Break New Ground Charitable Fund

Private foundation · Grantmaker Wilmington, DE EIN: 92-0307218

Break New Ground Charitable Fund is a private foundation based in Wilmington, Delaware. Its 2025 filing reports 15 grants totaling $228,000 to charitable organizations.

Break New Ground Charitable Fund at a glance

In short: Break New Ground Charitable Fund gave $228K across 15 grants in 2025 (avg $15K), top state Massachusetts. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2025)
$228,000
+85.4% vs 2024
Grants made (2025)
15
+87.5% vs 2024
Average grant
$15,200
-1.1% vs 2024
Median grant
$10,000
Total assets
$3,953,762
-3.6% vs 2024
Primary geography
Massachusetts (29% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.

How to apply to Break New Ground Charitable Fund

Accepts unsolicited proposals
No
How to Apply

The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

Contact

Mailing address: Foundation Source 501 Silverside Rd, Wilmington, DE 19809-1377
Phone: (800) 839-1754

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who Break New Ground Charitable Fund funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

Nature Conservancy Inc: $34KNature Conservancy Inc$34KEssex County Greenbelt Association: $30KEssex County GreenbeltAssociation$30KMaine Coast Heritage Trust: $30KMaine Coast Heritage Trust$30KInternational Rescue Committee Inc: $25KInternational Rescue CommitteeInc$25KConservation Law Foundation Inc: $20K across 2 grantsConservation Law FoundationInc$20K · 2 grantsPlanned Parenthood Federation of America Inc: $20K across 2 grantsPlanned Parenthood Federationof America Inc$20K · 2 grantsBoston Globe Foundation Inc: $15KBoston Globe Foundation Inc$15KAmerican Civil Liberties Union Foundation Inc: $10KAmerican Civil Liberties UnionFoundation Inc$10KAmericares Foundation Inc: $10KAmericares Foundation Inc$10KAmnesty International of the USA Inc: $10KAmnesty International of theUSA Inc$10K

The largest 2025 recipient was Nature Conservancy Inc ($34K). Together the top 10 received $204K.

Grant Size Distribution

24 grants across all recorded years

23<$50K1$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 23 grants of 24 (96%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The 2025 grant dollars were distributed among recipients in these states and jurisdictions: Massachusetts (29%), Maine (28%), District of Columbia (15%), Minnesota (11%), and New York (9%). The listed grants also included a recipient in Connecticut.

Grant Distribution by State

8states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 15 itemized grants.

Cities

BostonWashingtonBrunswickEssexNew YorkRSRCH Triangle PRKTopshamAlbert LeaFrederickMysticStamford

How Break New Ground Charitable Fund gives

  • 38% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
  • In 2025 it paid out 82% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

Giving History

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$100K$200K$300K0 grants2022 1 grant2023 8 grants2024 15 grants2025

From 2023 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $50K (2023) to $228K (2025). In 2025 it made 15 grants totaling $228K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Nature Conservancy Inc Brunswick, MEdesignated to projects and overhead in Maine and to ME Magalloway project$34,000
Essex County Greenbelt Association Essex, MATo provide partial purchase funds for land or buildings thereon, or costs incurred for such purchase, either for acreage in Hamilton or Wenham$30,000
Maine Coast Heritage Trust Topsham, METo advance MCHT's project on Old Point, Lamoine and ancillary sites. Included are planning and implementation for trails, beach access, signage, protection of Indian middens and artifacts.$30,000
International Rescue Committee Inc Albert Lea, MNgrant is for greatest need and help for displaced families in or from Palestine, Israel and Ukraine$25,000
Boston Globe Foundation Inc Boston, MAThis grant is for 2025 Globe Santa's Christmas gift program$15,000
American Civil Liberties Union Foundation Inc New York, NYgrant is for greatest need and for blocking the current US government from illegal or questionably legal actions of the US President or his appointees$10,000
Americares Foundation Inc Stamford, CTGrant is for Americare's Resilience Fund to offset termination of US support in third world$10,000
Amnesty International of the USA Inc New York, NYGeneral & Unrestricted$10,000
Campaign Legal Center Inc Washington, DCGeneral & Unrestricted$10,000
Conservation Law Foundation Inc Boston, MAGrant is for greatest need and actions to discourage expansion of use of energy from fossil fuels and encourage harvesting wind and solar energy$10,000
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2025$3,953,762$105,490$253,793$228,00015$251,306$105,362$307,689
2024$4,102,065$162,526$146,843$123,0008$143,858$162,526$246,104
2023$4,086,382$156,056$74,650$50,0001$73,181$157,176$202,294
2022$4,004,976$4,004,976————$4,976$7,361

