We believe in a world where every community college is a catalyst for more equitable, economically vibrant communities. Alongside hard working leaders, we’re transforming colleges — from how they lead to how they teach — to put students at the center, so that all students can access life-changing learning that propels them into community-changing careers.
Achieving the Dream Inc. centers its grantmaking on community colleges that are working toward more equitable student outcomes and stronger community impact. Its funded work is tightly connected to institutional change: leadership, teaching and learning, data empowerment, holistic student supports, and pathways redesign all appear across its active programs. The foundation uses cohort-based initiatives, network membership, and implementation grants to support colleges and systems already doing the work of change. Recent grants show a clear preference for project-specific support at the college level. Northern Virginia Community College received $136,500 for implementation grants in 2023, while Pierce College received $135,000 for the same grant type that year. Other grants went to institutions such as Northeast Wisconsin Technical College, Cuyahoga Community College District, Lorain County Community College, Austin Community College District, and the Research Foundation of the City University of New York. The pattern points to a funder that works through named institutions, often supporting the operational side of student-success reform. The foundation also connects grantmaking to participation in the ATD Network, where colleges can access exclusive programs, tools, and eligibility for innovation grants and awards. That structure suggests a mix of direct project funding and broader network-based support for colleges focused on equity and completion.
A major theme is implementation support for community colleges. Achieving the Dream Inc. awarded $120,000 to Austin Community College District in 2023 for implementation grants, and the same grant type appears across many colleges in the recent grants list. Equity-focused work is another visible thread. Northern Essex Community College received $90,000 in 2024 for implementation grants, and the foundation’s active programs include the Racial Equity Leadership Academy, which selects ten ATD Network colleges for a nine-month coaching and peer-exchange process. Data use and student support also recur in the program design. The Digital Holistic Student Supports initiative is a two-and-a-half-year cohort for selected colleges focused on data maturity and whole-college digital transformation. The Alliance for Community College Learner Success similarly supports a small cohort of colleges or systems with data-informed strategies, tailored supports, and peer learning.
$363K
$46.3M
$22.7M
$20.8M
Most grants fall between $15K and $90K, with a median of $33K.
25th Percentile
$15K
Median
$33K
75th Percentile
$90K
About 2% of grants go to recipients in MA.
KAREN A STOUT
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The typical grant size is $15,000 at the 25th percentile, $32,500 at the median, and $90,000 at the 75th percentile. Recent awards include repeated implementation grants to the same institutions across 2023 and 2024, which suggests recurring support rather than one-off funding. The foundation is a regular funder, not a DAF, and it does not fund individuals. Its grantmaking is largely restricted and project-specific, often tied to cohort participation, implementation work, or network membership.
Grantmaking is national and all recent grants in the dataset went to U.S. recipients. The top state by grant count is Massachusetts, though the foundation’s headquarters are in Silver Spring, Maryland. Recent grants reached colleges in Fairfax, Lakewood, Green Bay, Cleveland, Elyria, Austin, Philadelphia, New York, and Havertown, showing a broad spread across regions. Maryland recipients account for 2% of grants in the data.
It supports community colleges, college districts, and related higher-education entities. Recent grants went to institutions such as Northern Virginia Community College, Pierce College, and the Research Foundation of the City University of New York, and its active programs are built around community college network membership and cohort-based initiatives.
The typical grant size is $15,000 at the 25th percentile, $32,500 at the median, and $90,000 at the 75th percentile. Recent awards also include larger implementation grants, such as $136,500 to Northern Virginia Community College and $135,000 to Pierce College.
The recent grants list shows recurring support. Several institutions received implementation grants in both 2023 and 2024, including Austin Community College District, Northern Essex Community College, Pierce College, and Northern Virginia Community College.
The ATD Network has cohort applications and institutional membership entry points. The network provides access to exclusive programs and tools, and membership makes colleges eligible for network-only innovation grants, initiatives, and awards. Some programs, such as the Racial Equity Leadership Academy and Digital Holistic Student Supports, are limited to selected network colleges.
Its grantmaking is national, with all recent grants in the dataset going to U.S. recipients. The top state by grant count is Massachusetts, and the data also shows repeated awards to colleges in Texas, Washington, Virginia, Wisconsin, Ohio, and New York.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Current and upcoming funding from Achieving the Dream that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: College or system-level institutions (community colleges). Membership is intended for institutional leaders; eligibility for network-only grants and initiatives is limited to Network members.
