Operation Breakthrough INC

Tax-deductible

Kansas City, MO501(c)(3)Since 1971EducationEIN 43-0971560Revenue $19.5M in FY2024

On file with the IRSoperationbreakthrough.org3039 Troost Ave, 64109-1540 · Kansas City, MOTax-exempt since Feb 1975School — 170(b)(1)(A)(ii)

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Help children and their families who are living in poverty develop to their fullest potential by providing them a safe, loving and educational environment.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
85¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 1,000 volunteers and 246 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2024 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2024
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2024, 2 tax years back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
4 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $1.8M a year · 10% of revenue · last 5 filings
Fine: a surplus in 4 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
85%
of spending
Looks good: 85% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$988K
to officers and key staff · 6% of spending
Top officer’s pay higher than 61% of similar orgs
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 6% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
2 mo
of spending, in cash
Fine: 2.4 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
3
named funders · $36K
Looks good: 3 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$8.2M
18% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 18% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
19
of 19 voting members
Looks good: 19 of 19 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$19.5M
+9% vs prior year
Spent
$17.7M
To programs
85%
Net assets
$37.0M
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$19.5M
FY2024▲ +9%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$15.9M
FY2021$19.1M
FY2022$16.7M
FY2023$18.0M
FY2024$19.5M
Expenses
$17.7M
FY2024▲ +9%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$14.0M
FY2021$15.0M
FY2022$17.4M
FY2023$16.2M
FY2024$17.7M
Net assets
$37.0M
FY2024▲ +8%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$29.5M
FY2021$33.6M
FY2022$32.6M
FY2023$34.4M
FY2024$37.0M

From the FY2024 Form 990 (year ending October 2024) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2024. IRS ruling in Feb 1975.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

85 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 85% · $15.0M Management & general 11% · $1.9M Fundraising 5% · $828K

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

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Who runs it and what they're paid

26 people listed on the 990; $988K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2023); the FY2024 filing did not itemize Part VII
$280,856Pt VII · Sec A
$198,995Pt VII · Sec A
Dir of Education
$120,499Pt VII · Sec A
Dir of Health/Quality
$114,518Pt VII · Sec A
Facilities Manager
$110,054Pt VII · Sec A
School Age Programming
$101,053Pt VII · Sec A
CFO/COO/ Treasurer
$61,994Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Berta Sailer’s $281K as Founder is at the 61st percentile of top reported officer pay among 3683 $10–100M education nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 8 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Berta Sailer$280,856$304,152$271,194$142,865$132,802
Mary Esselman$198,995$200,139$195,344$189,643$172,181
Mike Thomas——$136,082$138,521—
James Michael Thomas————$124,991
Mary Mulkey$120,499$112,192$102,136$101,546—
Kimmikka Brown$114,518————
Patricia Thompson$110,054————
Corita Bussanmas————$107,900

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

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Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Provides early childhood education, after-school enrichment, and supportive family services to help low-income children and their families thrive in a safe, nurturing environment.

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Provided by the organization

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1 program · $15.0M · in their own filed words · FY2023
01

Early Childhood, School Age, and Parent Services

During fiscal 2024, operation breakthrough operated at or near capacity serving approximately 400 preschoolers and infants in its early childhood education programs, 250 school aged children in its BEFORE/AFTER school enrichment programs, and 300 high school students in its youth programs.

$15.0Mprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · received and paid
Grants received · FY2025
Total grants receivedfrom 3 funders$36K
See all 3 funders →
Grants paid · 5 grants · $2.3M · 2021–2023
Unitemized GrantFY2023$376,463
Unitemized GrantFY2022$231,499
Operation Breakthrough FoundationFY2022$15,000
Operation Breakthrough FoundationFY2021$1,516,612

