Nonprofit screen
Screen a listLowell Observatory
Can you give?
Listed with the IRS. Every screen came back clear.
A 501(c)(3) on Publication 78 and the IRS master file.
- IRS nonprofit listing
- No issue
- Revocation
- None
- IRS files
- Agree
- Sanctions
- No match
- IRS bulletin
- No notice
- California
- Registered
- Charity type
- 509(a)(1)
$12Mrevenue
FY2024 · −48% in 3 yrs183staff
8 of 8years filed
’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24
Revenue and spendingRevenueSpendingDeficit
Against similar nonprofits FY2024
Operating margin−63.1%
Months of reserve0.6mo
Revenue growth (annualized)−8.7%
Middle half of peersMedianLowell Observatory
Where the money goes FY2024 · $19M spent
Programs$15M78%Management and general$2.6M13%Fundraising$1.8M9%990 FY2024 · Part IX line 25
Nothing to check in the filings
In its favor1
A history of government grants
Government grants on 8 of its 8 returns, 18% of revenue in FY2024. $25M is traced federal awards from National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
990 Part VIII · USAspending63funders
$2.6Ma year, last 3 years
16%from its largest funder
Funder’17’18’19’20’21’22’23Percival Lowell Trust UwOn and off$12M$5.4M$167kLowell Observatory FoundationEvery year since FY2017$94k$112k$261k$198k$355k$311k$372kPeggy and Eric Johnson FoundationOn and off$1.3MThe Orr Family FoundationEvery year since FY2017$100k$100k$100k$100k$300k$200k$200kThe Heising-Simons FoundationOn and off$950kAssociation of Universities for Research in Astronomy IncEvery year since FY2017$119k$129k$169k$107k$108k$79k$52kDonor-advised giftsDonors not disclosed$39k$90k$155k$348k$974k$293k$747k38 other fundersUp to $232k a year each$329k$184k$103k$259k$522k$335k$553k
FundedThrough a donor-advised fund