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Break New Ground Charitable Fund reported a distributable amount of $308K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

No mission statement for the funder is provided. Its 2025 grants went to organizations whose stated missions and grant purposes include land and coastal conservation, human rights, environmental protection, legal and civil-liberties work, humanitarian assistance, and other charitable activities.

For example, Essex County Greenbelt Association describes its mission as land conservation and conservation education. Maine Coast Heritage Trust says it advances conservation of lands and waters in Maine. Conservation Law Foundation describes its work as protecting New England’s environment using law, science, and markets. These are the grantees’ descriptions of their own missions.

Grantmaking

In 2025, the funder reported 15 grants totaling $228,000. Grant amounts ranged from $4,000 to $34,000, with a median of $10,000.

Notable grants included $34,000 to The Nature Conservancy for Maine projects and overhead, including its Magalloway project; $30,000 to Essex County Greenbelt Association toward land or buildings in Hamilton or Wenham; and $30,000 to Maine Coast Heritage Trust for work on Old Point, Lamoine, and ancillary sites. The funder also awarded $25,000 to the International Rescue Committee for its greatest need and to help displaced families in or from Palestine, Israel, and Ukraine. Other grants included $15,000 to the Boston Globe Foundation for its 2025 Globe Santa Christmas gift program and $10,000 each to the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation, Amnesty International of the USA, and Campaign Legal Center. Conservation Law Foundation received two grants of $10,000 each.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2025 filing lists Peter H Hartline as director, president, and treasurer, and Rebecca B Kucera as secretary, director, and vice president.

Break New Ground Charitable Fund is led by Peter H Hartline, Director, President & Treasurer on every filing since 2022; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Peter H Hartline

    Director, President & Treasurer

    On filings since 2022

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Rebecca B Kucera

    Secretary, Director & Vice President

    On filings since 2022

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2022–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Frequently asked questions about Break New Ground Charitable Fund

How much does Break New Ground Charitable Fund give each year?

Break New Ground Charitable Fund gave $228K across 15 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $123K across 8 grants.

What is Break New Ground Charitable Fund's typical grant size?

Break New Ground Charitable Fund's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $15,200, across 15 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Where does Break New Ground Charitable Fund give grants?

Break New Ground Charitable Fund's top state is Massachusetts, with 29% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Maine (28%) and District of Columbia (15%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (4 grants), Boston, MA (3 grants) and New York, NY (2 grants).

Does Break New Ground Charitable Fund give general operating support?

Yes: 20% of Break New Ground Charitable Fund's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (3 of 15) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Who are Break New Ground Charitable Fund's largest grantees?

Break New Ground Charitable Fund's largest 2025 grantees include Nature Conservancy Inc ($34,000), Essex County Greenbelt Association ($30,000) and Maine Coast Heritage Trust ($30,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 41% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is Break New Ground Charitable Fund?

Break New Ground Charitable Fund reported $4.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $251K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $308K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.

What does Break New Ground Charitable Fund fund?

No mission statement for the funder is provided. Its 2025 grants went to organizations whose stated missions and grant purposes include land and coastal conservation, human rights, environmental protection, legal and civil-liberties work, humanitarian assistance, and other charitable activities. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Break New Ground Charitable Fund?

The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is Break New Ground Charitable Fund's EIN?

Break New Ground Charitable Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 92-0307218. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2022–2025.

Does Break New Ground Charitable Fund accept unsolicited proposals?

No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑

Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.

Data update history

(2)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 1, 2026)
  2. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2022–2024

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Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). Break New Ground Charitable Fund funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 23, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/break-new-ground-charitable-fund-morg_cee74e752ef54035a84bc2ff902b708d

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_920307218_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{Break New Ground Charitable Fund funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/break-new-ground-charitable-fund-morg_cee74e752ef54035a84bc2ff902b708d},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-10-23. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}

The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.

Figures come from Break New Ground Charitable Fund's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.

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