Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Achieve Atlanta Inc

EIN 47-2670990 · Atlanta, GA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

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 STUDENTS ACCESS, AFFORD, AND EARN POSTSECONDARY CREDENTIALS. ACHIEVE ATLANTA BELIEVES WE MUST WORK ACROSS SECTORS TO SOLVE THE COMPLEX PROBLEM OF LOW-DEGREE ATTAINMENT. THEREFORE, ACHIEVE ATLANTA CATALYZES AND FACILITATES RESULTS-DRIVEN COLLABORATION BY SETTING A VISION, ASSEMBLING CROSS-SECTOR TEAMS, AND CREATING CONDITIONS FOR SUCCESS FOR STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES. OUR PARTNERSHIPS INCLUDE ATLANTA PUBLIC SCHOOLS, 11 COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES, AND NUMEROUS NONPROFIT AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS.

Income
$8.1 million
Spending
$7.0 million
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
24.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 90%
Employees
40
Volunteers
7
Highest pay
$306,713, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 91% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 24.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 12% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 14% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 6 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (4)
  1. $2.6 million spent. 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 THAT SUPPORT 11TH AND 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.
  2. $1.7 million spent. COLLEGE AFFORDABILITY - SEE SCHEDULE OACHIEVE ATLANTA WORKS WITH ATLANTA PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND ITS EXTERNAL PARTNERS TO PROVIDE INFORMATION, TRAINING, AND TOOLS THAT ENSURE STUDENTS 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 SCHOOLS 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 WHEN PAYING FOR COLLEGE.
  3. $1.4 million spent. COLLEGE SUCCESS - SEE SCHEDULE OACHIEVE ATLANTA HAS ESTABLISHED FORMAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH 11 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 AND ESTABLISHED MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT AND AN EMERGENCY GRANT PROGRAM. COLLECTIVELY, THESE EFFORTS ARE INTENDED TO INCREASE THE RATES OF COLLEGE PERSISTENCE AND COMPLETION FOR ATLANTA PUBLIC SCHOOL GRADUATES AND PUT THEM ON A PATHWAY TO UPWARD MOBILITY. 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.
  4. CAREER SUPPORTSOUR ALUMNI'S EXPERIENCES AND OUTCOMES HAVE HELPED US SEE THAT A POSTSECONDARY DEGREE ALONE IS OFTEN NOT ENOUGH TO PUT A SCHOLAR ON A PATH TO UPWARD MOBILITY, WHICH IS CENTRAL TO OUR VISION. IN RESPONSE, WE HAVE BUILT A PROGRAM TO INTEGRATE CAREER SUPPORTS MORE INTENTIONALLY INTO THE SCHOLAR JOURNEY. IN THE FIRST YEAR OF OUR CAREER SUPPORTS PROGRAMMING, WE ARE COORDINATING AND MAXIMIZING THE CAREER RESOURCES ALREADY AVAILABLE TO SCHOLARS THROUGH OUR CURRENT COLLEGE AND CAREER PARTNERS AND PARTNERSHIP MODELTO INCREASE UTILIZATION, QUALITY, AND EQUITABLE ACCESS TO CAREER COACHING, SKILLS, AND EXPERIENCES. AN EXAMPLE OF THIS IS EVIDENT IN OUR COLLABORATION WITH BRAVENX TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF SCHOLARS PARTICIPATING IN THEIR CAREER ACCELERATOR PROGRAM. WHILE WE ARE MAXIMIZING EXISTING RESOURCES, WE ARE ALSO IDENTIFYING GAPS AND EXPLORING NEW PARTNERSHIPS, RESOURCES, AND APPROACHES TO IMPROVE THE EARLY CAREER OUTCOMES OF OUR ALUMNI.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since March 2015.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.