The Planetary Science Institute exists to: enable our researchers to study the origin, characteristics, and evolution of planetary systems, including our solar system, Earth itself, and planetary systems around other stars; enable our educators to convey the resulting knowledge to the scientific community, and to the public at large to promote science education and science literacy; enable our people to use this knowledge to advance human activity in space and shape the future of robotic exploration of the solar system.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
90¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$1.5M paid to officers and key staff.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

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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
FY2025
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
4 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $383K a year · 2% of revenue · last 6 filings
Fine: a surplus in 4 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
90%
of spending
Looks good: 90% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$1.5M
to officers and key staff · 9% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 9% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
2 mo
of spending, in cash
Fine: 1.9 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $67K
Fine: 1 funder names it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$2.2M
39% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 39% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
6
of 6 voting members
Looks good: 6 of 6 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$17.9M
-0.3% vs prior year
Spent
$17.8M
To programs
90%
Net assets
$3.4M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$17.9M
FY2024-0.3%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$15.0M
FY2021$17.3M
FY2022$18.5M
FY2023$17.9M
FY2024$17.9M
FY2025$17.0M
Expenses
$17.8M
FY2024▲ +1.0%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$15.1M
FY2021$15.5M
FY2022$18.2M
FY2023$17.6M
FY2024$17.8M
FY2025$17.3M
Net assets
$3.4M
FY2024▲ +4%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$760K
FY2021$2.6M
FY2022$2.9M
FY2023$3.3M
FY2024$3.4M
FY2025$3.2M

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

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You’re viewing the FY2024 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2025) →

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Jul 1986.

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

Where the money goes

90 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 90% · $16.0M Management & general 10% · $1.8M Fundraising 0% · $1K

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

13 people listed on the 990; $1.5M 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
CEO / Trustee
$262,687Pt VII · Sec A
$201,307Pt VII · Sec A
Senior Scientist
$196,113Pt VII · Sec A
Senior Scientist
$183,202Pt VII · Sec A
Senior Scientist
$178,166Pt VII · Sec A
Senior Scientist
$175,167Pt VII · Sec A
Senior Scientist
$172,659Pt VII · Sec A
HR Director / Secretary
$150,967Pt VII · Sec A

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

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Mark V Sykes$251,399$262,687$251,857$215,829$213,540$208,247
Melinda Dyar$241,888$183,202$180,820$166,388$166,677—
Maurizio a Ienna-Balistreri$186,274$201,307$192,384$160,904$158,042$156,324
Bruce D Barnett——$188,630$197,940$192,594$189,875
Amanda R Hendrix$165,502$196,113$179,150$171,393$176,593$175,534
Scott H Robinson——$174,880$184,004——
Jonathan M Lilly$183,994—————
Nathaniel Putzig$182,127$175,167————

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

Explore planets, teach science, and share discoveries about our solar system.

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Provided by the organization

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1 program · $16.0M · in their own filed words · FY2023
01

The Planetary Science Institute (PSI) is a nonprofit science research and educational organization with an established record of excellence in solar system exploration, comparative planetology, science education and public outreach. PSI has scientists in 34 states, the District of Columbia, and other locations around the world.

$16.0Mprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

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

Grants

Schedule I · funders on record
Grants received · FY2025
Total grants receivedfrom 1 funder$67K

