Is it real?
Yes. Exemption reinstated (2020-05-15). Per the IRS revocation list. Latest filing on record: FY2024. IRS ruling in Apr 2021.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File
Where the money goes
69 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.
Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.
Something off? Claim to add context
Who runs it and what they're paid
12 people listed on the 990; $108K paid to officers and key staff (Part VII, Section A).
Christopher Carberry’s $120K as CEO is at the 90th percentile of top reported officer pay among 1613 $100K–1M 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 · 1 named individual · Part VII
| Name | FY2024 | FY2023 | FY2022 | FY2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christopher Carberry | $120,250 | $115,500 | $113,983 | $107,500 |
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.
See Explore Mars INC executive salaries →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
- Loans to or from officersSch L · Pt II2 listed
Programs and updates
Educates the public about Mars and promotes its scientific exploration and settlement.
Questions for Explore Mars INC
Your first name shows with your question. Explore Mars INC answers here, for everyone.
Humans to Mars Summit (h2m 2021)
H2M, which is usually an in-person conference, was a virtual conference in 2021 because of the pandemic. The conference successfully advanced dialog regarding mars mission architecture and science, innovations that can benefit earth, diversity and inclusivity in the space industry, and stem education.
Form 990 Part III, line 4, FY2021. The organization’s own words, as filed with the IRS. Find it at the IRS (EIN 27-1811686) · Dispute this lineEighth Mars Achievability and Sustainability Workshop (amviii)
The virtual amviii took place on june 1-3, 2021. This workshop assembles approximately 70 experts in mars and lunar architecture, science, and policy to find consensus on a sustainable campaign of missions to the moon and mars.
Form 990 Part III, line 4, FY2021. The organization’s own words, as filed with the IRS. Find it at the IRS (EIN 27-1811686) · Dispute this lineMars Innovation Formum (mar-If)
Mars-if took place on may 25-27, 2021. This virtual conference assembled technology innovators, space professionals, and entrepreneurs to discuss innovations that are required for sustainability on mars, but can also benefit quality of life on earth.
Form 990 Part III, line 4, FY2021. The organization’s own words, as filed with the IRS. Find it at the IRS (EIN 27-1811686) · Dispute this lineFunders
Who pays for it.
From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.
Grants
By the numbers
The FY2021 990, line by line.
Download 990
| Line | Start FY21 | End FY21 |
|---|---|---|
| Cash and savingsLn 1–2 | $14K | $59K |
| Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c | $2K | $0 |
| Total assetsLn 16 | $18K | $60K |
| LiabilitiesLn 26 | $73K | $63K |
| Net assetsLn 32 | −$55K | −$3K |
| Line | Total | Programs | Management | Fundraising |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pay of officers and key staff (Part IX, line 5)Ln 5 | $108K | $60K | $34K | $13K |
| Other salaries and wagesLn 7 | $85K | $85K | $0 | $0 |
| Other employee benefitsLn 9 | $4K | $4K | $0 | $0 |
| Payroll taxesLn 10 | $14K | $10K | $3K | $978 |
| Other fees for servicesLn 11g | $42K | $0 | $42K | $0 |
| Advertising and promotionLn 12 | $20K | $18K | $1K | $587 |
| Office expensesLn 13 | $16K | $14K | $931 | $466 |
| Information technologyLn 14 | $6K | $6K | $0 | $0 |
| OccupancyLn 16 | $4K | $3K | $221 | $110 |
| TravelLn 17 | $1K | $1K | $0 | $0 |
| Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19 | $12K | $12K | $0 | $0 |
| InterestLn 20 | $3K | $0 | $3K | $0 |
| Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22 | $2K | $2K | $126 | $63 |
| InsuranceLn 23 | $518 | $518 | $0 | $0 |
| Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24 | $4K | $3K | $1K | $0 |
| Total functional expensesLn 25 | $320K | $220K | $85K | $15K |
Filing history
| Year | Money in | Money out | In minus out | Net assets | Download |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2024 LatestFiled with the IRS Nov 12, 2025 | $441K | $432K | $9K | −$49K | 990 PDF |
| FY2023Filed with the IRS Nov 8, 2024 | $346K | $445K | −$99K | −$58K | 990 PDF |
| FY2022Filed with the IRS Nov 14, 2023 | $495K | $452K | $42K | $41K | 990 PDF |
| FY2021 ViewingFiled with the IRS Nov 10, 2022 | $373K | $320K | $52K | −$3K | 990 PDF |
Schedules filed Part IV
See the full FY2021 990
Part I · Summary $372,543 revenue, 12 lines filed
Part VI · Governance 10 of 10 board members independent, 2 to look at
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $372,543 across 5 lines filed
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $320,309 across 15 lines filed
Part X · Balance sheet $60,229 assets, 11 lines filed
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets −$2,902 net assets at year end
Form 990 e-file FY2021 from the IRS (about our sources) · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File
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