break·out

(n) /ˈbrakˌout/

Breakout is a national community dedicated to creating transformative experiences for changemakers fueled by connection. We work in partnership with groups from various industries, geographies, and lived experiences to collectively showcase and learn together.

10 Years of Breaking - out

Since founding in 2014, we have hosted multi-day experiences in 20+ cities and cultivated a vibrant community of 2,000+ mission-driven leaders across the United States. These experiences have invested over 2.5 million dollars directly into the community through flagship summits and local programming. We’ve also created award-winning films telling the stories of our people.

In 2017, we established the Breakout Foundation, which empowers local leaders and entrepreneurs by providing them with a network of changemakers and unrestricted funding to support their communities. We've deployed over $400,000 in grants to 112 community leaders and social enterprises through the Breakout Foundation and advised on over 5 million philanthropic dollars.

In 2020, with the onset of the pandemic and IRL experiences on pause, we expanded our offerings from our proprietary programming to strategy and support to other mission-aligned organizations that wanted to tap our expertise around community, cities, and funding.

With ten years of building community, creating and supporting experiences, and funding leaders, we thank everyone who has been with us along this journey.

And we are just getting started.

Changemakers can't champion change alone.

🤝

Changemakers can't champion change alone. 🤝

 
 

The Chicago Community Fund

In 2022, The Breakout Foundation in partnership with Gertie Chicago, launched the Chicago Community Fund.

In two years, we have awarded $165,000 dollars in funding to 22 local leaders and organizations being recognized for working toward social good and equitable impact in Chicago.

In 2023, with the support of the MacArthur Foundation, we hosted our first-ever CCF convening for our grantees and expanded our fund into a fellowship through experiences, connection with city leaders, and creating original content to accelerate awareness around their impact.

 

 Meet Our Past Foundation Grantees

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