Universities Space Research Association
Universities Space Research Association reported $50.5 million in revenue and $53.1 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $76.65 went to program services, $23.35 to management and general costs and $0.00 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 92.1% of the total. Government grants made up 92.0%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $806,311 (Former President and CEO (end Jan 25)). 138 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue fell 66% 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 $53MFor context, the median across 192 covered science & technology charities: $84.33 programs, $15.67 management, $0.00 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 $51MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 76.7% | 83.2% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 23.3% | 15.5% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 92.1% | 51.6% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 92.0% | 3.2% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 6.5% | 19.2% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $806,311 | $513,729 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.52% | 1.72% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 138 | 27 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 6.0 | 14.7 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 16 of 17 | 94.3% |
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 Air Force research laboratory (afrl) future scholars stem offers stipend-paid internship opportunities for undergraduate and graduate-level university students pursuing stem degree, as well as upper-level high school students; select locations also offer internships to unversity students persuing education-related degrees and k-12 professional educators. the selected interns gain valuable hands-on experience working iwth full-time afrl scientists and engineers on cutting-edge research and technology and are able to contribute to unique, research-based projects. graduate interns are able…
Lunar & planetary institute (lpi) supports nasa's research in lunar, planetary, and related scientific fields. The institute is a center for lunar and planetary science, conducting research studies on the formation, evolution, and current state of the moon, planets, comets, asteroids, planetary satellites, cosmic dust, and our solar system as awhole through analysis of data and samples obtained through nasa's long history of missions and exploration, service to nasa and the planetary science community. The institute coordinates scientific meetings on lunar and planetary topics, and…
Science and technology institute (sti) in huntsville, al employes a dedicated workforce of approximately 30 scientists, engineers, postdocs, and interns in research areas of astrophysics, earth sciences, and heliophysics. Sti operations are co-located with the nasa marshall space flight center (MSFC) science research office in the national spacie science and technology center (nsstc) located at the university of alabama in huntsville
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 and CEO (end Jan 25) Director/trustee, officer, 42.5 hrs/week | $658,477 | $0 | $147,834 | $806,311 |
| VP, Science and Technology Highest compensated employee, 42.0 hrs/week | $364,378 | $0 | $19,131 | $383,509 |
| Director, NAMS AND RIACS Key employee, 41.0 hrs/week | $331,522 | $0 | $38,041 | $369,563 |
| VP, Program Dev & