Space Science Institute

Tax-deductible

Boulder, CO501(c)(3)Since 1992Science & TechnologyEIN 84-1215290Revenue $7.2M in FY2025

On file with the IRSspacescience.org4765 Walnut St Ste B, 80301-2575 · Boulder, COTax-exempt since Apr 1993Publicly supported charity — 170(b)(1)(A)(vi)

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the space science institute is shaping our future by enabling scientists to advance our understanding of earth and the universe; increasing science and technology literacy for people of all ages and backgrounds; and inspiring youth to pursue science-technology education and career opportunities.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
72¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 8 volunteers and 72 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 $830 a year · under 1% of revenue · last 6 filings
Concern: a surplus in 2 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
72%
of spending
Fine: 72% of spending went to programs; 65% to 75%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$1.6M
to officers and key staff · 21% of spending
Top officer’s pay higher than 71% of similar orgs
Worth a look: pay to officers and key staff is 21% of spending; over 20%.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
<1 mo
of spending, in cash
Worth a look: 0.8 months of spending in cash; under 1.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
6
named funders · $498K
Looks good: 6 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$1.2M
72% of total assets
Worth a look: liabilities are 72% of assets; over 65%.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
4
of 4 voting members
Looks good: 4 of 4 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$7.2M
-19% vs prior year
Spent
$7.7M
To programs
72%
Net assets
$474K
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$7.2M
FY2025▼ -19%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$7.9M
FY2021$7.6M
FY2022$11.9M
FY2023$9.2M
FY2024$8.9M
FY2025$7.2M
Expenses
$7.7M
FY2025▼ -17%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$7.9M
FY2021$7.5M
FY2022$9.7M
FY2023$10.7M
FY2024$9.2M
FY2025$7.7M
Net assets
$474K
FY2025▼ -48%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$454K
FY2021$528K
FY2022$2.7M
FY2023$1.2M
FY2024$906K
FY2025$474K

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 Apr 1993.

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

Where the money goes

72 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 72% · $5.5M Management & general 28% · $2.1M Fundraising 0% · $5K

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; $1.6M paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Dir of Bus Oper
$228,927Pt VII · Sec A
SR Research Scient
$211,742Pt VII · Sec A
SR Research Scient
$205,222Pt VII · Sec A
Deputy Director
$200,559Pt VII · Sec A
SR Research Scient
$188,418Pt VII · Sec A
Executive Dir.
$167,097Pt VII · Sec A
SR Research Scient
$148,333Pt VII · Sec A
Dir of Is & Tech
$147,925Pt VII · Sec A

Carl R Wuth II’s $229K as Dir of Bus Oper is at the 71st percentile of top reported officer pay among 363 $1–10M science & technology 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

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Dr Joseph Borovsky$205,222$300,792$287,346$260,911$231,040$208,125
Dr Mark Lemmon$211,742$246,151$272,182$246,045$216,117$204,632
Carl R Wuth II$228,927$226,642$200,869$204,795$159,299$154,330
Dr Ralph Shuping$200,559$216,292$215,742$207,727$169,009$158,339
Dr Karly M Pitman—$106,518$179,524$198,686$131,622$151,108
Dr Michael Wolff$167,097$181,994$194,127$171,458$147,012$134,754
Dr James Harold—$189,457$160,368$156,566$102,666$122,358
Dr Julianne Moses$188,418$182,367$175,032———

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 Space Science Institute executive salaries →

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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

Empowering scientists, inspiring youth, and boosting science literacy for everyone.

Provided by the organization

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1 program · $5.5M · in their own filed words · FY2025
01

the organization conducts programs in basic science research, education and public outreach, and programs which integrate the two. services of scientists and educators are engaged in research and explore space and disseminate the information to private, government, and public sectors.

$5.5Mprogram 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 · FY2024
Seti InstituteFY2024$12K
Total grants receivedfrom 6 funders$498K
See all 6 funders →

