The Breakthrough Institute
Funding Overview
From IRS Form 990 filings · 2019–2025
Total received
$18.7M
Foundation funders
29
Grants recorded
87
Years covered
2019–2025
Who funds The Breakthrough Institute?
The Breakthrough Institute is funded by 29 grantmakers, led by Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program ($6.7M), Bernard and Anne Spitzer ($3.9M), Breakthrough Energy Foundation ($3.0M). In total, IRS Form 990 filings record $18.7M in grants to The Breakthrough Institute between 2019–2025.
Show all 29 funders
| Leaves of Grass Fund | $4,000 | 1 | 2024 |
| Electra Foundation | $2,000 | 1 | 2020 |
| Serve to Lead Foundation | $500 | 1 | 2023 |
| Analog Devices Foundation | $309 | 1 | 2023 |
Funding over time
Grant dollars and counts received per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $76K (2019) to $5.8M (2022). In 2025 it made 6 grants totaling $511K.
What grants has The Breakthrough Institute received?
Individual grants from IRS Form 990 filings, newest first
| Year | Funder | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco the Peninsula Marin & Sonoma | ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND PROTECTION | $250,000 |
| 2025 | National Philanthropic Trust | HUMAN SERVICES | $180,000 |
| 2025 | The Bellwether Foundation II | GENERAL SUPPORT | $30,000 |
| 2025 | American Conservation Coalition Inc | ABUNDANCE 2025 CONFERENCE | $25,000 |
| 2025 | Alex C Walker Educational & Charitable | NUCLEAR ECONOMICS & | $20,000 |
| 2025 | The Ayco Charitable Foundation | ENVIRONMENT & ANIMAL PROTECTION | $6,000 |
| 2024 | Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program | FOR RECIPIENT'S EXEMPT PURPOSE | $2,400,000 |
| 2024 | Bernard and Anne Spitzer | GENERAL PURPOSE | $500,000 |
| 2024 | Gates Foundation | GLOBAL HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT PUBLIC AWARENESS AND ANALYSIS | $448,500 |
| 2024 | Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco the Peninsula Marin & Sonoma | ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND PROTECTION | $250,000 |
| 2024 | Laura and John Arnold Foundation | TO SUPPORT RESEARCH, ANALYSIS, PUBLICATION, AND DISTRIBUTION OF A REPORT ON NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT LAWSUITS. | $115,472 |
| 2024 | The Rodel Foundation | ENVIRONMENT | $100,000 |
| 2024 | PTSRK Foundation | TO SUPPORT THE BREAKTHROUGH INSTITUTE | $100,000 |
| 2024 | National Philanthropic Trust | RELIGION | $80,000 |
| 2024 | The McLane Family Charitable Foundation | CHARITABLE DONATION FOR GLOBAL RESEARCH-IDENTIFIES TECH SOLUTIONS FOR ENVIRON CHALLENGES | $48,826 |
| 2024 | Humanity United | Human Rights | $30,000 |
| 2024 | The Bellwether Foundation II | GENERAL SUPPORT | $30,000 |
| 2024 | Fireside Foundation | To support the Institute's work toward a more sustainable future. | $20,000 |
| 2024 | Jewish Communal Fund | IN FURTHERANCE OF GRANTEE'S TAX-EXEMPT PURPOSE | $15,000 |
| 2024 | Jewish Communal Fund | IN FURTHERANCE OF GRANTEE'S TAX-EXEMPT PURPOSE | $15,000 |
| 2024 | East Bay Community Foundation | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| 2024 | Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Inc | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL SUPPORT | $8,000 |
| 2024 | The Ayco Charitable Foundation | ENVIRONMENT & ANIMAL PROTECTION | $6,000 |
| 2024 | Leaves of Grass Fund | CHARITABLE | $4,000 |
| 2023 | Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program | FOR RECIPIENT'S EXEMPT PURPOSE | $1,821,000 |
| 2023 | Breakthrough Energy Foundation | POLICY DEVELOPMENT | $1,261,802 |
| 2023 | Bernard and Anne Spitzer | FOOD & FARMING PROGRAM | $700,000 |
| 2023 | Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco the Peninsula Marin & Sonoma | ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND PROTECTION | $250,000 |
| 2023 | The Rodel Foundation | ENVIRONMENT | $100,000 |
| 2023 | PTSRK Foundation | TO SUPPORT THE BREAKTHROUGH INSTITUTE | $100,000 |
Showing 30 most recent of 87 recorded grants.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who funds The Breakthrough Institute?
The Breakthrough Institute is funded by 29 grantmakers, led by Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program ($6.7M), Bernard and Anne Spitzer ($3.9M), Breakthrough Energy Foundation ($3.0M). In total, IRS Form 990 filings record $18.7M in grants to The Breakthrough Institute between 2019–2025.
Who is The Breakthrough Institute's largest funder?
Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program is the largest recorded funder of The Breakthrough Institute, with $6.7M across 4 grants (2021–2024).
How much grant funding has The Breakthrough Institute received?
IRS 990 filings record $18.7M in grants to The Breakthrough Institute across 87 grants from 29 funders between 2019–2025. Filings are published on a delay, so recent grants may not appear yet.
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Grant data is drawn from IRS Form 990 filings via Grantable's GrantGraph™. Filings are published on a delay; recent grants may not appear yet.
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