New Breath Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
NEW BREATH FOUNDATION PROVIDES PIVOTAL GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS THE SUSTAINABLE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO GIVE NEW BEGINNINGS TO AANHPIS HARMED BY INCARCERATION, DEPORTATION, AND SYSTEMS OF VIOLENCE IN THE U.S.
- Income
- $1.8 million
- Spending
- $3.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 84%
- Reserves
- 5.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 96%
- Employees
- 6
- Highest pay
- $221,265, president
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
Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 5.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 4% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 75% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 59% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1584% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 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 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 10 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 (5)
- $2.7 million spent. TARGETED GRANTMAKING: NBF GRANTS GRASSROOTS AANHPI ORGANIZATIONS WITH DEMONSTRATED EXPERIENCE LEADING RACIAL JUSTICE EFFORTS WHILE PROMOTING LEADERSHIP OF THE FORMERLY INCARCERATED, CRIMINALIZED COMMUNITIES, AND THOSE IMPACTED BY DETENTION AND DEPORTATION. MOST GRANTEES HAVE ANNUAL BUDGETS UNDER 1 MILLION. IN 2024, NBF AND COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS IDENTIFIED FOUR ORGANIZATIONS TO RECEIVE BETWEEN 160,000-210,000 EACH THROUGH THE WE GOT US FUND, A DONOR-ADVISED FUND MANAGED BY THE EAST BAY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION. NINE RETURNING GRANTEE ORGANIZATIONS WERE AWARDED BETWEEN 30,000 AND 90,000 AS WELL. THROUGH THE NEW BREATH FUND, MANAGED BY NBF, SIX ORGANIZATIONS RECEIVED 20,000 GENERAL GRANTS, AND 19 ORGANIZATIONS RECEIVED STAFF DISCRETIONARY GRANTS FROM 1000-5000.
- GRANTEE ORGANIZING, CAPACITY & RESOURCE BUILDING: NBF CONTINUES TO BUILD THE CAPACITY OF OUR GRASSROOTS NONPROFIT PARTNERS. WE HAVE LEVERAGED RESOURCES FOR GRANTEES THROUGH INTRODUCTIONS TO OTHER FUNDERS, COACHES, CAPACITY ASSESSMENTS, AND ADVISING. IN 2024, WE CONTINUED OUR CAPACITY- BUILDING SUPPORT FOR ALL WE GOT US FUND GRANTEES, INCLUDING UP TO 20 HOURS FOR EACH ORGANIZATION IN DIRECT COACHING SERVICES, A SELF- ADMINISTERED ASSESSMENT TOOL VALUED AT 500 PER ORGANIZATION, AND OUR IN-PERSON CONVENING, WHICH BROUGHT TOGETHER 24 ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY FOR 3 DAYS TO LEARN, STRATEGIZE, AND COLLABORATE. AT THE END OF 2024 WE EVALUATED OUR CAPACITY BUILDING. 100% OF GRANTEES RESPONDED POSITIVELY, AND WE FOUND HIGH RATES OF PROGRAM PARTICIPATION.
- LEADERSHIP PATHWAYS: FROM ITS INCEPTION, NBF WAS DESIGNED AS A VEHICLE FOR LEADERSHIP PATHWAYS TO PHILANTHROPY FOR AANHPI COMMUNITIES DIRECTLY IMPACTED BY VIOLENCE DUE TO THE CRIMINAL-LEGAL AND DEPORTATION SYSTEMS. ONE WAY IS THROUGH LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT TO GRANTEES AND MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE (CAC). WE DEVELOPED OUR PARTICIPATORY GRANTMAKING PROCESS WITH CAC MEMBERS, WHO SHARE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE FIELD, KEY STRATEGIES, AND POSSIBLE GRANTEES. 75% OF THE CAC ARE JUSTICE SYSTEM-IMPACTED AND VIOLENCE-IMPACTED LEADERS. THE CAC IS ITSELF A VEHICLE TO INCREASE PARTICIPATION IN PHILANTHROPY FOR FOLKS FROM MARGINALIZED AANHPI COMMUNITIES. PLEASE SEE SCHEDULE O FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
- CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2 RACIAL SOLIDARITY, EDUCATION, AND COMMUNITY ADVOCACY IN 2023, WE HAVE BEEN A PART OF COALITIONS WITH FUNDERS AND GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONAL PARTNERS SUPPORTING RACIAL SOLIDARITY BETWEEN AANHPI AND OTHER BIPOC COMMUNITIES. THESE INCLUDE: - SEED CHANGE, FORMERLY KNOWN AS STATEWIDE CULTURAL STRATEGY WORKING GROUP -THE AAPI CEOS & TRUSTEES GROUP WITH ASIAN AMERICAN PRACTITIONERS IN PHILANTHROPY -THE CALIFORNIA CRIMINAL JUSTICE FUNDERS GROUP -SOLIDAIRE NETWORK -DONORS OF COLOR NETWORK WE ARE ALSO SUPPORTING VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND SOLIDARITY WORK THROUGH FUNDING AND CONVENING. ---------------------- DEPORTATION SUPPORT, INCARCERATION & REENTRY KITES TO SOUTHEAST ASIA IS A COALITION CREATED BETWEEN NEW BREATH FOUNDATION, NEW LIGHT WELLNESS, ASIAN PRISONER SUPPORT COMMITTEE, MN8, AND ORGANIZERS WHO WORK WITH FORMERLY INCARCERATED AND DEPORTED CAMBODIANS. NEW LIGHT WELLNESS IS A MENTAL HEALTH OUTREACH PROGRAM SERVING THOSE DEPORTED TO CAMBODIA, SEEDED BY A GRANT FROM NEW BREATH FOUNDATION. NEW LIGHT SERVES OVER 50 DIRECTLY-IMPACTED PERSONS IN THE US AND OVER 100 DIRECTLY-IMPACTED PARTICIPANTS IN CAMBODIA THROUGH ONE-ON-ONE SESSIONS, PEER SUPPORT GROUPS, ADVOCACY WORKSHOPS, AND OTHER COMMUNITY- BUILDING EVENTS. PARTICIPANTS UNPACK TRAUMA FROM THE LEGACY OF GENOCIDE, REFUGEE AND RESETTLEMENT EXPERIENCE, AND THEIR JOURNEY IN THE PRISON PIPELINE, ICE DETENTION, AND DEPORTATION TO CAMBODIA. MANY HAVE REPORTED ISOLATION, REJECTION, AND THE FEELING THEY ARE FORGOTTEN. MOST DO NOT DISCLOSE THEIR STATUS FOR FEAR OF PERSECUTION.
- CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2 RACIAL SOLIDARITY, EDUCATION, AND COMMUNITY ADVOCACY IN 2023, WE HAVE BEEN A PART OF COALITIONS WITH FUNDERS AND GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONAL PARTNERS SUPPORTING RACIAL SOLIDARITY BETWEEN AANHPI AND OTHER BIPOC COMMUNITIES. THESE INCLUDE: - SEED CHANGE, FORMERLY KNOWN AS STATEWIDE CULTURAL STRATEGY WORKING GROUP -THE AAPI CEOS & TRUSTEES GROUP WITH ASIAN AMERICAN PRACTITIONERS IN PHILANTHROPY -THE CALIFORNIA CRIMINAL JUSTICE FUNDERS GROUP -SOLIDAIRE NETWORK -DONORS OF COLOR NETWORK WE ARE ALSO SUPPORTING VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND SOLIDARITY WORK THROUGH FUNDING AND CONVENING. ---------------------- DEPORTATION SUPPORT, INCARCERATION & REENTRY KITES TO SOUTHEAST ASIA IS A COALITION CREATED BETWEEN NEW BREATH FOUNDATION, NEW LIGHT WELLNESS, ASIAN PRISONER SUPPORT COMMITTEE, MN8, AND ORGANIZERS WHO WORK WITH FORMERLY INCARCERATED AND DEPORTED CAMBODIANS. NEW LIGHT WELLNESS IS A MENTAL HEALTH OUTREACH PROGRAM SERVING THOSE DEPORTED TO CAMBODIA, SEEDED BY A GRANT FROM NEW BREATH FOUNDATION. NEW LIGHT SERVES OVER 50 DIRECTLY-IMPACTED PERSONS IN THE US AND OVER 100 DIRECTLY-IMPACTED PARTICIPANTS IN CAMBODIA THROUGH ONE-ON-ONE SESSIONS, PEER SUPPORT GROUPS, ADVOCACY WORKSHOPS, AND OTHER COMMUNITY- BUILDING EVENTS. PARTICIPANTS UNPACK TRAUMA FROM THE LEGACY OF GENOCIDE, REFUGEE AND RESETTLEMENT EXPERIENCE, AND THEIR JOURNEY IN THE PRISON PIPELINE, ICE DETENTION, AND DEPORTATION TO CAMBODIA. MANY HAVE REPORTED ISOLATION, REJECTION, AND THE FEELING THEY ARE FORGOTTEN. MOST DO NOT DISCLOSE THEIR STATUS FOR FEAR OF PERSECUTION.
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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since August 2017.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 21, 2026.
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