Breakthrough T1D is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered at 200 Vesey Street, 28th Floor, New York, NY 10281. Founded in 1970 by families whose loved ones had been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, the organization operates as the leading global type 1 diabetes research and advocacy organization. The organization was formerly known as the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) and Juvenile Diabetes Foundation.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$488.1M
+9.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$67.1M
-9.8% YoY
Grant Count
93
-7.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$721K
-2.0% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: Accelerating life-changing breakthroughs to cure, prevent, and treat type 1 diabetes and its complications.
Purpose: As the organization drives toward curing type 1 diabetes, it helps make everyday life better for people who face the condition by connecting the brightest minds to advance treatments, influence policy, and improve access to care.
The organization operates across three primary program areas:
Research Funding: Breakthrough T1D directly funds research grants and industry agreements. In the fiscal year ended June 30, 2024, the organization recognized $103.5 million in research grant expense (net) and $18 million of programmatic research investments recorded on the balance sheet.
Public Education and Outreach: The organization educates the community about type 1 diabetes and its complications, providing support services and resources to newly diagnosed children and adults, their families, and others.
Research Support: Breakthrough T1D maintains an in-house team of skilled scientific, medical, policy, and government relations professionals who play a critical role in advancing the organization's mission.
Grantmaking
Breakthrough T1D actively funds type 1 diabetes research through various grant mechanisms. Recent grant awards include:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Breakthrough T1D funds research and operates programs primarily in California, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania. The organization maintains local chapters and regional operations throughout the United States, with documented presence in New York, Arizona, and Florida.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Fiscal Year 2024 (as of June 30, 2024):
- Total Revenue: $258,115,457
- Total Expenses: $232,130,154
- Total Assets: $488,117,647
- Total Liabilities: $157,000,000 (approximate)
The organization maintains a four-star rating with a 100% score based on accountability and finance metrics.
The organization reported conflict of interest transactions in its June 2024 tax filing, which are documented on Schedule L.
Breakthrough T1D has been tax-exempt since April 1973 (EIN: 23-1907729).
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $488,117,647 | $446,188,087 | $389,461,665 |
| Revenue | $258,115,457 | $223,798,085 | $238,595,505 |
| Expenses | $232,130,154 | $215,759,942 | $162,889,199 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $23,163,370 | $9,232,479 | $10,283,819 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
26 open opportunities from Breakthrough T1d
Accelerating Clinical Trials Evaluating Disease-Modifying Therapies For T1D
BREAKTHROUGH T1D
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Advancing Technologies To Enhance Engraftment In Cell Therapy For T1D
BREAKTHROUGH T1D
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Beyond Pediatrics: Advancing Early Detection in Adult-Onset Type 1 Diabetes Grant
BREAKTHROUGH T1D
Amount
Up to US $900,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Aaron J. Kowalski, Ph.D. serves as Chief Executive Officer of Breakthrough T1D. According to organizational messaging, he has stated: "Cures for T1D are a matter of when, not if. We are closer than ever to taking off our devices and walking away from the condition for good."
The organization was founded by volunteers and continues to engage community advocates in its mission.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DRAYTON VIRKLER | BOARD MEMBER | 3 | — |
| MATT VAREY | CHAIR, AUDIT & RISK COMMITTEE | 5 | — |
| CHRISTOPHER TURNER | BOARD MEMBER | 3 | — |
| JENNIFER SCHNEIDER MD | CHAIR, NOMINATING & GOV COMMITTEE | 5 | — |
| JEFF PLUMER | BOARD MEMBER | 3 | — |
| CARLTON MCMILLAN | DIRECTOR | 3 | — |
| JOE LACHER JR | BOARD MEMBER | 3 | — |
| KAREN JORDAN | CHAIR, FUNDING COMMITTEE | 5 | — |
| CLAUDIA GRAHAM PHD | CHAIR, ADVOCACY & IMPACT COMMITTEE | 5 | — |
| ELIZABETH CASWELL | CHAIR, RESEARCH COMMITTEE | 5 | — |
| MICHAEL ALTER | BOARD MEMBER | 3 | — |
| MICHELLE GRIFFIN | VICE CHAIR OF THE BOARD | 5 | — |
| GRANT BEARD | CHAIR OF THE BOARD | 5 | — |
| LISA WALLACK | CHAIR, TALENT & COMPENSATION COMMITTEE | 5 | — |
| KAREY L WITTY | CHAIR, FINANCE & INVESTMENT COMMITTEE | 5 | — |
| AARON KOWALSKI | CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER | 50 | $861,917 |
| SYDNEY YOVIC | CHF. STR OFC/CHF OF STAFF (END 6/24) | 50 | $318,243 |
| ROBERT KING | CFAO/TREASURER | 50 | $520,154 |
| JESSE RABEN | CHIEF LEGAL & RISK OFC, SECRETARY | 50 | $165,639 |
| STEVEN ST PETER | MANAGING DIRECTOR, T1D FUND | 50 | $767,591 |
| SANJOY DUTTA PHD | CHIEF SCIENTIFIC OFFICER | 50 | $416,535 |
| HELEN ELLIAS | MANAGING DIR. T1D FUND (END 6/24) | 50 | $569,145 |
| KATHLEEN SEITZ | CHIEF GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT OFFICER | 50 | $446,673 |
| TRACY MIDO | CHIEF HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICER | 50 | $360,389 |
| PAMELA MORRISROE | CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER | 50 | $445,368 |
| ESTHER LATRES | VICE PRESIDENT, RESEARCH | 50 | $276,278 |
| BALA BALASUBRAMANIAN | CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER | 50 | $341,819 |
| AMY MONTALTO | VICE PRESIDENT, VOLUNTEER ENGAGEMENT | 50 | $274,950 |
| TIMOTHY DOYLE | FORMER OFFICER | — | $268,477 |
| JAMES MCDONALD | BOARD LIAISON | 50 | $135,629 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
Breakthrough T1D continues to expand its research funding and community support initiatives. The organization held its 2026 Government Day focused on "Powering Progress" with emphasis on access and affordability advocacy and the Special Diabetes Program. Recent educational content includes guidance on the "Honeymoon Phase" for newly diagnosed individuals and perspectives on living with autoimmune disease.
Breakthrough T1D Awards $1.5 Million Grant to Blue Circle Health to ExpandThe organization maintains active community engagement through local chapters, offering virtual support groups, community summits, fundraising events, and volunteer opportunities. The NYC chapter hosts regular events including virtual meet-and-greets, support groups for parents of toddlers, and community summits.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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