By the numbers

The FY2024 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$19.5M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$15.1M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$3.9M
Investment incomeLn 3$418K
Money outPt IX
$17.7M
Ln 25
Programscol B$15.0M
Managementcol C$1.9M
Fundraisingcol D$828K
Owns and owesPt X
$37.0M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$3.6M
Total assetsLn 16$45.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$8.2M
PeoplePt VI, VII
26
listed · VII A
PaidVII A7
Voting boardVI 1a19
IndependentVI 1b19
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$15.1M
Government grantsLn 1e$5.5M
Noncash giftsLn 1g$473K
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$885K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$3.9M
Investment incomeLn 3$418K
Other incomeLn 4–11$130K
Gains on assetsLn 7$87K
Total revenueLn 12$19.5M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$2.1M
SavingsLn 2$1.5M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$3.6M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$8.9M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$14.4M
Other assetsLn 15$6.6M
Total assetsLn 16$45.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$8.2M
Net assetsLn 32$37.0M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 5246
VolunteersI 61,000
Fiscal year endsHeaderOctober
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY24End FY24
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$4.4M$3.6M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$5.9M$8.9M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$14.7M$14.4M
Total assetsLn 16$42.9M$45.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$8.5M$8.2M
Net assetsLn 32$34.4M$37.0M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$200K$200K
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$376K$376K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$278K$107K$132K$38K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$9.5M$8.0M$1.2M$382K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$1.3M$1.1M$171K$41K
Payroll taxesLn 10$710K$590K$89K$31K
Legal feesLn 11b$5K$5K
Investment management feesLn 11f$17K$17K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$887K$743K$73K$71K
Office expensesLn 13$835K$665K$60K$109K
Information technologyLn 14$143K$90K$24K$29K
OccupancyLn 16$1.5M$1.3M$112K$41K
TravelLn 17$75K$74K$928$5
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$221K$212K$9K$49
InterestLn 20$25K$22K$2K$498
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$872K$800K$41K$31K
InsuranceLn 23$252K$227K$16K$9K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$567K$520K$696$46K
Total functional expensesLn 25$17.7M$15.0M$1.9M$828K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 Latest Viewing $19.5M$17.7M$1.8M$37.0M 990 PDF
FY2023 $18.0M$16.2M$1.8M$34.4M 990 PDF
FY2022 $16.7M$17.4M−$719K$32.6M 990 PDF
FY2021 $19.1M$15.0M$4.1M$33.6M 990 PDF
FY2020 $15.9M$14.0M$1.8M$29.5M 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs I · Grants R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons A · Public support F · Foreign M · Noncash
See the full FY2024 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $19,549,304 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $13,057,757$15,054,293
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $4,582,992$3,947,492
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $225,442$417,961
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $121,181$129,558
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $17,987,372$19,549,304
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $251,499$576,463
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $11,296,689$11,762,153
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $4,671,685$5,384,182
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $16,219,873$17,722,798
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $1,767,499$1,826,506
Part VI · Governance 19 of 19 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body19
VI-1b Independent voting members19
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $19,549,304 across 12 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $11,767 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1a Federated campaigns$285,520
VIII-1c Fundraising events$885,488
VIII-1e Government grants$5,481,718
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$8,401,567
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$473,285
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$15,054,293
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $3,947,492$3,947,492
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $331,050$331,050
VIII-6 Net rental income or lossExcluded from tax $120,226$120,226
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax $86,911$86,911
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax −$2,435−$2,435
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $3,947,492 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $547,519$19,549,304
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $17,722,798 across 18 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $200,000$200,000
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $376,463$376,463
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $107,384 · Management $132,030 · Fundraising $38,147$277,561
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $7,964,728 · Management $1,155,478 · Fundraising $381,561$9,501,767
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $1,061,455 · Management $170,849 · Fundraising $40,742$1,273,046
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $589,654 · Management $88,860 · Fundraising $31,265$709,779
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $4,626$4,626
IX-11f Investment management feesManagement $17,271$17,271
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $742,756 · Management $73,372 · Fundraising $70,579$886,707
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $665,375 · Management $60,225 · Fundraising $109,334$834,934
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $90,202 · Management $23,622 · Fundraising $29,258$143,082
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $1,333,602 · Management $111,606 · Fundraising $40,744$1,485,952
IX-17 TravelPrograms $74,180 · Management $928 · Fundraising $5$75,113
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $211,672 · Management $8,997 · Fundraising $49$220,718
IX-20 InterestPrograms $21,905 · Management $2,489 · Fundraising $498$24,892
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $800,274 · Management $40,695 · Fundraising $30,821$871,790
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $227,151 · Management $16,013 · Fundraising $9,144$252,308
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $519,894 · Management $696 · Fundraising $46,199$566,789
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $14,986,695 · Management $1,907,757 · Fundraising $828,346$17,722,798
Part X · Balance sheet $45,237,203 assets, 16 lines filed
Asset lines not itemized here account for $7,602,700; see the IRS return.
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $3,136,557$2,064,155
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $1,283,424$1,542,328
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $994,323$1,173,347
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $2,305,193$3,007,578
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $14,657,332$14,376,333
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $5,944,432$8,853,143
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $6,940,334$6,617,619
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $42,895,521$45,237,203
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $895,793$796,519
X-19 Deferred revenue$13,600
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $7,616,447$7,392,060
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $8,512,240$8,202,179
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $33,597,898$36,595,015
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $785,383$440,009
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $34,383,281$37,035,024
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $42,895,521$45,237,203
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $37,035,024 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$19,549,304
XI-2 Total expenses$17,722,798
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$1,826,506
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$34,383,281
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$825,237
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$37,035,024

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2024 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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