Arizona · Public charity
Lowell Observatory
The mission of LOWELL OBSERVATORY is to pursue the study of astronomy, especially the study of our solar system and its evolution; to conduct pure research in astronomical phenomena; and to maintain quality public education and outreach programs to bring the results of astronomical research to the public.
- $175k
- Granted FY2024(still arriving)
- 4
- Grants FY2024
- 6
- Organizations funded FY2023
- 0%
- First-time grantees FY2023
- Median grant, FY2024
- $46,723
- Largest grant, FY2024
- $94,935
- Organizations funded a year
- 5 to 9
- FY2017 to FY2023
- States reached, FY2024
- 2
- Total assets, FY2024
- $103M
How open it is to new grantees
In FY2023, 0% of the organizations Lowell Observatory funded were first-time grantees, receiving 0% of its grant dollars.
New vs renewed · share of each year
In FY2023, 100% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $0 went to new ones.
Where new relationships form · theme of each grantee’s first grant
How this is measured
The numbers by year
| Fiscal year | Organizations funded | To those organizations | First-time grantees |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY2024still arriving | 3 | $175k | 0% |
| FY2023 | 6 | $434k | 0% |
| FY2022 | 7 | $539k | 14% |
| FY2021 | 5 | $1.1M | 0% |
| FY2020 | 7 | $641k | 14% |
| FY2019 | 7 | $780k | 0% |
| FY2018 | 9 | $656k | 33% |
| FY2017 | 6 | $1.3M | n/a |
What it funded, over time
Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2017 to 2024.
Where its grants go
Grant dollars by states, across the years we hold.
Which US states its grants reach
Top grantees
Largest recipients by total granted, FY2017 to FY2024, and the share of each one’s budget the grants supplied at peak.
| Grantee | Total granted | Years | Share of their budget |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Arizona University | $2,329,386 | 8 | n/a |
| Lowell Observatory Foundation | $1,775,514 | 6 | 54% |
| Planetary Science Institute | $506,183 | 8 | 1% |
| University of Maryland College Park | $447,963 | 7 | n/a |
| Arizona State University | $242,407 | 4 | n/a |
| University of Pittsburgh | $107,679 | 6 | 0% |
| University of Hawaii System | $74,522 | 2 | n/a |
| University of Central Florida | $55,018 | 2 | n/a |
| Trustees of Purdue University | $48,833 | 4 | n/a |
| Percival Lowell Trust Uw | $17,986 | 2 | 0% |
Show all 11 grantees
| Grantee | Total granted | Years | Share of their budget |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Arizona University | $2,329,386 | 8 | n/a |
| Lowell Observatory Foundation | $1,775,514 | 6 | 54% |
| Planetary Science Institute | $506,183 | 8 | 1% |
| University of Maryland College Park | $447,963 | 7 | n/a |
| Arizona State University | $242,407 | 4 | n/a |
| University of Pittsburgh | $107,679 | 6 | 0% |
| University of Hawaii System | $74,522 | 2 | n/a |
| University of Central Florida | $55,018 | 2 | n/a |
| Trustees of Purdue University | $48,833 | 4 | n/a |
| Percival Lowell Trust Uw | $17,986 | 2 | 0% |
| Western Washington University | $17,664 | 1 | n/a |
Warm introductions · Powered by PlinthPlus
How do I get to Lowell Observatory?
Find your warmest path to Lowell Observatory through trustees and officers whose names appear on both boards. Search for your organization and Plinth traces the shortest route it can evidence.
Each link is a name appearing on two organizations’ public IRS 990 filings, matched on that name and, where the filings support it, on location. A same-state match has geographic support, which is a second matching feature rather than confirmation that the two are one person; a cross-state one is the likeliest to be two people who share a name. Every hop shows its tier, low-confidence and distant paths are held back rather than guessed, and it is worth confirming the person before you use the introduction.
About Lowell Observatory
- How much does Lowell Observatory give?
- Lowell Observatory reported 4 grants totaling $175,151 in its FY2024 IRS filing. It funded between 5 and 9 organizations a year over FY2017 to FY2023.
- What does Lowell Observatory fund?
- By grant dollars over FY2017 to FY2024, its largest causes are Science & Tech (97%), Education (3%).
- Who are Lowell Observatory's largest grantees?
- By total granted over FY2017 to FY2024: Northern Arizona University ($2.3M), Lowell Observatory Foundation ($1.8M), Planetary Science Institute ($506k).
- Does Lowell Observatory fund new organizations?
- In FY2023, 0% of the organizations it funded were first-time grantees.
- Where is Lowell Observatory based?
- Lowell Observatory is based in AZ.
Play a game based on Lowell Observatory’s filings →