The Breakthrough Institute

Analysis

The Breakthrough Institute is a registered charity in United States, based in Berkeley, CA. It received its IRS tax-exemption ruling in March 2017, 9 years ago. Its declared purposes cover environment, which this site groups under environment and conservation. The IRS classifies it as a publicly supported organisation (donations from the general public) under section 501(c)(3), and contributions to it are listed as tax-deductible.

In the financial year ending December 2023, The Breakthrough Institute reported income of $4.4m and spending of $6.6m, spending 148% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2019 to December 2023, income grew from $3.3m to $4.4m (+36%), an average of +8.0% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2022, when income rose by 48%. Over the whole period it spent 93% of the income it received.

Among 10,430 United States charities whose main cause is environment and conservation and that reported income, The Breakthrough Institute sits at the 93rd percentile: it is larger than about 93% of them. Against every charity in United States with reported income it ranks in the 91st percentile, and in the 92nd percentile within CA. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Placer Land Trust ($4.4m), The Kohala Center Inc ($4.4m) and Sonnenberg Gardens ($4.4m).

On its Form 990 for the period ending December 2023, revenue came from contributions and grants 92% and program service revenue 4.2% of the total. Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees was $282k (4.3% of expenses). Other salaries and wages came to $3.1m. At year end it held assets of $4.7m against liabilities of $1.6m, net assets of $3.1m. It reported 29 employees.