Robonation delivers educational programs in robotics, autonomy, and related technologies through student competitions, hands-on learning resources, and educator support. These programs provide applied stem learning experiences for students from elementary through higher education, developing technical, problem-solving, and teamwork skills aligned with workforce needs. Through this work, Robonation increases awareness of education and career pathways and contributes to the development of a future workforce in engineering, skilled trades, and technology fields.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
73¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 12 volunteers and 21 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2025 · 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
2 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average deficit $78K a year · 2% of revenue · last 6 filings
Concern: a surplus in 2 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
73%
of spending
Fine: 73% of spending went to programs; 65% to 75%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$452K
to officers and key staff · 8% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 8% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
<1 mo
of spending, in cash
Plus $3.3M in investments, Pt X · Ln 11–13
Fine: 0.3 months of spending in cash, plus $3.3M in investments.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $100K
Fine: 1 funder names it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$460K
10% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 10% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
12
of 12 voting members
Looks good: 12 of 12 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$5.3M
-5% vs prior year
Spent
$5.3M
To programs
73%
Net assets
$4.1M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$5.3M
FY2025▼ -5%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$2.3M
FY2021$2.9M
FY2022$5.1M
FY2023$5.0M
FY2024$5.6M
FY2025$5.3M
Expenses
$5.3M
FY2025▼ -4%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$2.8M
FY2021$3.2M
FY2022$5.2M
FY2023$4.5M
FY2024$5.5M
FY2025$5.3M
Net assets
$4.1M
FY2025▲ +5%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$2.8M
FY2021$2.8M
FY2022$2.4M
FY2023$3.3M
FY2024$3.9M
FY2025$4.1M

From the FY2025 Form 990 · 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: FY2025. IRS ruling in Dec 2017.

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

Where the money goes

73 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 73% · $3.9M Management & general 27% · $1.4M Fundraising 1% · $29K

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

15 people listed on the 990; $452K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
President and CEO
$195,992Pt VII · Sec A
VP of Programs
$141,248Pt VII · Sec A
Education Manager
$114,708Pt VII · Sec A
Board of Trustees
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board of Trustees, (from 12/5/25)
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board of Trustees, (from 12/5/25)
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board of Trustees
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Chair
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Daryl Davidson’s $196K as President and CEO is at the 81st percentile of top reported officer pay among 3395 $1–10M 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 · 7 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Daryl Davidson$195,992$180,949$176,260$175,704$164,581$162,199
Lindsey Groark$141,248$135,722$130,519$118,068$105,595—
Kyle Walker—$137,102$130,853———
Janelle Curtis———$115,682$117,704$110,311
Richard E Quest$114,708—————
Norma Floriza————$58,346$106,449
Rick Quest—$104,629————

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

Robonation INC is an education nonprofit based in Arlington, VA, formed in 1992.

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3 programs · $3.9M · in their own filed words · FY2025
01

Education Programs

Robonation provides hands-on stem education through robotics and environmental sensing kits, curriculum, and educator training used in classrooms, after-school programs, and community organizations.

$1.9Mprogram expense
02

Student Competitions

Robonation develops and operates robotics competitions that engage students from elementary school through graduate-level study in designing, building, and operating autonomous and remotely operated systems.

$1.8Mprogram expense
03

Other Program Services

Robonation fosters a community of participants, educators, industry professionals, volunteers, and alumni to support learning and ongoing engagement. Activities include webinars, technical talks, mentorship, peer and industry networking, volunteer opportunities, and alumni engagement.

$183Kprogram 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 · FY2024
Lukis FoundationFY2024$100K
Total grants receivedfrom 1 funder$100K
Grants paid · 6 grants · $91K · 2020–2025
Sepdac INCGA · FY2025$15,000
Sepdac INCGA · FY2022$15,000
Sepdac INCGA · FY2021$15,000
Team InspirationFY2020$5,800

