Breakthrough T1D
Breakthrough T1D is a public charity based in New York, New York. Founded in 1970, it works to accelerate breakthroughs to cure, prevent, and treat type 1 diabetes (T1D) and its complications, supporting research as well as advocacy, education, and resources for people and families affected by T1D.
Breakthrough T1D at a glance
In short: Breakthrough T1D gave $79.3M across 100 grants in 2025 (avg $793K), top state Massachusetts. 16% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $79,319,658
- +18.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 100
- +7.5% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $793,197
- +10.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $377,999
- Total assets
- $534,558,002
- +9.5% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 16% first-time grantees (16 of 100, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (21% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Breakthrough T1D
- How to Apply
-
For research opportunities, consult the grant handbook and the relevant opportunity’s application information. Conference Awards accept rolling submissions for eligible scientific meetings, conferences, and workshops.
- Contact
Mailing address: 200 Vesey Street 28Th Floor, New York, NY 10281
Phone: (800) 533-2873
Website: https://breakthrought1d.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
23 open opportunities from Breakthrough T1D
Accelerating Clinical Trials Evaluating Disease-Modifying Therapies For T1D
Breakthrough T1D
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Advancing Technologies To Enhance Engraftment In Cell Therapy For T1D
Breakthrough T1D
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Beyond Pediatrics: Advancing Early Detection in Adult-Onset Type 1 Diabetes Grant
Breakthrough T1D
Amount
Up to US $900,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Breakthrough T1D funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was University of Massachusetts Medical School ($7.3M). Together the top 10 received $35.9M.
Grant Size Distribution
484 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $250–500K range: 134 grants of 484 (28%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In filing year 2025, the largest shares of grant dollars by recipient state were Massachusetts (21%), California (13%), Florida (7%), Illinois (7%), and Pennsylvania (6%). The listed grants also include recipients in Colorado, Indiana, Washington, and Michigan.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 100 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Breakthrough T1D open to new grantees?
16%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 16 of 100 grantees (16%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $323K; repeat grants $883K. How we count
Medians: $243K first-time, $431K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2025). 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
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $29.1M (2021) to $79.3M (2025). In 2025 it made 100 grants totaling $79.3M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University of Massachusetts Medical School Worcester, MA | T1D Research | $7,275,001 |
| The Regents of the University of California San Francisco San Francisco, CA | T1D Research | $5,397,345 |
| The University of Chicago Chicago, IL | T1D Research | $4,120,701 |
| Regents of the University of Colorado Denver, CO | T1D Research | $3,578,005 |
| University of Florida Gainesville, FL | T1D Research | $3,130,295 |
| The Brigham and Womens Hospital Inc Boston, MA | T1D Research | $2,749,635 |
| Joslin Diabetes Center Inc Boston, MA | T1D Research | $2,565,662 |
| Trustees of Indiana University Bloomington, IN | T1D Research | $2,492,689 |
| University of Washington Seattle, WA | T1D Research | $2,386,866 |
| Regents of the University of Michigan Ann Arbor, MI | T1D Research | $2,251,674 |
Ready to take the next step with Breakthrough T1D?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The organization’s filing describes $103.5 million in net research grant expense recognized under GAAP for the year ended June 30, 2024, in addition to $18 million of programmatic research investments recorded on its balance sheet. These figures are separate from the grant totals reported by filing year above.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $534,558,002 | $301,723,973 | $281,012,901 | $79,319,658 | 100 | $13,791,709 |
| 2024 | $488,117,647 | $258,115,457 | $232,130,154 | $67,075,228 | 93 | $23,163,370 |
| 2023 | $446,188,087 | $223,798,085 | $215,759,942 | $74,336,017 | 101 | $9,232,479 |
| 2022 | $389,461,665 | $238,595,505 | $162,889,199 | $49,414,446 | 129 | $10,283,819 |
| 2021 | $361,315,226 | $223,022,643 | $115,470,447 | $29,109,001 | 61 | $28,497,433 |
| 2020 | $268,023,077 | $212,602,450 | $192,605,651 | $49,824,740 | 75 | $16,238,938 |
| 2019 | $244,434,766 | $239,329,465 | $212,570,052 | $62,033,174 | 87 | $19,973,309 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
Breakthrough T1D’s mission is to accelerate life-changing breakthroughs to cure, prevent, and treat T1D and its complications. Its research strategy has two pillars: curing T1D and improving the lives of people with T1D. The organization identifies early detection, disease-modifying therapies, and cell therapies as priorities for curing T1D. Its improving-lives work includes glucose-control drugs and devices, research on complications such as heart, eye, and kidney disease, and behavioral health therapies.
