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The Adler Planetarium
The Adler Planetarium reported $22.0 million in revenue and $17.5 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $71.05 went to program services, $21.84 to management and general costs and $7.11 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 48.2% of the total. Government grants made up 13.8%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $559,625 (FORMER PRESIDENT & CEO (THRU 3/25)). 15 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 38% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $18MFor context, the median across 876 covered arts, culture & humanities charities: $79.98 programs, $13.89 management, $6.13 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $22MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 71.0% | 78.5% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 21.8% | 13.6% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 7.1% | 6.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.12 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 48.2% | 57.5% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 13.8% | 1.7% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 26.3% | 20.8% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $559,625 | $385,706 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 3.19% | 2.03% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 15 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 29.4 | 36.6 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 55 of 55 | 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 expenseWhether the Adler Planetarium is introducing a guest to the ring nebula, a neighborhood school to a community partner, a research team to a network of citizen scientists, or one staff member to another, the museum's focus on meaningful connections dates back nearly a century. The adler typically hosts approximately a half a million visitors each year and reaches millions more through youth steam programs, neighborhood skywatching events, people-powered research, and other outreach efforts. Today, the adler is also bringing our unique approach - scientific exploration rooted in community and…
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FORMER PRESIDENT & CEO (THRU 3/25) Officer, 35.00 hrs/week | $545,930 | $0 | $13,695 | $559,625 |
| VP, MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS Key employee, 35.00 hrs/week | $223,920 | $0 | $28,932 | $252,852 |
| CFO, INTER. PRES. & CEO (BEG 3/25) Director/trustee, officer, 35.00 hrs/week | $230,448 | $0 | $9,553 | $240,001 |
| VP, SCIENCE ENGMT. & VISUALIZATION Key employee, 35.00 hrs/week | $196,413 | $0 | $8,223 | $204,636 |
| VP, ASTRONOMY & COLLECTIONS Key employee, 35.00 hrs/week | $186,797 | $0 | $7,813 | $194,610 |
| DIRECTOR OF ASTRONOMY Highest compensated employee, 35.00 hrs/week | $129,269 | $0 | $24,657 | $153,926 |
| SENIOR DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES Highest compensated employee, 35.00 hrs/week | $130,671 | $0 | $22,659 | $153,330 |
| CONTROLLER Highest compensated employee, 35.00 hrs/week | $131,239 | $0 | $11,973 | $143,212 |
15 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from The Adler Planetarium (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $1.4M (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–1b55 · 55 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 18Yes
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bYes
- Employees Part I, line 5174
- Volunteers Part I, line 6321
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| TROOP CONTRACTING Construction services | $809,205 |
| MZI GROUP INC Maintenance & cleaning services | $427,779 |
| FRESH EYES DIGITAL INC Development email marketing | $131,961 |
| PHILANTHROPY RX Development consutlant | $124,000 |
| MONTERREY SECURITY Security contractor | $122,664 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 15 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
31 private foundations reported grants to The Adler Planetarium totaling $1.2M 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 The Adler Planetarium's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for The Adler Planetarium, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 The Adler Planetarium spent in FY2025, $71.05 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Friends of 40 Baywood AvenueSan Mateo, CA · revenue $22M · programs 81.2% · 2024
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- Pennon OrganizationHarrisburg, PA · revenue $22M · programs 62.3% · FY2025
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- Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts InstituteUtica, NY · revenue $22M · programs 92.2% · FY2025
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Questions people ask
How much of The Adler Planetarium's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, The Adler Planetarium reported that 71.0% of its $17.5 million in expenses went to program services, 21.8% to management and general and 7.1% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does The Adler Planetarium pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation The Adler Planetarium reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $559,625, for the role of FORMER PRESIDENT & CEO (THRU 3/25) (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does The Adler Planetarium get its money?
Of $22.0 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 48.2% came from contributions and grants (including 13.8% from government grants) and 26.3% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is The Adler Planetarium a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 36-6210902 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 June 30, 2025, object 202600489349300825 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202500489349301585 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202430549349301213 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202340749349300129 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202220569349301132 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202120579349300142 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 36-6210902: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.