Planetary Science Institute
Planetary Science Institute reported $17.0 million in revenue and $17.3 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $89.07 went to program services, $10.92 to management and general costs and $0.01 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 99.0% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $295,943 (CEO / Trustee (through April 2025)). 36 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 13% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $17MFor context, the median across 2,433 covered unclassified charities: $88.27 programs, $11.68 management, $0.05 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
The fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $17MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 89.1% | 86.7% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 10.9% | 11.5% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | Not reported | $0.01 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 0.7% | 29.9% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 3.8% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 99.0% | 58.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $295,943 | $301,601 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.71% | 1.38% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 36 | 6 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 2.2 | 6.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 5 of 5 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
FY2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseThe Planetary Science Institute (PSI) is an independent nonprofit science research and educational organization with an established record of excellence in solar system exploration, comparative planetology, science education and public outreach. PSI has scientists in more than 30 states, the District of Columbia, and other locations around the world. PSI scientists were awarded research grants and contracts to conduct diverse research and laboratory studies covering the Moon, Mars, asteroids, comets, meteorites, outer planet satellites, solar system dynamics, solar system origins, planets…
Highest reported compensation
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CEO / Trustee (through April 2025) Director/trustee, officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $251,399 | $0 | $44,544 | $295,943 |
| Senior Scientist Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $241,888 | $0 | $33,582 | $275,470 |
| CFO / Treasurer Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $186,274 | $0 | $51,135 | $237,409 |
| Senior Scientist Highest compensated employee, 39.00 hrs/week | $182,127 | $0 | $41,099 | $223,226 |
| Senior Scientist Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $183,994 | $0 | $25,663 | $209,657 |
| Senior Scientist Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $176,641 | $0 | $32,244 | $208,885 |
| CEO / Trustee (effective May 2025) Director/trustee, officer, 35.00 hrs/week | $165,502 | $0 | $41,947 | $207,449 |
| Senior Scientist Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $174,692 | $0 | $24,360 | $199,052 |
36 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Planetary Science Institute (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $772K (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
FY2025 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b5 · 5 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4No
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 5172
- Volunteers Part I, line 64
Private foundation grants it received
1 private foundation reported grants to Planetary Science Institute totaling $242 on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from Planetary Science Institute's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Planetary Science Institute, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 Planetary Science Institute spent in FY2025, $89.07 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Questions people ask
How much of Planetary Science Institute's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, Planetary Science Institute reported that 89.1% of its $17.3 million in expenses went to program services, 10.9% to management and general and 0.0% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Planetary Science Institute pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Planetary Science Institute reported for one person in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 was $295,943, for the role of CEO / Trustee (through April 2025) (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Planetary Science Institute get its money?
Of $17.0 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, 0.7% came from contributions and grants and 99.0% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Planetary Science Institute a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 33-0175263 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- FY2025: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, object 202632229349302013 · read the filing
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, object 202532269349302548 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2023, object 202412269349301441 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022, object 202332269349302333 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2021, object 202222249349303057 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2020, object 202102289349302145 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 33-0175263: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.