The Planetary Society
Empowers citizens to advance space science and exploration globally. For fiscal year 2024 it reported $7.5M in revenue, $7.6M in expenses, and $6.1M in net assets.Pt I
- Founded
- 1979
- Type
- Public charity (501(c)(3)) · Arts & Culture
- Location
- Pasadena, CA
- Website
- planetary.org
- Filings
- 5 on file (2020–2024)
More identity details & actions ⌄
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Summary of the Filing
Identity & Classification
Governance & Policies
Officers, Directors & Key Employees
William Nye’s $234K as Director and CEO is at the 91st percentile of top reported officer pay among 3925 $1–10M arts & culture 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
| Name | FY2024 | FY2024 | FY2023 | FY2022 | FY2021 | FY2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| William Nye | $233,565 | $234,360 | $225,360 | $182,216 | $156,907 | $161,521 |
| Jennifer Vaughn | $212,834 | $213,560 | $205,360 | $174,973 | $173,972 | $157,590 |
| Jim Suh | $180,080 | $180,696 | — | — | — | — |
| Richard Chute | $173,765 | $174,862 | $166,221 | $154,609 | $146,322 | $154,730 |
| Casey Dreier | $157,721 | $164,784 | $156,910 | $147,860 | $126,215 | — |
| Bruce Betts | $155,679 | $158,444 | $145,000 | $133,742 | $133,950 | $136,980 |
| Danielle Gunn | $157,800 | — | $152,135 | $140,112 | $122,633 | — |
| Benjamin Bank | — | — | — | $113,543 | $146,900 | $141,754 |
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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Where the work happens
Communication and Education
Through education and communications, the planetary society expands the horizons of public knowledge about space exploration and helps citizens educate others about space. Our public information projects include the planetary report, our quarterly magazine for our members and supporters; planetary radio, our weekly radio show; our…
Membership
Our membership program connects space-interested citizens worldwide and provides opportunities for them to participate in space activities. Our membership activities include maintaining detailed records to support our members and non-members who have chosen to participate in our programs.
Science & Technology
The planetary society invests in science and technology projects to advance innovative space exploration solutions and research. We provide seed funding to science and technology projects that advance planetary exploration, the search for life, and planetary defense.
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Statement of Revenue
Statement of Functional Expenses
Balance Sheet
Financial Metrics
Same NTEE category, revenue band, and state where available. Descriptive — not a grade.
| Metric | This org | Peer median | Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Program ratio | 66% | — | — |
| Overhead ratio | 13% | — | — |
| Fundraising cost ratio | 21% | — | — |
| Revenue growth | 45% | — | — |
Straight from the Form 990 — descriptive, not an evaluation. A ratio is hidden when its base is zero or too small to be meaningful; the dollars are always shown.
Grants
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Filings & Schedule Manifest
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Sources
Names, privacy, and removal requests More
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