The Breakthrough Institute is located in Berkeley, CA. The organization was established in 2017. According to its NTEE Classification (C19) the organization is classified as: Support N.E.C., under the broad grouping of Environment and related organizations. As of 12/2023, Breakthrough Institute employed 29 individuals. This organization is an independent organization and not affiliated with a larger national or regional group of organizations. Breakthrough Institute is a 501(c)(3) and as such, is described as a "Charitable or Religous organization or a private foundation" by the IRS.
For the year ending 12/2023, Breakthrough Institute generated $4.4m in total revenue. This represents relatively stable growth, over the past 7 years the organization has increased revenue by an average of 8.4% each year. All expenses for the organization totaled $6.6m during the year ending 12/2023. You can explore the organizations financials more deeply in the financial statements section below.
Form
990
Mission & Program ActivityExcerpts From the 990 Filing
TAX YEAR
2023
Describe the Organization's Mission:
Part 3 - Line 1
THE BREAKTHROUGH INSTITUTE IS A RESEARCH CENTER THAT IDENTIFIES AND PROMOTES TECHNOLOGICAL SOLUTIONS TO ENVIRONMENTAL AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT CHALLENGES.
Describe the Organization's Program Activity:
Part 3 - Line 4a
RESEARCH PROGRAMS: BREAKTHROUGH'S RESEARCH PROGRAM CONSISTS OF OUR ENERGY & CLIMATE TEAM, WHICH FOCUSES ON POLICIES AND TECHNOLOGIES TO REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS AND INCREASE SOCIAL RESILIENCE TO A CHANGING CLIMATE; OUR NUCLEAR INNOVATION PROGRAM, WHICH OVERSEES ALL ENGAGEMENT WITH THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION AND PUBLISHES CUTTING-EDGE ANALYSIS ON NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGY; OUR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE PROGRAM, WHICH ADVANCES AN INNOVATION-AND-PRODUCTIVITY FRAMEWORK FOR ENABLING ABUNDANT AND LOW-IMPACT FOOD PRODUCTION; AND OUR ENERGY AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, WHICH FOCUSES ON ENERGY AND INFRASTRUCTURAL EQUITY AND RESILIENCE IN EMERGING ECONOMIES.
EVENTS: NETWORK BUILDING IS ONE OF THE PRINCIPLE WAYS THAT BREAKTHROUGH MAKES CHANGE IN THE WORLD, AND WE PRIMARILY EXECUTE ON THIS THROUGH OUR EVENTS. EACH YEAR, WE HOST A WEST COAST EVENT AND AN EAST COAST EVENT THAT IS MORE POLICY-FOCUSED. WE ALSO HOST SMALLER GATHERINGS, ISSUE-FOCUSED WORKSHOPS, AND VIRTUAL EVENTS.
COMMUNICATIONS: OUR COMMUNICATIONS PROGRAM CONSISTS OF REGULAR PUBLICATION OF RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY ON OUR WEBSITE, OUR FLAGSHIP BREAKTHROUGH JOURNAL, A STRONG SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE, SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS AT CONFERENCES AND EVENTS, AND STAFF WRITING AT OTHER OUTLETS--INCLUDING IN ACADEMIA, THE PEER-REVIEWED LITERATURE, AND MAINSTREAM MEDIA.