The organization funds research grants and industry agreements and provides research support through scientific, medical, policy, and government-relations professionals. Its filing also describes public education and outreach, including support services and resources for newly diagnosed children and adults, families, and others.
The 2025 grants include universities, hospitals, research institutes, and other nonprofits. For example, the University of Chicago describes its mission as advancing knowledge and fostering a community of scholars and students; the University of Miami describes itself as a research university with programs including medicine and scientific research; and the Clinton Health Access Initiative describes its mission as improving health outcomes and strengthening health systems in low- and middle-income countries. These are the grantees’ own descriptions, not Breakthrough T1D’s mission.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, Breakthrough T1D reported 100 grants totaling $79,319,658. Grant amounts ranged from $25,000 to $7,275,001, with a median of $377,999. The largest listed award was $7,275,001 to the University of Massachusetts Medical School for T1D research. Other large awards included $5,397,345 to the Regents of the University of California, San Francisco, and $4,120,701 to the University of Chicago, each for T1D research.
Breakthrough T1D’s funding opportunities page describes a grant handbook with application guidelines, checklists, administrative resources, terms and conditions, and clinical resources. The page’s listed deadlines for specific opportunities—including those in 2025, January 2026, July 2026, and September 2026—have passed as of October 2, 2026. Separately, the Conference Awards program is described as accepting applications year-round for scientific meetings, conferences, and workshops relevant to the organization’s mission; it does not cover individual attendance costs. The Kellogg Family Early-Career Patient-Oriented Diabetes Research Award is described as providing up to $200,000 annually for up to five years, and the Advanced Postdoctoral Fellowship as providing up to $95,000 per year for three years. The program descriptions list restrictions, including limits on long-term-complications applications for those awards.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Lisa Wallack as chair and Matt Varey as vice chair. It also lists Michael Alter, Elizabeth Caswell, Claudia Graham, Mike Gordon, Michelle Griffin, Karen Jordan, Joe Lacher Jr., and Per Lundin as board members or committee chairs.
Breakthrough T1D is led by Aaron Kowalski, Chief Executive Officer since 2022 (on filings since 2019); 16 of 31 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Aaron Kowalski
Chief Executive Officer
Chief Mission Officer → President & CEO, 2020
CEO & President → Chief Executive Officer, 2022
On filings since 2019
50 hrs/week
$503K (2019) → $978K (2025)
Christopher Turner
Chair, Nominating & Gov. Committee
Chair, Finance & Invest Committee → Board Member, 2024
Board Member → Chair, Nominating & Gov. Committee, 2025
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jennifer Schneider MD
Chair & Mission Impact Committee
Board Member → Chair, Nominating & Gov Committee, 2023
Chair, Nominating & Gov Committee → Chair & Mission Impact Committee, 2025
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Karen Jordan
Chair, Finance & Investment Committee
Chair & Research Committee → Chair & Funding Committee, 2024
Chair & Funding Committee → Chair, Finance & Investment Committee, 2025
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lisa Wallack
Chair
Board Member → Chair, Talent & Compensation Committee, 2024
Chair, Talent & Compensation Committee → Chair, 2025
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Elizabeth Caswell
Chair, Talent & Comp. Committee
Board Member → Chair & Research Committee, 2024
Chair & Research Committee → Chair, Talent & Comp. Committee, 2025
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Steven St Peter
Managing Director T1d Fund
Mg Director Jdrf T1d Fund → Managing Director & T1d Fund, 2022
Managing Director & T1d Fund → Managing Director T1d Fund, 2025
On filings since 2021
50 hrs/week
$565K (2021) → $807K (2025)
Helen Ellias
Former Key Employee
Managing Director & T1d Fund → Managing Director T1d Fund, 2024
Managing Director T1d Fund → Former Key Employee, 2025
On filings since 2020
$450K (2020) → $604K (2025)
James McDonald
Former Officer
Board Liaison & Secretary → Board Liaison, 2024