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$7.2M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$7.2M
Investment incomeLn 3$1K
Money outPt IX
$7.7M
Ln 25
Programscol B$5.5M
Managementcol C$2.1M
Fundraisingcol D$5K
Owns and owesPt X
$474K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$502K
Total assetsLn 16$1.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.2M
PeoplePt VI, VII
15
listed · VII A
PaidVII A9
Voting boardVI 1a4
IndependentVI 1b4
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$7.2M
Government grantsLn 1e$4.5M
Investment incomeLn 3$1K
Gains on assetsLn 7$0
Total revenueLn 12$7.2M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$481K
SavingsLn 2$21K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$502K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$0
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$6K
Other assetsLn 15$96K
Total assetsLn 16$1.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.2M
Net assetsLn 32$474K
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 572
VolunteersI 68
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$783K$502K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$0
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$68K$6K
Total assetsLn 16$2.3M$1.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.4M$1.2M
Net assetsLn 32$906K$474K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$0
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$0
Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsLn 3$0
Benefits paid to or for membersLn 4$0
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$1.9M$1.2M$719K
Pay of disqualified personsLn 6$0
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$2.6M$2.2M$323K$2K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$243K$176K$67K$152
Other employee benefitsLn 9$943K$699K$243K$485
Payroll taxesLn 10$367K$266K$101K$130
Management feesLn 11a$0
Legal feesLn 11b$0
Accounting feesLn 11c$44K$44K
Lobbying feesLn 11d$0
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$0
Investment management feesLn 11f$0
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$5K$5K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$0
Office expensesLn 13$0
Information technologyLn 14$0
RoyaltiesLn 15$0
OccupancyLn 16$323K$323K
TravelLn 17$188K$178K$9K
Travel and entertainment for public officialsLn 18$0
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$0
InterestLn 20$11K$11K
Payments to affiliatesLn 21$0
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$177K$177K
InsuranceLn 23$45K$45K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$674K$651K$23K
All other expensesLn 24e$187K$124K$62K$2K
Total functional expensesLn 25$7.7M$5.5M$2.1M$5K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $7.2M$7.7M−$432K$474K 990 PDF
FY2024 $8.9M$9.2M−$296K$906K 990 PDF
FY2023 $9.2M$10.7M−$1.5M$1.2M 990 PDF
FY2022 $11.9M$9.7M$2.2M$2.7M 990 PDF
FY2021 $7.6M$7.5M$74K$528K 990 PDF
FY2020 $7.9M$7.9M−$25K$454K 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 FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $7,238,431 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $8,907,132$7,237,153
I-9 Program service revenue$0
I-10 Investment incomePrior year −$5,453$1,278
I-11 Other revenue$0
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $8,901,679$7,238,431
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paid$0
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $7,025,422$6,014,836
I-16a Professional fundraising fees$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $2,171,917$1,655,109
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $9,197,339$7,669,945
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$295,660−$431,514
Part VI · Governance 4 of 4 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body4
VI-1b Independent voting members4
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 $7,238,431 across 9 lines filed
VIII-1e Government grants$4,517,903
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$2,719,250
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$7,237,153
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $1,278$1,278
VIII-5 Royalties$0
VIII-6 Net rental income or loss$0
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assets$0
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising events$0
VIII-12 Total revenueExcluded from tax $1,278$7,238,431
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $7,669,945 across 31 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizations$0
IX-2 Grants to domestic individuals$0
IX-3 Grants and assistance to foreign recipients$0
IX-4 Benefits paid to or for members$0
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $1,191,410 · Management $719,275$1,910,685
IX-6 Pay of disqualified persons$0
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $2,227,091 · Management $322,631 · Fundraising $1,516$2,551,238
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $175,691 · Management $66,908 · Fundraising $152$242,751
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $699,494 · Management $243,468 · Fundraising $485$943,447
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $265,646 · Management $100,939 · Fundraising $130$366,715
IX-11a Management fees$0
IX-11b Legal fees$0
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $44,000$44,000
IX-11d Lobbying fees$0
IX-11e Professional fundraising fees$0
IX-11f Investment management fees$0
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $5,450$5,450
IX-12 Advertising and promotion$0
IX-13 Office expenses$0
IX-14 Information technology$0
IX-15 Royalties$0
IX-16 OccupancyManagement $323,221$323,221
IX-17 TravelPrograms $178,499 · Management $9,105$187,604
IX-18 Travel and entertainment for public officials$0
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetings$0
IX-20 InterestManagement $11,292$11,292
IX-21 Payments to affiliates$0
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationManagement $176,508$176,508
IX-23 InsuranceManagement $45,430$45,430
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $650,843 · Management $23,271$674,114
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $123,647 · Management $61,611 · Fundraising $2,232$187,490
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $5,517,771 · Management $2,147,659 · Fundraising $4,515$7,669,945
Part X · Balance sheet $1,709,095 assets, 22 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $539,030$481,248
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $244,256$21,101
X-3 Pledges and grants receivable$0
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $969,567$858,816
X-8 Inventories for sale or use$0
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $87,130$246,302
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $67,540$5,914
X-11 Publicly traded securities$0
X-12 Other securities$0
X-13 Program-related investments$0
X-14 Intangible assetsStart of year $116,853$0
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $257,954$95,714
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $2,282,330$1,709,095
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $700,424$540,499
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $8,414$6,962
X-24 Unsecured notes and loans payableStart of year $394,724$581,373
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $272,799$105,806
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $1,376,361$1,234,640
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $607,238$470,376
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $298,731$4,079
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $905,969$474,455
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $2,282,330$1,709,095
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $474,455 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$7,238,431
XI-2 Total expenses$7,669,945
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$431,514
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$905,969
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$474,455

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

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