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$5.3M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$3.0M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$2.2M
Investment incomeLn 3$55K
Money outPt IX
$5.3M
Ln 25
Programscol B$3.9M
Managementcol C$1.4M
Fundraisingcol D$29K
Owns and owesPt X
$4.1M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$134K
Total assetsLn 16$4.6M
LiabilitiesLn 26$460K
PeoplePt VI, VII
15
listed · VII A
PaidVII A3
Voting boardVI 1a12
IndependentVI 1b12
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$3.0M
Government grantsLn 1e$2.6M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$2.2M
Investment incomeLn 3$55K
Other incomeLn 4–11$1K
Total revenueLn 12$5.3M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$134K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$134K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$3.3M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$6K
Total assetsLn 16$4.6M
LiabilitiesLn 26$460K
Net assetsLn 32$4.1M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 521
VolunteersI 612
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
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 FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$122K$134K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$3.0M$3.3M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$11K$6K
Total assetsLn 16$4.8M$4.6M
LiabilitiesLn 26$865K$460K
Net assetsLn 32$3.9M$4.1M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$143K$143K
Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsLn 3$36K$36K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$234K$82K$152K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$1.5M$1.2M$238K$17K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$85K$72K$13K$1K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$156K$131K$23K$2K
Payroll taxesLn 10$127K$98K$28K$1K
Legal feesLn 11b$100$100
Accounting feesLn 11c$103K$103K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$494K$248K$241K$4K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$20K$20K$734$7
Office expensesLn 13$155K$115K$39K$519
Information technologyLn 14$328K$72K$255K$1K
OccupancyLn 16$69K$13K$55K
TravelLn 17$362K$197K$164K$403
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$246K$237K$9K$80
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$1.2M$1.2M$76K$588
All other expensesLn 24e$42K$9K$33K$68
Total functional expensesLn 25$5.3M$3.9M$1.4M$29K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $5.3M$5.3M−$20K$4.1M 990 PDF
FY2024 $5.6M$5.5M$58K$3.9M 990 PDF
FY2023 $5.0M$4.5M$446K$3.3M 990 PDF
FY2022 $5.1M$5.2M−$122K$2.4M 990 PDF
FY2021 $2.9M$3.2M−$345K$2.8M 990 PDF
FY2020 $2.3M$2.8M−$482K$2.8M 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 F · Foreign J · Pay O · Explanations
See the full FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $5,302,278 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $3,718,495$3,035,096
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $1,803,432$2,211,538
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $69,784$54,614
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $5,257$1,030
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $5,596,968$5,302,278
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $0$179,052
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $1,836,184$2,085,884
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $3,702,901$3,057,423
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $5,539,085$5,322,359
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $57,883−$20,081
Part VI · Governance 12 of 12 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body12
VI-1b Independent voting members12
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 $5,302,278 across 7 lines filed
VIII-1e Government grants$2,637,486
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$397,610
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$3,035,096
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $2,211,538$2,211,538
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $54,614$54,614
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Excluded from tax $1,030$1,030
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $2,211,538 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $55,644$5,302,278
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $5,322,359 across 18 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $142,684$142,684
IX-3 Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsPrograms $36,368$36,368
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $81,985 · Management $152,258$234,243
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $1,227,393 · Management $237,868 · Fundraising $17,317$1,482,578
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $71,827 · Management $12,621 · Fundraising $1,024$85,472
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $130,990 · Management $23,451 · Fundraising $1,865$156,306
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $98,274 · Management $27,698 · Fundraising $1,313$127,285
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $100$100
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $102,558$102,558
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $248,069 · Management $241,314 · Fundraising $4,288$493,671
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $19,744 · Management $734 · Fundraising $7$20,485
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $115,373 · Management $38,992 · Fundraising $519$154,884
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $71,872 · Management $255,097 · Fundraising $1,133$328,102
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $13,400 · Management $55,352$68,752
IX-17 TravelPrograms $197,190 · Management $164,201 · Fundraising $403$361,794
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $236,648 · Management $8,796 · Fundraising $80$245,524
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $1,163,293 · Management $75,604 · Fundraising $588$1,239,485
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $8,577 · Management $33,423 · Fundraising $68$42,068
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $3,863,687 · Management $1,430,067 · Fundraising $28,605$5,322,359
Part X · Balance sheet $4,582,835 assets, 14 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $122,240$133,528
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $1,626,141$1,003,344
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year −$6,357$20,318
X-8 Inventories for sale or useStart of year $3,934$7,914
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $33,793$75,155
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $10,579$5,822
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $3,000,068$3,336,754
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $4,790,398$4,582,835
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $399,906$390,153
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $409,188$69,625
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $865,428$459,778
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $3,924,970$4,123,057
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $3,924,970$4,123,057
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $4,790,398$4,582,835
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $4,123,057 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$5,302,278
XI-2 Total expenses$5,322,359
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$20,081
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$3,924,970
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$406,239
XI-8 Prior period adjustments−$188,071
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$4,123,057

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2025 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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