The Breakthrough Collaborative
The Breakthrough Collaborative is a public charity based in an individual recipient, California, that supports educational opportunity for traditionally underserved students and helps prepare aspiring educators. Founded in 1978, it describes itself as a national network of 25 affiliates.
The Breakthrough Collaborative at a glance
In short: The Breakthrough Collaborative gave $425K across 17 grants in 2025 (avg $25K), top state California. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $425,000
- +199.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 17
- +240.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $25,000
- -11.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $5,265,274
- -34.8% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- California (18% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to The Breakthrough Collaborative
- Contact
Mailing address: 455 Market St 1940 Pmb 933078, San Francisco, CA 94105
Phone: (415) 442-0600
Website: https://breakthroughcollaborative.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Breakthrough Collaborative funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Breakthrough Cinncinnati ($25K). Together the top 10 received $250K.
Grant Size Distribution
36 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 34 grants of 36 (94%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Collaborative is based in an individual recipient and describes a network of affiliates across the United States. Its 2025 grants went to recipients in multiple states. The filing reports that California received 18% of grant dollars, Texas 12%, and Ohio, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania 6% each.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 17 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How The Breakthrough Collaborative gives
- Giving grew 254% from 2022 to 2025. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $42K (2023) to $425K (2025). In 2025 it made 17 grants totaling $425K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Breakthrough Cinncinnati Cincinnati, OH | General Support | $25,000 |
| Breakthrough Louisville Louisville, KY | General Support | $25,000 |
| Breakthrough Philadelphia Philadelphia, PA | General Support | $25,000 |
| Breakthrough Kent Denver Englewood, CO | General Support | $25,000 |
| Breakthrough Twin Cities Saint Paul, MN | General Support | $25,000 |
| Breakthrough Atlanta Atlanta, GA | General Support | $25,000 |
| Breakthrough New Orleans New Orleans, LA | General Support | $25,000 |
| The Wheeler School Providence, RI | General Support | $25,000 |
| Breakthrough Sacramento Oakland, CA | General Support | $25,000 |
| Breakthrough Fort Worth Fort Worth, TX | General Support | $25,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The grant totals were associated with 17 grants in 2025, five in 2024, and four in 2023. The 2024 filing also says the organization holds two endowments, of $100,000 and $13,300, intended to support long-term sustainability, with annual earnings released for general operations.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $5,265,274 | $4,356,807 | $7,308,676 | $425,000 | 17 | $159,451 |
| 2024 | $8,081,507 | $6,344,565 | $5,882,298 | $141,750 | 5 | $211,098 |
| 2023 | $7,812,785 | $7,943,709 | $5,378,172 | $41,500 | 4 | $47,161 |
| 2022 | $4,778,545 | $3,032,661 | $3,879,582 | $120,200 | 2 | $18,595 |
| 2021 | $5,615,413 | $4,670,293 | $2,836,956 | $44,000 | 8 | $9,198 |
| 2020 | $4,032,262 | $3,899,358 | $2,353,708 | — | — | $15,742 |
| 2019 | $2,116,711 | $1,759,273 | $1,890,824 | — | — | $6,680 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization’s stated mission is to work with traditionally underserved students toward post-secondary success and equip aspiring leaders to become the next generation of educators and advocates. Its described approach combines multi-year student support—including a summer program, school-year programming, and college counseling—with a Teaching Fellowship that provides college students with training and teaching experience.
The 2025 filing says grants to affiliates supported on-the-ground activities related to new initiatives. Grantees’ own mission statements illustrate the range of organizations supported: Breakthrough Twin Cities says it supports students on the journey to college while fostering mutual learning with future educators; Breakthrough Silicon Valley says it prepares students to become first-generation college graduates and inspires future educators and advocates for equity. Breakthrough Atlanta describes a dual mission of increasing academic opportunity for underserved students and developing future teachers and educational leaders. The Wheeler School, another 2025 grantee, describes itself as an independent college-preparatory day school.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the Collaborative reported 17 grants totaling $425,000. Each was $25,000, which was also the smallest, largest, and median grant amount. The filing says these grants to affiliates supported on-the-ground activities related to new initiatives.
Listed 2025 recipients include Breakthrough Cincinnati, Breakthrough Louisville, Breakthrough Philadelphia, Breakthrough Kent Denver, Breakthrough Twin Cities, Breakthrough Atlanta, Breakthrough New Orleans, The Wheeler School, Breakthrough Sacramento, Breakthrough Fort Worth, Breakthrough Houston, and Breakthrough Santa Fe; each received $25,000 for general support. Other 2025 recipients include Breakthrough New York Inc. and Breakthrough Silicon Valley, each reported as receiving $25,000.
The Teaching Fellowship is a summer teaching residency and leadership development program for undergraduates. Its benefits include training, coaching, and a living stipend for participants; this is a program for the organization’s own participants, not a grant program for outside applicants.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Vincent Marigna as CEO; Patrick Talamantes as chair; Christian Hendricks as vice chair; Aditya Kaddu as treasurer; and Kerin McCarthy Fredman as secretary. It also lists Pinney Allen, Mark Contreras, Ted Cox, Jose Davila, and Cathy Dean as trustees.
