Breakthrough
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
BREAKTHROUGH CENTRAL TEXAS CREATES A PATH TO AND THROUGH COLLEGE FOR STUDENTS WHO WILL BECOME THE FIRST IN THEIR FAMILIES TO EARN A COLLEGE DEGREE OR CERTIFICATE. THE PROGRAM ADMITS STUDENTS FROM LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES AS EARLY AS 6TH GRADE AND CONTINUES INTENSIVE ADVISING AND PROGRAMS FOR UP TO SIX YEARS AFTER HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION.
- Income
- $12.6 million
- Spending
- $11.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 84%
- Reserves
- 2.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 76%
- Employees
- 416
- Volunteers
- 157
- Highest pay
- $167,981, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.7 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 23% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 11% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 33% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1584% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2521 of 21 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (1)
- $9.4 million spent. FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS, BREAKTHROUGH CENTRAL TEXAS HAS PARTNERED WITH THOUSANDS OF MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO ASPIRE TO BE THE FIRST IN THEIR FAMILY TO GRADUATE COLLEGE WITH A DEGREE OR CERTIFICATE. THE PROGRAM MAKES AN INTENSIVE, LONG-TERM COMMITMENT TO PARTNER WITH STUDENTS, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES FOR UP TO 12 YEARS, TO AND THROUGH COLLEGE, UNLOCKING THE POWER OF EDUCATION AND A LIFETIME OF OPPORTUNITY. SERVICES COMBINE COMPREHENSIVE, INDIVIDUALIZED ADVISING WITH ACADEMIC LEARNING, CAREER PREPARATION, AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT FROM MIDDLE SCHOOL SUMMER PROGRAMS TO COLLEGE INTERNSHIPS. THIS INCLUDES HIGH-QUALITY POSTSECONDARY COUNSELING TO GUIDE STUDENTS TO APPLY TO, AFFORD, AND PERSIST ON THEIR CHOSEN EDUCATIONAL PATHWAY AFTER HIGH SCHOOL, AS WELL AS DIRECT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO OVERCOME NON-ACADEMIC HURDLES AND SUPPORT STUDENT WELL-BEING. IN ADDITION TO DIRECT SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS, THE ORGANIZATION ALSO PARTNERS WITH TARGETED PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS IN LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES TO TRANSFORM THEM INTO BEST-IN-CLASS COLLEGE ACCESS INSTITUTIONS AND ELEVATES THE EXPERIENCES OF STUDENTS AND FAMILIES TO CHAMPION LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL POLICIES THAT ADVANCE EDUCATIONAL ACCESS FOR ALL STUDENTS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since July 2001.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.