How to apply
Accepts applications
The return gives an application contact and rules, as below.
- Contact
-
Breakthrough Prize Foundation
1900 N Street NW
Washington, DC 20036
(202) 346-4293
- Form and materials
- The foundation makes the candidate submission form and criteria available on its website: www.breakthroughprize.org > nominations
- Deadlines
- Please visit www.breakthroughprize.org for additional information regarding submission deadlines.
- Restrictions
- No breakthrough prize granted by the foundation shall have any age restrictions. Age restrictions do apply to JR challenge awards. Any breakthrough prize of the foundation may be received more than once. Previous winners of the JR challenge award are not eligible to participate in subsequent JR challenge competitions. Members of the selection committee are eligible to be nominated to receive the breakthrough prize and the conflict of interest policy will govern the procedures for such nominees. Any breakthrough prize can be shared by a number of people, including collaborations. Additional information about the rules of any program can be found on the foundation website.
Assets and giving by year
-
Tax year 2024
$12,901,104
- Grants listed
- 27
- Assets, end of year
- $13,386,127
-
Tax year 2023
$41,715,492
- Grants listed
- 38
- Assets, end of year
- $19,729,292
-
Tax year 2022
$69,407,197
- Grants listed
- 47
- Assets, end of year
- $20,787,237
-
Tax year 2021
$31,602,516
- Grants listed
- 38
- Assets, end of year
- $10,581,357
-
Tax year 2020
$12,884,094
- Grants listed
- 104
- Assets, end of year
- $8,542,108
-
Tax year 2019
$8,998,019
- Grants listed
- 291
- Assets, end of year
- $3,107,390
Grants paid in 2024
As listed on the return. Grants to individuals show as “Individual”, with purpose and amount only.
-
Individual
2025 breakthrough prize in mathematics
$3,000,000 -
Individual
2025 special breakthrough prize in fundamental physics
$3,000,000 -
International Rescue Committee (irc)Albert Lea, MN
Tech for refugees
$1,570,000 -
Milky Way Research FoundationWashington, DC
Life science research
$1,225,271 -
Milky Way Research FoundationWashington, DC
Life science research
$1,125,025 -
AirbnborgSan Francisco, CA
Tech for refugees
$1,000,000 -
Milky Way Research FoundationWashington, DC
Life science research
$466,881 -
Individual
2023 breakthrough junior challenge - student award
$250,000 -
ARID1B Research Foundation IncChevy Chase, MD
Support charitable activities
$150,000 -
Individual
2025 new horizons in mathematics prize
$100,000 -
Individual
2025 new horizons in mathematics prize
$100,000 -
Individual
2025 new horizons in mathematics prize
$100,000 -
Individual
2025 new horizons in physics prize
$100,000 -
Individual
2025 new horizons in physics prize
$100,000 -
Neev AcademyKempapura Bengalaru, India
2023 breakthrough junior challenge - school award
$100,000 -
Blue Valley High SchoolWashington, DC
2022 breakthrough junior challenge - school award
$100,000 -
Individual
2025 maryam mirzakhani new frontiers prize
$50,000 -
Individual
2025 maryam mirzakhani new frontiers prize
$50,000 -
Individual
2025 maryam mirzakhani new frontiers prize
$50,000 -
Individual
2024 breakthrough junior challenge - teacher award
$50,000 -
Individual
2023 breakthrough junior challenge - teacher award
$50,000 -
Los Altos ChabadMountain View, CA
Support charitable activities and the bay area friendship circle
$50,000 -
Individual
2025 new horizons in physics prize
$33,334 -
Individual
2025 new horizons in physics prize
$33,333 -
Individual
2025 new horizons in physics prize
$23,333 -
University of OxfordOxford, United Kingdom
Support graduate studentship in particle physics
$13,564 -
Kings Care FoundationEl Segundo, CA
Los angeles wildfire relief
$10,363
Approved for future payment
Approved in 2024 and not yet paid.
-
Cern & Society Foundation on Behalf of the Members of 4 CollaborationsMeyrin, Switzerland
2025 breakthrough prize in fundamental physics
$3,000,000 -
Individual
2024 breakthrough junior challenge - student award
$250,000 -
Community High SchoolBrooklyn, NY
2024 breakthrough junior challenge - school award
$100,000 -
Individual
2025 new horizons in physics prize
$10,000
Where the money goes
By cause: grants to organizations we matched to the IRS list of exempt organizations, by their category.
- Philanthropy and grantmaking3 grants $2,817,17770% of the total
- Disaster relief and public safety1 grant $1,000,00025% of the total
- Health1 grant $150,0004% of the total
- Religion1 grant $50,0001% of the total
- Community development1 grant $10,363<1% of the total
By State
Grants to organizations with a US address, latest year.
- District of Columbia4 grants $2,917,177
- Minnesota1 grant $1,570,000
- California3 grants $1,060,363
- Maryland1 grant $150,000
Officers, directors and trustees
As filed on the return, with average hours per week and pay from the foundation.
- Yuri B MilnerPRESIDENT Hours 1Pay $0
- Breck HancockDIRECTOR, TREASURER Hours 1Pay $0
- James A HutchinsonDIRECTOR, SECRETARY Hours 1Pay $0
- Simon Peter WordenCHAIRMAN, DIVISION EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Hours 40Pay $293,078
- Margot McGinnessDIVISION EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Hours 10Pay $224,163
- Karl JohanssonDIRECTOR Hours 2Pay $13,125
The return
More foundations
- Private foundations in District of Columbia
- Private foundations in Washington
- Foundations that fund philanthropy and grantmaking in District of Columbia
- Foundations that fund disaster relief and public safety in District of Columbia
- Foundations that fund health in District of Columbia
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