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Create a free accountDeadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT | AUSTIN, TX | $120,000 | 2025 | IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS |
| DALLAS COLLEGE EASTFIELD CAMPUS | MESQUITE, TX | $30,000 | 2025 | IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS |
| FORSYTH TECHNICAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE | WINSTON SALEM, NC | $25,000 | 2025 | IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS |
| EVERETT COMMUNITY COLLEGE | EVERETT, WA | $25,000 | 2025 | IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS |
| CHATTANOOGA STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION | CHATTANOOGA, TN | $25,000 | 2025 | AWARD |
| NORTH CENTRAL STATE COLLEGE | MANSFIELD, OH | $25,000 | 2025 | IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS |
| GRAYSON COLLEGE | DENISON, TX | $25,000 | 2025 | IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS |
| SOUTHWESTERN OREGON COMMUNITY COLLEGE | COOS BAY, OR | $25,000 | 2025 | AWARD |
| TALLAHASSEE STATE COLLEGE | TALLAHASSEE, FL | $25,000 | 2025 | IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS |
| EL PASO COMMUNITY COLLEGE | ELPASO, TX | $15,000 | 2025 | IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS |
| ALAMO COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT | SAN ANTONIO, TX | $15,000 | 2025 | IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS |
| THE ASPEN INSTITUTE | WASHINGTON, DC | $7,500 | 2025 | IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS |
| COMMUNITY COLLEGE OF PHILADELPHIA FOUNDATION | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $90,000 | 2024 | IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS |
| NORTHERN ESSEX COMMUNITY COLLEGE | HAVERHILL, MA | $90,000 | 2024 | IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS |
| PIERCE COLLEGE | LAKEWOOD, WA | $90,000 | 2024 | IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS |
| BAY COLLEGE | ESCANABA, MI | $90,000 | 2024 | IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS |
| RESEARCH FOUNDATION OF THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK | NEW YORK, NY | $90,000 | 2024 | IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS |
| AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT | AUSTIN, TX | $90,000 | 2024 | IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS |
| NORTHERN VIRGINIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE | FAIRFAX, VA | $90,000 | 2024 | IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS |
| NORTHEAST WISCONSIN TECHNICAL COLLEGE | GREEN BAY, WI | $90,000 | 2024 | IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS |
| CUYAHOGA COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT | CLEVELAND, OH | $90,000 | 2024 | IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS |
| LORAIN COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE | ELYRIA, OH | $90,000 | 2024 | IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS |
| FORT PECK COMMUNITY COLLEGE | POPLAR, MT | $80,000 | 2024 | IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS |
| SALISH KOOTENAI COLLEGE INC | PABLO, MT | $40,000 | 2024 | IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS |
| LAC COURTE OREILLES OJIBWE UNIVERSITY | HAYWARD, WI | $40,000 | 2024 | IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS |
| COLLEGE OF MENOMINEE NATION | KESHENA, WI | $40,000 | 2024 | IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS |
| RED LAKE NATION COLLEGE | RED LAKE, MN | $40,000 | 2024 | IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS |
| AANIIIH NAKODA COLLEGE | HARLEM, MT | $40,000 | 2024 | IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS |
| FOND DU LAC TRIBAL & COMMUNITY COLLEGE | CLOQUET, MN | $25,000 | 2024 | IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS |
| ALAMO COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT | SAN ANTONIO, TX | $15,000 | 2024 | IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS |
| EL PASO COMMUNITY COLLEGE | EL PASO, TX | $15,000 | 2024 | AWARD |
| COLUMBIA-GREENE COMMUNITY COLLEGE | HUDSON, NY | $7,500 | 2024 | IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS |
| CLOVIS COMMUNITY COLLEGE | CLOVIS, NM | $7,500 | 2024 | IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS |
| NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI COMMUNITY COLLEGE | SENATOBIA, MS | $7,500 | 2024 | IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS |
| SOUTHEAST KENTUCKY COMMUNITY AND TECHNICAL COLLEGE | VERSAILLES, KY | $7,500 | 2024 | IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS |
| HALIFAX COMMUNITY COLLEGE | WELDON, NC | $7,500 | 2024 | IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS |
| BERKSHIRE COMMUNITY COLLEGE | PITTSFIELD, MA | $7,500 | 2024 | IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS |
| NORTHERN VIRGINIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE | FAIRFAX, VA | $136,500 | 2023 | IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS |
| PIERCE COLLEGE | LAKEWOOD, WA | $135,000 | 2023 | IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS |
| NORTHEAST WISCONSIN TECHNICAL COLLEGE | GREEN BAY, WI | $121,500 | 2023 | IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS |
| CUYAHOGA COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT | CLEVELAND, OH | $121,500 | 2023 | IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS |
| COMMUNITY COLLEGE OF PHILADELPHIA FOUNDATION | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $120,000 | 2023 | IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS |
| AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT | AUSTIN, TX | $120,000 | 2023 | IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS |
| NORTHERN ESSEX COMMUNITY COLLEGE | HAVERHILL, MA | $120,000 | 2023 | IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS |
| LORAIN COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE | ELYRIA, OH | $120,000 | 2023 | IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS |
| BAY COLLEGE | ESCANABA, MI | $120,000 | 2023 | IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS |
| RESEARCH FOUNDATION OF THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK | NEW YORK, NY | $120,000 | 2023 | IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS |
| TEACHERS COLLEGE COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY | NEW YORK, NY | $68,554 | 2023 | IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS |
| TENNESSEE BOARD OF REGENTS | NASHVILLE, TN | $59,600 | 2023 | IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS |
| COLLEGE OF MENOMINEE NATION | KESHENA, WI | $45,000 | 2023 | IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS |
AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT
$120,000IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS
DALLAS COLLEGE EASTFIELD CAMPUS
$30,000IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS
FORSYTH TECHNICAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE
$25,000IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS
EVERETT COMMUNITY COLLEGE
$25,000IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS
CHATTANOOGA STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION
$25,000AWARD
NORTH CENTRAL STATE COLLEGE
$25,000IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS
GRAYSON COLLEGE
$25,000IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS
SOUTHWESTERN OREGON COMMUNITY COLLEGE
$25,000AWARD
TALLAHASSEE STATE COLLEGE
$25,000IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS
EL PASO COMMUNITY COLLEGE
$15,000IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS
ALAMO COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT
$15,000IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS
THE ASPEN INSTITUTE
$7,500IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS
COMMUNITY COLLEGE OF PHILADELPHIA FOUNDATION
$90,000IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS
NORTHERN ESSEX COMMUNITY COLLEGE
$90,000IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS
PIERCE COLLEGE
$90,000IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS
BAY COLLEGE
$90,000IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS
RESEARCH FOUNDATION OF THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK
$90,000IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS
AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT
$90,000IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS
NORTHERN VIRGINIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE
$90,000IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS
NORTHEAST WISCONSIN TECHNICAL COLLEGE
$90,000IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS
CUYAHOGA COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT
$90,000IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS
LORAIN COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE
$90,000IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS
FORT PECK COMMUNITY COLLEGE
$80,000IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS
SALISH KOOTENAI COLLEGE INC
$40,000IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS
LAC COURTE OREILLES OJIBWE UNIVERSITY
$40,000IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS
COLLEGE OF MENOMINEE NATION
$40,000IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS
RED LAKE NATION COLLEGE
$40,000IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS
AANIIIH NAKODA COLLEGE
$40,000IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS
FOND DU LAC TRIBAL & COMMUNITY COLLEGE
$25,000IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS
ALAMO COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT
$15,000IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS
EL PASO COMMUNITY COLLEGE
$15,000AWARD
COLUMBIA-GREENE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
$7,500IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS
CLOVIS COMMUNITY COLLEGE
$7,500IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS
NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI COMMUNITY COLLEGE
$7,500IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS
SOUTHEAST KENTUCKY COMMUNITY AND TECHNICAL COLLEGE
$7,500IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS
HALIFAX COMMUNITY COLLEGE
$7,500IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS
BERKSHIRE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
$7,500IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS
NORTHERN VIRGINIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE
$136,500IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS
PIERCE COLLEGE
$135,000IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS
NORTHEAST WISCONSIN TECHNICAL COLLEGE
$121,500IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS
CUYAHOGA COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT
$121,500IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS
COMMUNITY COLLEGE OF PHILADELPHIA FOUNDATION
$120,000IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS
AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT
$120,000IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS
NORTHERN ESSEX COMMUNITY COLLEGE
$120,000IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS
LORAIN COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE
$120,000IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS
BAY COLLEGE
$120,000IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS
RESEARCH FOUNDATION OF THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK
$120,000IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS
TEACHERS COLLEGE COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
$68,554IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS
TENNESSEE BOARD OF REGENTS
$59,600IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS
COLLEGE OF MENOMINEE NATION
$45,000IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS
