Case Study: Achieving the Dream achieves 50% AP workload reduction and faster, fraud-free payments with Tipalti

Achieving the Dream Helps Students Build Successful Futures and Create Stronger Communities

Achieving the Dream is a nonprofit network supporting more than 300 community colleges and 4 million students, focused on removing barriers to student success. Despite strong programmatic impact, their finance operations were hampered by manual, check-based processes (300–350 checks twice monthly), slow payments, heavy email coordination with suppliers, and compliance risks that delayed financial close and reporting.

Working with RSM and Tipalti, they digitized payables—implementing OCR invoice automation, a self-service supplier portal, a KPMG‑approved tax engine, and full NetSuite integration. The result: 50% reduction in AP workload, automated handling of ~700 invoices per month, all suppliers moved to electronic payments in three months, a reliable 15-day hard close for reporting, staff up-skilling, and improved fraud protection via Tipalti Card.

Achieving the Dream

Janice Stucke

Chief Financial Officer