Achieve Twin Cities

What it reported doing in 2024

Career & college initiatives programs - see schedule ocareer & college initiatives programs: school-based career and college readiness program achieve twin cities is a universal career and college readiness provider, working in partnership with minneapolis public schools and saint paul public schools to help students develop individualized plans for life after high school. In collaboration with school counselors in 28 high schools, we provide one-on-one guidance and connect students with a wide range of postsecondary and career opportunities, including two and four-year college, apprenticeships, training programs, employers and other options to help them explore and plan for purposeful, life sustaining careers. These services are accessible to 17,000 high school students each year, with over 10,000 students participating directly in our activities, including 93% of seniors. Our professional team-which includes licensed counselors, social workers, admissions experts, educators and youth workers-work one-on-one with students to build the kind of trusting, long-term relationships that are essential for creating post-graduation plans and career success. They offer personalized career exploration advising, career events with local professionals, college fairs and tours, college rep visits, assistance with college, financial aid and fafsa applications, support with resume writing and job interviewing, connections with internship and job opportunities, and links to other college access providers. Achieve twin cities career exploration programming-fully integrated into these high school services-connects students with a wide variety of career and training opportunities that help them prepare to access family-supporting, high-demand and high-growth careers more quickly after high school. Achieve twin cities also brings employers into high schools to meet with students via career speakers and career fair events. Program data shows that 93% of students who utilize achieve's school-based services graduate with a career pathway plan. Lower income students and students of color who utilize these services enroll in postsecondary programs at 50+% higher rates than those who do not. With achieve twin cities support, more students are pursuing the education and training they need for meaningful careers and financial independence.step up youth employment program: step up prepares today's youth for tomorrow's careers by recruiting, training and placing hundreds of minneapolis youth (ages 14-21) in paid summer internships with over 50 regional employers, from fortune 500 companies and small businesses to public agencies and nonprofits. A program of the city of minneapolis in partnership with achieve twin cities, the Minnesota department of employment and economic development, and project for pride in living, step up is one of the nation's leading youth employment programs and leverages a collective that spans 15 industries and multiple sectors. Step up supports historically underrepresented youth in minneapolis who are ready to navigate the professional world. It also helps organizations diversify their workforce and build a base of young, skilled workers for the entire region. Step up has provided over 34,500 internship experiences since 2003, yielding a competitive talent pipeline, a stronger economy and millions of dollars in wages for step up interns. Interns collectively earn over $1.69 million in summer wages for themselves and their families. Volunteer programs: each year, over 300 twin cities community members and employees from local companies volunteer with achieve twin cities to introduce high school students to new careers, education opportunities and skills through school-based career events, step up mock interviews, and other career exploration support. School-based career exploration events connect volunteers with high school students to share their career journeys and insights on a wide range of career and training opportunities. T

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 100%; rating input score 100
• Program expense ratio: 83.1%; rating input score 83
• Fundraising efficiency: $4.14 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 13; 13th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 3 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 50
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Pass
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Pass
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 100%; rating input score 100; 72nd percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 9 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 100
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -62.3%; rating input score 2; 2nd percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.18; rating input score 43; 43rd percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.1; rating input score 58; 58th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 11.1%; rating input score 27; 27th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 3.3% per year; rating input score 100; 29th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 2.5% per year; rating input score 100; 24th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 1.8% per year; rating input score 100; 19th percentile among comparable filings