Barrier Breakers Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
- It owes more than it owns.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
To increase access to, and success in, higher education for First-Generation students and others who face barriers to entry
- Income
- $471,009
- Spending
- $362,779
- Spent on programs
- 58%
- Reserves
- -0.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 76%
- Employees
- 11
- Volunteers
- 7
- Highest pay
- $45,389, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 28 out of 100. Higher than 3% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 149% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 23% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 22% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1558% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Fair: 66 out of 100. Higher than 46% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 10 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
0 of 10Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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 (3)
- $43,691 spent. Provide high touch college advising to students of all backgrounds, races, and income levels from former admissions deans, directors, and professional writers. We provide 1:1 high-touch counseling to individual families as well as partnerships with local non-profits, organizations, and schools to provide full-service college counseing to the entire student body population in these programs. Our services are free of charge to students who attend Title I schools or who qualify for free and reduced lunch.
- $121,337 spent. Provide high touch law school admissions advising to students of all backgrounds, races, and income levels from former admissions deans, directors, and professional writers. We provide 1:1 high-touch packages, small group boot camps and a la carte essay editing and online courses. Our services are heavily discounted (and often free) for LSAC fee-waiver students.
- $44,012 spent. We host nationwide and virtual conferences for aspiring first- generation students, podcasts that demystify the admissions process, workshops and webinars with admissions deans and employers in various fields, tabling events at local fairs and conferences to meet students, and information sessions in conjuction with colleges and universities. We also provide free guides and workbooks, online courses, tips through social media, and email newsletters with scholarship information.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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 2025.
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 May 2022.
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.
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.