
Monica Trent————$179,481

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

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Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Leads a national network of community colleges to improve student success, re-enroll adult learners, and drive sustainable institutional transformation.

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Provided by the organization

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2 programs · $13.7M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

I. 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…

$8.7Mprogram expense
02

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.

$5.1Mprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · received and paid
Grants received · FY2025
Total grants receivedfrom 2 funders$106K
Grants paid · 112 grants · $4.7M · 2020–2024
Austin Community College DistrictFY2024$120,000
Dallas College Eastfield CampusFY2024$30,000
Southwestern Oregon Community CollegeFY2024$25,000
Grayson CollegeFY2024$25,000
Tallahassee State CollegeFY2024$25,000
North Central State CollegeFY2024$25,000
Everett Community CollegeFY2024$25,000
Forsyth Technical Community CollegeFY2024$25,000
Unitemized GrantFY2024$23,500
Alamo Community College DistrictFY2024$15,000
El Paso Community CollegeFY2024$15,000
The Aspen Institute INCDC · FY2024$7,500
Pierce CollegeFY2023$90,000
Northern Virginia Community CollegeFY2023$90,000
Northern Essex Community CollegeFY2023$90,000
Northeast Wisconsin Technical CollegeFY2023$90,000
See all 112 grants →

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$22.7M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$13.3M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$7.7M
Investment incomeLn 3$1.7M
Money outPt IX
$20.8M
Ln 25
Programscol B$13.7M
Managementcol C$6.7M
Fundraisingcol D$383K
Owns and owesPt X
$40.6M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$3.7M
Total assetsLn 16$46.3M
LiabilitiesLn 26$5.7M
PeoplePt VI, VII
25
listed · VII A
PaidVII A11
Voting boardVI 1a13
IndependentVI 1b13
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$13.3M
Government grantsLn 1e$296K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$7.7M
Investment incomeLn 3$1.7M
Other incomeLn 4–11$37K
Gains on assetsLn 7$790K
Total revenueLn 12$22.7M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$2.9M
SavingsLn 2$755K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$3.7M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$32.5M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$125K
Other assetsLn 15$1.9M
Total assetsLn 16$46.3M
LiabilitiesLn 26$5.7M
Net assetsLn 32$40.6M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 571
VolunteersI 613
Fiscal year endsHeaderJune
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$2.0M$3.7M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$34.5M$32.5M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$163K$125K
Total assetsLn 16$43.7M$46.3M
LiabilitiesLn 26$6.7M$5.7M
Net assetsLn 32$36.9M$40.6M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$583K$583K
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$24K$24K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$2.0M$806K$1.1M$94K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$6.7M$4.0M$2.5M$219K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$428K$261K$153K$14K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$724K$416K$286K$23K
Payroll taxesLn 10$590K$336K$232K$21K
Legal feesLn 11b$7K$7K
Accounting feesLn 11c$133K$150$133K
Investment management feesLn 11f$99K$99K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$4.3M$3.7M$572K$75
Advertising and promotionLn 12$278K$14K$263K
Office expensesLn 13$113K$74K$38K$1K
Information technologyLn 14$613K$33K$579K$1K
OccupancyLn 16$296K$296K
TravelLn 17$1.2M$1.1M$73K$7K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$2.3M$2.2M$61K$2K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$93K$93K
InsuranceLn 23$7K$404$6K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$230K$75K$155K$178
Total functional expensesLn 25$20.8M$13.7M$6.7M$383K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $22.7M$20.8M$1.9M$40.6M 990 PDF
FY2024 $16.9M$20.9M−$4.0M$36.9M 990 PDF
FY2023 $16.9M$24.6M−$7.7M$38.3M 990 PDF
FY2022 $23.2M$17.3M$5.8M$44.5M 990 PDF
FY2021 $35.9M$13.4M$22.5M$42.4M 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs I · Grants R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons A · Public support F · Foreign M · Noncash
See the full FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $22,688,397 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $8,110,457$13,332,980
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $8,279,498$7,667,081
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $487,003$1,651,343
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $11,296$36,993
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $16,888,254$22,688,397
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $1,777,982$606,372
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $10,150,809$10,504,456
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $8,980,713$9,674,391
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $20,909,504$20,785,219
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$4,021,250$1,903,178
Part VI · Governance 13 of 13 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body13
VI-1b Independent voting members13
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $22,688,397 across 9 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $7,845 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1e Government grants$295,778
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$13,037,202
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$13,332,980
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $7,667,081$7,667,081
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $861,530$861,530
VIII-5 RoyaltiesExcluded from tax $2,969$2,969
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax $789,813$789,813
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Excluded from tax $26,179$26,179
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $7,667,081 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $1,688,336$22,688,397
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $20,785,219 across 20 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $582,872$582,872
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $23,500$23,500
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $805,826 · Management $1,143,016 · Fundraising $94,110$2,042,952
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $4,017,172 · Management $2,483,315 · Fundraising $218,711$6,719,198
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $261,174 · Management $152,987 · Fundraising $13,842$428,003
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $415,905 · Management $285,755 · Fundraising $22,775$724,435
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $336,497 · Management $232,067 · Fundraising $21,304$589,868
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $6,903$6,903
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $150 · Management $132,605$132,755
IX-11f Investment management feesManagement $98,982$98,982
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $3,712,637 · Management $572,254 · Fundraising $75$4,284,966
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $14,113 · Management $263,490$277,603
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $74,047 · Management $37,933 · Fundraising $1,278$113,258
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $33,326 · Management $579,077 · Fundraising $1,080$613,483
IX-16 OccupancyManagement $295,797$295,797
IX-17 TravelPrograms $1,129,411 · Management $73,227 · Fundraising $7,423$1,210,061
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $2,247,910 · Management $60,809 · Fundraising $1,950$2,310,669
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationManagement $93,318$93,318
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $404 · Management $6,439$6,843
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $74,903 · Management $154,672 · Fundraising $178$229,753
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $13,729,847 · Management $6,672,646 · Fundraising $382,726$20,785,219
Part X · Balance sheet $46,294,483 assets, 18 lines filed
Asset lines not itemized here account for $281; see the IRS return.
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $1,580,661$2,948,448
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $395,428$754,994
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $4,084,651$7,514,065
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $485,229$265,598
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $323,196$290,116
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $162,750$124,898
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $34,500,513$32,496,715
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $2,144,356$1,899,368
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $43,676,784$46,294,483
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $1,511,720$1,221,184
X-18 Grants payableStart of year $1,272,071$272,436
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $1,284,995$1,762,709
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $2,663,405$2,429,697
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $6,732,191$5,686,026
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $30,064,156$29,487,605
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $6,880,437$11,120,852
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $36,944,593$40,608,457
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $43,676,784$46,294,483
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $40,608,457 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$22,688,397
XI-2 Total expenses$20,785,219
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$1,903,178
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$36,944,593
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$1,760,686
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$40,608,457

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2025 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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