| Name (title) | Role | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
Ronald Nordhaus Executive Dir. | Officer | 40 | $239,711 |
Alex Trembath Deputy Director | 40 | $203,517 | |
Ashley Nunes Fed Pol Dir C&e | 40 | $185,222 | |
Seaver Wang Co-Dir Clim & Ener | 40 | $184,397 | |
Vijaya Ramachandran Dir Energy For Dev | 40 | $167,943 | |
Daniel S Blaustein-Rejto Dir Food & Agricul | 40 | $173,484 |
| Vendor Name (Service) | Service Year | Compensation |
|---|---|---|
Michael Torrey Assoc Food & Ag Consultant | 12/30/23 | $143,105 |
Icr Llc Public Relations | 12/30/23 | $147,226 |
Matthew Wald Writing Services | 12/30/23 | $109,800 |
| Statement of Revenue | |
|---|---|
| Federated campaigns | $0 |
| Membership dues | $0 |
| Fundraising events | $0 |
| Related organizations | $0 |
| Government grants | $0 |
| All other contributions, gifts, grants, and similar amounts not included above | $4,063,704 |
| Noncash contributions included in lines 1a–1f | $0 |
| Total Revenue from Contributions, Gifts, Grants & Similar | $4,063,704 |
| Total Program Service Revenue | $184,713 |
| Investment income | $189,902 |
| Tax Exempt Bond Proceeds | $0 |
| Royalties | $0 |
| Net Rental Income | $0 |
| Net Gain/Loss on Asset Sales | $0 |
| Net Income from Fundraising Events | $0 |
| Net Income from Gaming Activities | $0 |
| Net Income from Sales of Inventory | $0 |
| Miscellaneous Revenue | $0 |
| Total Revenue | $4,438,319 |
| Statement of Expenses | |
|---|---|
| Grants and other assistance to domestic organizations and domestic governments. | $0 |
| Grants and other assistance to domestic individuals. | $0 |
| Grants and other assistance to Foreign Orgs/Individuals | $0 |
| Benefits paid to or for members | $0 |
| Compensation of current officers, directors, key employees. | $282,182 |
| Compensation of current officers, directors, key employees. | $25,397 |
| Compensation to disqualified persons | $0 |
| Other salaries and wages | $3,088,942 |
| Pension plan accruals and contributions | $90,082 |
| Other employee benefits | $276,974 |
| Payroll taxes | $230,656 |
| Fees for services: Management | $0 |
| Fees for services: Legal | $33,646 |
| Fees for services: Accounting | $94,812 |
| Fees for services: Lobbying | $0 |
| Fees for services: Fundraising | $0 |
| Fees for services: Investment Management | $0 |
| Fees for services: Other | $755,567 |
| Advertising and promotion | $127,637 |
| Office expenses | $105,647 |
| Information technology | $117,175 |
| Royalties | $0 |
| Occupancy | $272,605 |
| Travel | $70,414 |
| Payments of travel or entertainment expenses for any federal, state, or local public officials | $0 |
| Conferences, conventions, and meetings | $5,173 |
| Interest | $0 |
| Payments to affiliates | $0 |
| Depreciation, depletion, and amortization | $32,463 |
| Insurance | $20,855 |
| All other expenses | $0 |
| Total functional expenses | $6,558,097 |
| Balance Sheet | |
|---|---|
| Cash—non-interest-bearing | $406,298 |
| Savings and temporary cash investments | $0 |
| Pledges and grants receivable | $31,175 |
| Accounts receivable, net | $5,544 |
| Loans from Officers, Directors, or Controlling Persons | $0 |
| Loans from Disqualified Persons | $0 |
| Notes and loans receivable | $0 |
| Inventories for sale or use | $0 |
| Prepaid expenses and deferred charges | $195,287 |
| Net Land, buildings, and equipment | $42,915 |
| Investments—publicly traded securities | $2,901,873 |
| Investments—other securities | $0 |
| Investments—program-related | $0 |
| Intangible assets | $100,887 |
| Other assets | $1,054,101 |
| Total assets | $4,738,080 |
| Accounts payable and accrued expenses | $471,467 |
| Grants payable | $0 |
| Deferred revenue | $0 |
| Tax-exempt bond liabilities | $0 |
| Escrow or custodial account liability | $0 |
| Loans and other payables to any current Officer, Director, or Controlling Person | $0 |
| Secured mortgages and notes payable | $0 |
| Unsecured mortgages and notes payable | $0 |
| Other liabilities | $1,154,826 |
| Total liabilities | $1,626,293 |
| Net assets without donor restrictions | $2,375,416 |
| Net assets with donor restrictions | $736,371 |
| Capital stock or trust principal, or current funds | $0 |
| Paid-in or capital surplus, or land, building, or equipment fund | $0 |
| Retained earnings, endowment, accumulated income, or other funds | $0 |
| Total liabilities and net assets/fund balances | $4,738,080 |
| Organization Name | Assets | Revenue |
|---|---|---|
Patagonia Org Ventura, CA | $3,694,759 | $12,910,568 |
The Breakthrough Institute Berkeley, CA | $4,738,080 | $4,438,319 |
Pesticide Action Network North America Regional Center Berkeley, CA | $3,156,171 | $3,265,420 |
Downtown Hayward Improvement Association Hayward, CA | $393,334 | $622,355 |
Salmonberry Trail Foundation Hillsboro, OR | $290,285 | $466,357 |
A Voice For Choice Advocacy Inc Redwood City, CA | $8,587 | $252,620 |
Schmaier Family Foundation Burlingame, CA | $9,884,504 | $618,590 |
Californians Against Waste Sacramento, CA | $191,974 | $0 |
Around The World In Eighty Fabrics Carmel, CA | $48,037 | $34,000 |
Laane Action Fund Los Angeles, CA | $88,023 | $0 |
Deschutes County Search And Rescue Inc Bend, OR | $185,648 | $0 |
Hendy Woods Community Philo, CA | $244,347 | $0 |
Community Foundation Land Corporation Los Angeles, CA | $0 | $0 |