By the numbers

The FY2024 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$17.9M
Ln 12
Fees for servicesLn 2g$17.7M
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$128K
Investment incomeLn 3$67K
Money outPt IX
$17.8M
Ln 25
Programscol B$16.0M
Managementcol C$1.8M
Fundraisingcol D$1K
Owns and owesPt X
$3.4M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$2.8M
Total assetsLn 16$5.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$2.2M
PeoplePt VI, VII
13
listed · VII A
PaidVII A8
Voting boardVI 1a6
IndependentVI 1b6
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$128K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$17.7M
Investment incomeLn 3$67K
Other incomeLn 4–11$6K
Total revenueLn 12$17.9M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$2.4M
SavingsLn 2$365K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$2.8M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$1.1M
Other assetsLn 15$135K
Total assetsLn 16$5.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$2.2M
Net assetsLn 32$3.4M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 5172
VolunteersI 64
Fiscal year endsHeaderSeptember
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$3.3M$2.8M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$1.3M$1.1M
Total assetsLn 16$6.3M$5.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$3.0M$2.2M
Net assetsLn 32$3.3M$3.4M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$610K$156K$454K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$9.7M$9.2M$524K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$1.2M$1.0M$136K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$960K$857K$103K
Payroll taxesLn 10$772K$695K$77K
Legal feesLn 11b$858$2$856
Accounting feesLn 11c$40K$75$40K
Investment management feesLn 11f$3K$3K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$111K$42K$69K
Office expensesLn 13$71K$62K$9K$920
Information technologyLn 14$162K$137K$25K
OccupancyLn 16$221K$173K$48K
TravelLn 17$434K$431K$3K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$212K$205K$8K
InterestLn 20$17K$14K$3K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$246K$210K$36K
InsuranceLn 23$38K$38K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$2.8M$2.8M$40K
All other expensesLn 24e$229K$71K$157K$414
Total functional expensesLn 25$17.8M$16.0M$1.8M$1K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $17.0M$17.3M−$238K$3.2M 990 PDF
FY2024 Viewing $17.9M$17.8M$82K$3.4M 990 PDF
FY2023 $17.9M$17.6M$317K$3.3M 990 PDF
FY2022 $18.5M$18.2M$366K$2.9M 990 PDF
FY2021 $17.3M$15.5M$1.8M$2.6M 990 PDF
FY2020 $15.0M$15.1M−$78K$760K 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support J · Pay O · Explanations
See the full FY2024 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $17,875,430 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $121,858$127,528
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $17,741,199$17,674,797
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $61,275$66,962
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $12,896$6,143
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $17,937,228$17,875,430
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $0$0
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $13,003,275$13,200,431
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $4,617,126$4,592,816
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $17,620,401$17,793,247
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $316,827$82,183
Part VI · Governance 6 of 6 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body6
VI-1b Independent voting members6
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 $17,875,430 across 6 lines filed
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$127,528
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$127,528
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $17,674,797$17,674,797
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $66,962$66,962
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Excluded from tax $6,143$6,143
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $17,674,797 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $73,105$17,875,430
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $17,793,247 across 19 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $156,281 · Management $453,880$610,161
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $9,150,572 · Management $523,820$9,674,392
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $1,047,334 · Management $135,665$1,182,999
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $857,206 · Management $103,287$960,493
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $695,264 · Management $77,122$772,386
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $2 · Management $856$858
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $75 · Management $39,925$40,000
IX-11f Investment management feesManagement $2,527$2,527
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $42,247 · Management $68,912$111,159
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $61,853 · Management $8,581 · Fundraising $920$71,354
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $137,141 · Management $24,656$161,797
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $172,874 · Management $48,170$221,044
IX-17 TravelPrograms $430,759 · Management $2,937$433,696
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $204,570 · Management $7,569$212,139
IX-20 InterestPrograms $13,952 · Management $3,421$17,373
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $209,964 · Management $36,247$246,211
IX-23 InsuranceManagement $38,366$38,366
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $2,767,934 · Management $39,525$2,807,459
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $71,348 · Management $157,071 · Fundraising $414$228,833
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $16,019,376 · Management $1,772,537 · Fundraising $1,334$17,793,247
Part X · Balance sheet $5,660,734 assets, 15 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $2,988,380$2,387,106
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $295,495$364,986
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $1,515,125$1,609,012
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $18,482$35,258
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $1,307,177$1,129,728
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $206,490$134,644
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $6,331,149$5,660,734
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $2,143,048$2,003,848
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $4,390$0
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $231,879$153,096
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $3,045,591$2,230,439
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $3,175,518$3,313,255
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $110,040$117,040
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $3,285,558$3,430,295
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $6,331,149$5,660,734
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $3,430,295 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$17,875,430
XI-2 Total expenses$17,793,247
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$82,183
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$3,285,558
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$62,554
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$3,430,295

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

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