Board Liaison → Former Officer, 2025
On filings since 2020
$109K (2020) → $149K (2025)
Sanjoy Dutta PhD
Chief Scientific Officer
Vice President & Research → Chief Scientific Officer, 2022
On filings since 2020
50 hrs/week
$286K (2020) → $460K (2025)
Sydney Yovic
Former Officer
Chf. Strategy Ofc & Chf. of Staff → Chf. Str Ofc & Chf of Staff, 2024
Chf. Str Ofc & Chf of Staff → Former Officer, 2025
On filings since 2020
$185K (2020) → $296K (2025)
Robert King
Cfao & Treasurer
On filings since 2022
50 hrs/week
$81K (2022) → $563K (2025)
Pamela Morrisroe
Chief Marketing Officer
On filings since 2023
50 hrs/week
$439K (2023) → $520K (2025)
Tracy Mido
Chief Human Resources Officer
On filings since 2023
50 hrs/week
$351K (2023) → $408K (2025)
Amy Montalto
Vice President & Volunteer Engagement
On filings since 2024
50 hrs/week
$275K (2024) → $297K (2025)
Jesse Raben
Chief Legal, Risk Ofc & Secretary
On filings since 2024
50 hrs/week
$166K (2024) → $320K (2025)
Kathleen Seitz
Chief Global Development Officer
On filings since 2024
50 hrs/week
$447K (2024) → $492K (2025)
Annette Freytag
Chief of Staff & Treasurer
New on the 2025 filing
50 hrs/week
$80K (2025)
Hardik Sanghvi
Vice President, Enterprise Architecture & Secretary
New on the 2025 filing
50 hrs/week
$296K (2025)
Lynn Starr
Chief Global Advocacy Officer
New on the 2025 filing
50 hrs/week
$461K (2025)
Margaret Morris
CFO & Treasurer
New on the 2025 filing
50 hrs/week
$249K (2025)
Joe Lacher Jr.
Board Member
Chair, Talent & Compensation → Chair of the Board, 2021
Chair of the Board → Board Member, 2023
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Karey L. Witty
Board Member
Board Member → Chair, Finance & Investment Committee, 2024
Chair, Finance & Investment Committee → Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Matt Varey
Vice Chair
Board Member → Chair, Audit & Risk Committee, 2023
Chair, Audit & Risk Committee → Vice Chair, 2025
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael Alter
Board Member
Board Member → Chair & Funding Committee, 2020
Chair & Funding Committee → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michelle Griffin
Board Member
Chair & Development → Vice Chair of the Board, 2023
Vice Chair of the Board → Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Claudia Graham PhD
Board Member
Board Member → Chair, Advocacy & Impact Committee, 2023
Chair, Advocacy & Impact Committee → Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Drayton Virkler
Board Member
On filings since 2021
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Carlton McMillan
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2024
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mike Gordon
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Per Lundin
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (46)
- Former: Grant Beard (2019–2024) — Chair of the Board
- Former: Jeff Plumer (2019–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Timothy Doyle (2022–2024) — Former Officer
- Former: Bala Balasubramanian (2024) — Chief Information Officer
- Former: Esther Latres (2024) — Vice President & Research
- Former: Cynthia Rice (2019–2023) — Chief Mission Officer
- Former: Joanne Martz (2019–2023) — Former Officer · Filing note: Began 10/2018
- Former: Paul Heath (2019–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Steven Davis (2019–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Troy Lindloff (2020–2023) — Former Officer · Filing note: Began 2/2020
- Former: Yury Kukushkin (2022–2023) — Managing Director & T1d Fund
- Former: Mimi Crabtree (2023) — Executive Director & Greater Ny Chapter
- Former: Srinivas Mishra (2020–2022) — Chief Tech Officer
- Former: Gillian Green (2021–2022) — Vice President Leadership Giving
- Former: Anne Gehring (2022) — Contract CFO
- Former: Craig Robertson (2022) — Vice President & Field Development
- Former: Alisa Norris (2019–2021) — CMO
- Former: Derek Rapp (2019–2021) — Fmr President & CEO · Filing note: Thru 4/2019
- Former: Sandra Hijikata (2019–2021) — Fmr CDO & Assistant Secretary · Filing note: Thru 4/2020
- Former: Susan Yun (2019–2021) — Fmr Cpo & Assistant Secretary · Filing note: Thru 5/2020
- Former: Ellen Leake (2019–2020) — Chair of the Board
- Former: Jill Clark (2019–2020) — Senior Vice President & Volunteer Engagement
- Former: Margery Perry (2019–2020) — Chair & Research
- Former: Angie Platt (2019) — Board Member
- Former: Brandon Arbiter (2019) — Board Member
- Former: Cathy Baier (2019) — Board Member