The Breakthrough Collaborative is led by Vincent Marigna, CEO on every filing since 2023; 6 of 29 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Vincent Marigna
CEO
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$126K (2023) → $263K (2025)
Patrick Talamantes
Chair
Trustee → Chair, 2022
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Andrea Giles
Managing Director of Marketing & Committee
Director of Marketing & Communications → Managing Director of Marketing & Committee, 2025
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$116K (2023) → $144K (2025)
Ambler Ochstein
Director of Institutional Partnerships
National Director of Instutional Partnerships → Director of Institutional Partnerships, 2025
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$123K (2023) → $140K (2025)
Allan Dowiak
Trustee
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Andy Shin
Trustee
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Julianne McDowell
Trustee
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Elaine Weng
Trustee
Trustee → Secretary, 2021
Secretary → Trustee, 2025
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jose Davila
Trustee
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Miho Kubagawa
Trustee
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Cathy Dean
Trustee
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John Hiester
Trustee
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Pinney Allen
Trustee
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Abby Zanarini
Trustee
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Debra McLoud
Trustee
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mark Contreras
Trustee
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Keno Sadler
Trustee
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Melinda Karp
Trustee
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Steve Dessner
Trustee
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ted Cox
Trustee
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Carolyn Long
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Pam Haering
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rob Macrae
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rachel Martinez
Chief Culture & Operating Officer
Chief Culture & Operating Officer → Chief Culture & Operating, 2023
Chief Culture & Operating → Chief Culture & Operating Officer, 2025
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$126K (2019) → $172K (2025)
Alex Serna
Chief Operating Officer
Trustee → Chief Program Officer, 2023
Chief Program Officer → Chief Operating Officer, 2024
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$133K (2023) → $153K (2025)
Lereca Monik Coxeff
Chief External Affairs Officer
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$202K (2025)
Kerin McCarthy Fredman
Secretary
Trustee → Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Aditya Kaddu
Treasurer
Trustee → Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Christian Hendricks
Vice Chair
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (29)
- Former: Lucy Johns (2019–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Monique Shields (2021–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Jee Deogracias (2022–2024) — Director of Research & Technology
- Former: Katharine McDowell (2024) — National Director of Philanthropy
- Former: Tieler Giles (2024) — Managing Director of Marketing
- Former: Elissa Vanaver (2019–2023) — CEO
- Former: Jeremy Gough (2021–2023) — Chief Development Officer
- Former: Jabali Sawicki (2022–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Michael Griffith (2019–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Neil Webber (2019–2022) — Chair
- Former: Russell Glass (2020–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Nicole Noga (2021–2022) — Managing Director of Business Operations
- Former: David Howard (2022) — Trustee
- Former: Kimmy Richardson (2022) — Trustee
- Former: Jason McCune (2019–2021) — Trustee
- Former: Margot McClendon Pinto (2019–2021) — Vice Chair
- Former: Christina Porter (2021) — Trustee
- Former: Ieesha Collins (2021) — Managing Director of External Relations
- Former: Charles Miller (2019–2020) — Chair Emeritus
- Former: Chris Porter (2019–2020) — Trustee
- Former: Jennifer Ciresi (2019–2020) — Secretary
- Former: Josh Edelman (2019–2020) — Trustee
- Former: Natalie Owens-Pike (2019–2020) — Trustee
- Former: Rick Ackerly (2019–2020) — Trustee
- Former: Tamra Mercado Anderson (2019–2020) — Trustee
- Former: Tom Beischer (2019–2020) — Trustee
- Former: Lisa Webb (2019) — Trustee
- Former: Nisha Somani (2019) — Trustee
- Former: Van Sapp (2019) — Trustee
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 $263K, to Vincent Marigna (CEO). 6 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Breakthrough Collaborative
How much does The Breakthrough Collaborative give each year?
The Breakthrough Collaborative gave $425K across 17 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $142K across 5 grants.
What is The Breakthrough Collaborative's typical grant size?
The Breakthrough Collaborative's median grant in 2025 was $25,000, and its average grant was $25,000, across 17 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does The Breakthrough Collaborative give grants?
The Breakthrough Collaborative's top state is California, with 18% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Texas (12%) and Ohio (6%).
Does The Breakthrough Collaborative give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Breakthrough Collaborative's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (17 of 17) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Who are The Breakthrough Collaborative's largest grantees?
The Breakthrough Collaborative's largest 2025 grantees include Breakthrough Cinncinnati ($25,000), Breakthrough Louisville ($25,000) and Breakthrough Philadelphia ($25,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 18% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Breakthrough Collaborative?
The Breakthrough Collaborative reported $5.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $4.4M.
What does The Breakthrough Collaborative fund?
The organization’s stated mission is to work with traditionally underserved students toward post-secondary success and equip aspiring leaders to become the next generation of educators and advocates. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Breakthrough Collaborative?
The Breakthrough Collaborative has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check breakthroughcollaborative.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is The Breakthrough Collaborative's EIN?
The Breakthrough Collaborative's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 94-3140620. 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 September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS January 10, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS March 20, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 24, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 15, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS April 7, 2020)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Breakthrough Collaborative's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Breakthrough Collaborative funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-breakthrough-collaborative-morg_62832b7499c04f5fbf8726e4c9aaa942
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_943140620_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Breakthrough Collaborative funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-breakthrough-collaborative-morg_62832b7499c04f5fbf8726e4c9aaa942},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-14. 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 The Breakthrough Collaborative'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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