The Breakthrough Institute
The Breakthrough Institute is a research center that identifies and promotes technological solutions to environmental and human development challenges.
The Breakthrough Institute at a glance
- Total assets
- $5,985,021
- -7.8% vs 2024
- Revenue (2025)
- $5,069,912
- -32.7% vs 2024
- Net investment income (2025)
- $188,047
- -6.0% vs 2024
- Expenses (2025)
- $5,783,654
- +4.5% vs 2024
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who The Breakthrough Institute funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
2 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 2 grants of 2 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
How The Breakthrough Institute gives
- Giving grew 50% from 2021 to 2024. 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $10K (2021) to $15K (2024). In 2024 it made 1 grant totaling $15K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Nuclear Alternative Project Sugar Land, TX | General support | $15,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $5,985,021 | $5,069,912 | $5,783,654 | — | — | $188,047 |
| 2024 | $6,490,079 | $7,537,340 | $5,536,433 | $15,000 | 1 | $200,020 |
| 2023 | $4,738,080 | $4,438,319 | $6,558,097 | — | — | $189,902 |
| 2022 | $7,080,633 | $6,739,502 | $5,383,594 | — | — | $49,018 |
| 2021 | $4,243,816 | $4,564,377 | $3,775,078 | $10,000 | 1 | $7,249 |
| 2020 | $3,545,139 | $3,162,290 | $2,257,835 | — | — | $17,378 |
About The Breakthrough Institute
Based on IRS filings
The Breakthrough Institute is a public charity focused on Environment & Animals, based in Berkeley, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $6.0M in total assets. Net investment income was $188K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Breakthrough Institute is led by Ronald Nordhaus, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; 13 of 22 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Ronald Nordhaus
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$176K (2020) → $320K (2025)
Tisha Schuller
Board Chair
Director → Board Member, 2022
Board Member → Board Chair, 2025
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ann Wang
Director of Ops
Director Operations → Director of Operations, 2024
Director of Operations → Director of Ops, 2025
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$107K (2021) → $124K (2025)
Daniel S Blaustein-Rejto
Director Food & Agriculture
Director Food & Agricultur → Director Food & Agricul, 2022
Director Food & Agricul → Director Food & Agriculture, 2024
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$114K (2021) → $171K (2025)
Seaver Wang
Director of Climate & Energy
Co-Dir Clim & Ener → Co-Dir Climate & Energy, 2024
Co-Dir Climate & Energy → Director of Climate & Energy, 2025
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$117K (2022) → $191K (2025)
Adam Stein
Director Nuclear Energy Innovation
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$158K (2024) → $170K (2025)
Alexander Smith
Editorial Director
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$125K (2024) → $133K (2025)
David Hong
Washington Director
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$204K (2024) → $214K (2025)
Ephstathia Bonadies
Director Events & Special Projects
Director Events & Proj → Director Events & Special Projects, 2025
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$135K (2024) → $155K (2025)
Emily Bass
Director Fed Policy
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$158K (2025)
Alex Trembath
Deputy Director
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$114K (2021) → $211K (2025)
Emma Kovak
Senior Food & Ag Analys
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$106K (2025)
Peter Seel
Radl Health Analys
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$103K (2025)
William Tillson
Senior Nuc Ener Analy
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$104K (2025)
Bill Budinger
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Chris Foreman
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jennifer Hernandez
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rachel Pritzker
Board Member
President → Board Chair, 2023
Board Chair → Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ray Rothrock
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ross Koningstein
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Thomas Riley
Secretary & Treasury
Secretarytreasurer → Secretary & Treasury, 2022
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Matthew Winkler
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (9)
- Former: Vijaya Ramachandran (2021–2024) — Director Energy for Development
- Former: Varun Sivaram (2023–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Patrick Brown (2024) — Co-Dir Climate & Energy
- Former: Matt Winkler (2020–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Ashley Nunes (2023) — Fed Pol Director C & E
- Former: Kathryn Salam (2022) — Executive Editor
- Former: Reihan Salam (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Stewart Brand (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Ezekiel Hausfather (2021) — Director Climate & Energy
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 $320K, to Ronald Nordhaus (Executive Dir.). 13 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Breakthrough Institute
How large is The Breakthrough Institute?
The Breakthrough Institute reported $6.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $5.1M.
What is The Breakthrough Institute?
The Breakthrough Institute is a public charity focused on Environment & Animals, based in Berkeley, CA. It holds $6.0M in total assets as of 2025.
Where does The Breakthrough Institute operate?
The Breakthrough Institute has awarded grants in Colorado, Texas.
What is The Breakthrough Institute's EIN?
The Breakthrough Institute's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 81-4526660. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 4, 2022)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 26, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work The Breakthrough Institute funds
Environment & Animals Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Breakthrough Institute's focus areas in our free grants database
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The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from The Breakthrough Institute'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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