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Nonprofiteer
← ACHIEVE ATLANTA INC

Form 990 for tax year 2023

Filed by ACHIEVE ATLANTA INC.

Totals

Total revenue
$7,639,117
Total expenses
$7,381,948
Contributions and grants received
$7,258,566
Grants paid
$361,650
Program service revenue
$0
Investment income
$380,551
Other revenue
$0
Total assets, end of year
$14,964,025
Total liabilities, end of year
$1,803,083
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$13,160,942
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$6,170,413
Management and general expenses
$1,102,954
Fundraising expenses
$108,581
Program service expenses (Part III)
$6,170,413

Program services were 83.6% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

Line items

Every line the filer filed in Parts VIII, IX and X, as filed and in filed order. Blank columns are left out, and the lines are not forced to add up to the totals above.

Revenue

Part VIII, the statement of revenue.

  • 1d · Related organizations

    $6,622,381

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $636,185

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $379,609 · excluded $379,609

  • 7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory

    securities $1,325,694

  • 7b · Less cost or other basis and sales expenses

    securities $1,324,752

  • 7c · Gain or loss

    securities $942

  • 7d · Net gain or loss

    total $942 · excluded $942

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 2 · Grants to domestic individuals

    total $361,650 · program services $361,650

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $812,315 · program services $555,558 · management and general $211,215 · fundraising $45,542

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $1,762,627 · program services $1,361,701 · management and general $359,963 · fundraising $40,963

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $62,810 · program services $48,523 · management and general $12,827 · fundraising $1,460

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $264,714 · program services $204,502 · management and general $54,060 · fundraising $6,152

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $178,225 · program services $137,686 · management and general $36,397 · fundraising $4,142

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $160,560 · management and general $160,560

  • 11f · Fees: investment management

    total $24,388 · management and general $24,388

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $3,254,133 · program services $3,095,132 · management and general $159,001

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $50,322 · program services $50,322

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $26,239 · program services $20,271 · management and general $5,359 · fundraising $609

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $160,187 · program services $123,751 · management and general $32,713 · fundraising $3,723

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $145,474 · program services $108,659 · management and general $32,582 · fundraising $4,233

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $55,011 · program services $55,011

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $48,769 · program services $36,427 · management and general $10,923 · fundraising $1,419

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $14,524 · program services $11,220 · management and general $2,966 · fundraising $338

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $13,020,725 · end of year $648,255

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $207,401

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $58,481 · end of year $90,993

  • 10a · Land, buildings and equipment: cost or other basis

    $333,673

  • 10b · Land, buildings and equipment: accumulated depreciation

    $105,374

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $253,185 · end of year $228,299

  • 11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

    end of year $13,345,804

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $744,542 · end of year $650,674

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $803,587 · end of year $1,056,314

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $756,615 · end of year $746,769

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $12,477,043 · end of year $12,801,700

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $247,089 · end of year $359,242

Mission and programs · 2023

Mission

ACHIEVE ATLANTA ENVISIONS A FUTURE WHERE ATLANTA IS A CITY WHERE RACE AND INCOME NO LONGER PREDICT POSTSECONDARY SUCCESS AND UPWARD MOBILITY. IN SERVICE OF THIS VISION, ACHIEVE ATLANTA'S MISSION IS TO HELP ATLANTA PUBLIC SCHOOLS STUDENTS ACCESS, AFFORD, AND EARN POSTSECONDARY CREDENTIALS. JUST AS IMPORTANT AS WHAT WE DO, IS HOW WE APPROACH OUR WORK. ACHIEVE ATLANTA BELIEVES THAT TO SOLVE THE COMPLEX PROBLEM OF LOW-DEGREE ATTAINMENT, WE MUST WORK ACROSS SECTORS. THEREFORE, ACHIEVE ATLANTA CATALYZES AND FACILITATES RESULTS-DRIVEN CROSS-SECTOR COLLABORATION BY SETTING A VISION, ASSEMBLING TEAMS, AND CREATING CONDITIONS FOR SUCCESS ACROSS A RANGE OF PARTNERS INCLUDING ATLANTA PUBLIC SCHOOLS, NUMEROUS COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES, NONPROFIT AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, STUDENTS AND FAMILIES.