- Former: Dayton Ogden (2019) — Board Member
- Former: Doug Lowenstein (2019) — Board Member
- Former: Jeff Adams (2019) — Board Member
- Former: Jennifer Bennett (2019) — Board Member
- Former: Jerry Wisler (2019) — Board Member
- Former: John Kampfe (2019) — Board Member
- Former: Jonathan R. Behr (2019) — Managing Director Jdrf-T1d Fnd
- Former: Julia Greenstein (2019) — Vice President Research
- Former: Kim Roosevelt (2019) — Board Member
- Former: Lisa Reed (2019) — Board Member
- Former: Mark Greene (2019) — Former CFO & Assistant Treasurer · Filing note: Thru 518
- Former: Marvin Daitch (2019) — Board Member
- Former: Mary Elizabeth Bunzel (2019) — Chair & Chancellors
- Former: Michael Soper (2019) — Board Member
- Former: Mike Norona (2019) — Board Member
- Former: Nanette Deturk (2019) — Chair & Advocacy
- Former: Randy Anderson (2019) — Board Member
- Former: Sean Doherty (2019) — Chair & Jdrf T1d Fund Llc
- Former: Stephen Newman MD (2019) — Board Member
- Former: Timothy Clark (2019) — Board Member
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $978K, to Aaron Kowalski (Chief Executive Officer). 16 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Breakthrough T1D
How much does Breakthrough T1D give each year?
Breakthrough T1D gave $79.3M across 100 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $67.1M across 93 grants.
What is Breakthrough T1D's typical grant size?
Breakthrough T1D's median grant in 2025 was $377,999, and its average grant was $793,197, across 100 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Breakthrough T1D that year got $323K on average.
Where does Breakthrough T1D give grants?
Breakthrough T1D's top state is Massachusetts, with 21% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were California (13%) and Florida (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Boston, MA (7 grants), New York, NY (5 grants), Seattle, WA (4 grants) and Pittsburgh, PA (3 grants).
Does Breakthrough T1D give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 100 grants with a stated purpose on Breakthrough T1D's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "T1D Research" (100 grants).
Who are Breakthrough T1D's largest grantees?
Breakthrough T1D's largest 2025 grantees include University of Massachusetts Medical School ($7,275,001), The Regents of the University of California San Francisco ($5,397,345) and The University of Chicago ($4,120,701), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 21% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Breakthrough T1D?
Breakthrough T1D reported $534.6M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $301.7M.
What does Breakthrough T1D fund?
Breakthrough T1D’s mission is to accelerate life-changing breakthroughs to cure, prevent, and treat T1D and its complications. Its research strategy has two pillars: curing T1D and improving the lives of people with T1D. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Breakthrough T1D?
For research opportunities, consult the grant handbook and the relevant opportunity’s application information. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Breakthrough T1D's EIN?
Breakthrough T1D's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-1907729. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS March 31, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 12, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 4, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 14, 2026)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS February 12, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 8, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS January 21, 2022)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
Live grants for the work Breakthrough T1D funds
Diseases, Disorders & Medical Disciplines Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Breakthrough T1D's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Breakthrough T1D funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/breakthrough-t1d-morg_db53f6b64501403b93b3485f4b276bf2
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_231907729_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Breakthrough T1D funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/breakthrough-t1d-morg_db53f6b64501403b93b3485f4b276bf2},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-24. 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 Breakthrough T1D'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.
Breakthrough T1D down — hundreds of funders to go?