  • COLLEGE ACCESS - SEE SCHEDULE OACHIEVE ATLANTA WORKS WITH ATLANTA PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND PROVIDES STRATEGIC, FINANCIAL AND OPERATIONAL SUPPORT TO DESIGN AND IMPLEMENT A DISTRICT-WIDE COLLEGE ADVISING PROGRAM. AS PART OF THIS EFFORT, ACHIEVE ATLANTA HAS ENGAGED THE COLLEGE ADVISING CORPS TO PROVIDE COLLEGE ADVISERS ACROSS ALL HIGH SCHOOLS TO SUPPORT 12TH GRADERS WITH THE TECHNICAL ASPECTS OF THE COLLEGE-GOING PROCESS (E.G., RESEARCHING COLLEGES, APPLYING TO COLLEGE, REGISTERING FOR COLLEGE ENTRANCE EXAMS, APPLYING FOR FINANCIAL AID AND SCHOLARSHIPS). IN ADDITION, ACHIEVE ATLANTA HAS ENGAGED ONEGOAL, INC. TO WORK WITH COHORTS OF STUDENTS AT VARIOUS HIGH SCHOOLS THROUGH A CREDIT-BEARING ELECTIVE COURSE DESIGNED TO BUILD ACADEMIC SKILLS AND TEACH STUDENTS TO ANTICIPATE AND OVERCOME ROADBLOCKS ON THE PATH TO COLLEGE GRADUATION. FINALLY, ACHIEVE ATLANTA PROVIDES TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, DATA ANALYSES, AND COLLEGE ACCESS-RELATED TRAINING TO DISTRICT, HIGH SCHOOL, AND PARTNER STAFF IN SUPPORT OF THE PROGRAM. SINCE ACHIEVE ATLANTA'S INCEPTION, SIGNIFICANT GAINS HAVE BEEN MADE ON ALL COLLEGE ACCESS LEADING INDICATORS AND COLLEGE ENROLLMENT RATES HAVE INCREASED.

    Expenses $2,841,091

  • COLLEGE AFFORDABILITY - SEE SCHEDULE OACHIEVE ATLANTA WORKS WITH ATLANTA PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND ITS EXTERNAL PARTNERS TO PROVIDE INFORMATION, TRAINING AND TOOLS TO ENSURE STUDENTS CAN MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS ABOUT COLLEGE COSTS AND ACCESS FUNDING TO SUPPORT THOSE COSTS. IN ADDITION, ACHIEVE ATLANTA PROVIDES THE STATE'S LARGEST NEED-BASED SCHOLARSHIP TO SUPPORT ATLANTA PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS PURSUING VARIOUS POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION PATHS AFTER HIGH SCHOOL. FOR STUDENTS ATTENDING A FOUR-YEAR COLLEGE, THE ACHIEVE ATLANTA SCHOLARSHIP IS WORTH UP TO $5,000 PER YEAR (RENEWABLE FOR UP TO FOUR YEARS OF SCHOOL). FOR STUDENTS ATTENDING A TWO-YEAR OR TECHNICAL COLLEGE, THE AWARD IS UP TO $1,500 PER YEAR (RENEWABLE FOR UP TO TWO YEARS OF SCHOOL). ACHIEVE ATLANTA ALSO PROVIDES EMERGENCY GRANTS OF UP TO $500 TO SUPPORT STUDENTS FACED WITH AN UNEXPECTED FINANCIAL NEED TO ALLOW THEM TO STAY ON TRACK IN COLLEGE, AS WELL AS COMPLETION GRANTS FOR SOME STUDENTS WHO HAVE EXHAUSTED THEIR ACHIEVE ATLANTA SCHOLARSHIP BUT NEED ASSISTANCE TO COMPLETE UP TO TWO MORE TERMS. THESE SCHOLARSHIPS AND GRANTS ARE MEANT TO HELP CLOSE THE FINANCIAL GAPS STUDENTS FACE IN PAYING FOR COLLEGE.

    Expenses $1,828,663 · Grants $361,650

  • COLLEGE SUCCESS - SEE SCHEDULE OACHIEVE ATLANTA HAS ESTABLISHED FORMAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH SEVERAL GEORGIA COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES TO STREAMLINE ADVISING AND COACHING SERVICES FOR ATLANTA PUBLIC SCHOOLS GRADUATES ATTENDING ONE OF THESE INSTITUTIONS. ACHIEVE ATLANTA HAS ALSO CONTRACTED WITH BEYOND 12 AND EDU-TECH ENTERPRISES, TWO COLLEGE SUCCESS NONPROFITS, TO PROVIDE COACHING AND ADVISING TO ATLANTA PUBLIC SCHOOL GRADUATES WHILE THEY ARE IN COLLEGE. IN ADDITION, ACHIEVE ATLANTA HAS DEVELOPED A PEER-AMBASSADOR PROGRAM, ESTABLISHED MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORTS AND AN EMERGENCY GRANT PROGRAM, AS WELL AS HIRED A COLLEGE COACH FELLOW TO PROVIDE TARGETED SUPPORT TO SCHOLARS IN TWO-YEAR AND TECHNICAL PROGRAMS. COLLECTIVELY, THESE EFFORTS ARE INTENDED TO INCREASE THE RATES OF COLLEGE PERSISTENCE AND COMPLETION FOR ATLANTA PUBLIC SCHOOL GRADUATES. TO DATE, ACHIEVE ATLANTA SCHOLARS ARE PERSISTING AND GRADUATING YEAR TO YEAR AT SIMILAR RATES TO STUDENTS OF ALL INCOME LEVELS ENROLLED IN THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF GEORGIA.

    Expenses $1,500,659

As filed on the 2023 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

  • Claire Arnold

    BOARD CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • Gregory Vaughn

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Joe Arnold

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • Luis Avila-Estrada

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2.5

  • Beverly Tatum

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • Kathy Waller

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1.25

  • Cheryl L Watson-Harris

    EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $206,809
    From this org
    $197,052
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $9,757
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $196,052
    Bonus
    $247
    Other
    $753
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $9,757
    Filer's total
    $206,809

  • Tina Fernandez

    EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $2,734
    From this org
    $2,581
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $153
    Hours/week
    40

  • Susanne Diggs-Wilborn

    VP, COLLEGE SUCCESS

    Total calculated
    $211,510
    From this org
    $200,150
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $11,360
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $157,261
    Bonus
    $41,200
    Other
    $1,689
    Deferred
    $9,871
    Nontaxable benefits
    $1,489
    Filer's total
    $211,510

  • Korynn Schooley

    VP, COLLEGE ACCESS

    Total calculated
    $199,493
    From this org
    $178,435
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $21,058
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $160,955
    Bonus
    $16,500
    Other
    $980
    Deferred
    $9,824
    Nontaxable benefits
    $11,234
    Filer's total
    $199,493

  • Samuel Rauschenberg

    VP, ORGANIZATIONAL EFFECTI

    Total calculated
    $191,769
    From this org
    $161,825
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $29,944
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $144,622
    Bonus
    $16,500
    Other
    $703
    Deferred
    $9,917
    Nontaxable benefits
    $20,027
    Filer's total
    $191,769

  • William Tran

    SENIOR DIRECTOR, OPERATIONS & SYSTEMS

    Total calculated
    $168,597
    From this org
    $149,161
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $19,436
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $136,858
    Bonus
    $11,500
    Other
    $803
    Deferred
    $8,383
    Nontaxable benefits
    $11,053
    Filer's total
    $168,597

  • Ninfa Murillo

    SENIOR DIRECTOR, SCHOLARSHIP & AFFORDABILITY

    Total calculated
    $153,689
    From this org
    $133,433
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $20,256
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $131,080
    Bonus
    $1,500
    Other
    $853
    Deferred
    $8,018
    Nontaxable benefits
    $12,238
    Filer's total
    $153,689

  • Vettica Petty

    SENIOR DIRECTOR, MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS

    Total calculated
    $146,823
    From this org
    $128,142
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $18,681
    Hours/week
    40

  • Sweta Vivek

    SENIOR DIRECTOR, DATA ANALYTICS & INSIGHTS

    Total calculated
    $152,778
    From this org
    $127,994
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $24,784
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $125,676
    Bonus
    $1,500
    Other
    $818
    Deferred
    $7,992
    Nontaxable benefits
    $16,792
    Filer's total
    $152,778

  • Femi-Ama Johnson

    DIRECTOR, COLLEGE ACCESS

    Total calculated
    $138,845
    From this org
    $120,036
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $18,809
    Hours/week
    40

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.

Schedule J

Answered yes

  • 3 · Compensation committee
  • 3 · Independent compensation consultant
  • 3 · Form 990 of other organizations
  • 3 · Compensation survey or study
  • 3 · Approval by the board or compensation committee
  • 7 · Other non-fixed payments

Answered no

  • 4a · Severance or change-of-control payment
  • 4b · Supplemental nonqualified retirement plan
  • 4c · Equity-based compensation arrangement
  • 5a · Pay contingent on this organization's revenues
  • 5b · Pay contingent on a related organization's revenues
  • 6a · Pay contingent on this organization's net earnings
  • 6b · Pay contingent on a related organization's net earnings
  • 8 · Paid under the initial-contract exception

The filer's explanations (Part III)

PART I, LINE 7
THE BOARD APPROVED DISCRETIONARY BONUSES FOR CERTAIN EMPLOYEES.
SCH J PART I LINE 3
FOR CHERYL WATSON-HARRIS' COMPENSATION, ACHIEVE ATLANTA'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS HIRED AN INDEPENDENT CONSULTING FIRM TO PERFORM A COMPREHENSIVE EVALUATION OF THE CEO'S COMPENSATION PACKAGE. THE ASSESSMENT INCLUDED A REVIEW OF POSITIONS IN SIMILAR ORGANIZATIONS WITH COMPARABLE SIZE, JOB DESCRIPTION, AND OTHER BENCHMARKING DATA.

Part I's answers as filed. A line not listed was left unanswered; on lines 1a and 3 that means the box was not checked.

Grants on this return

No itemized grants to organizations on this return.

Related organizations on this return

Schedule R Part II: tax-exempt organizations related to the filer by control. It does not record shared board members or money.

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2023
Filed
14 November 2024
IRS schema version
2023v5.1
Source object
202413209349313281

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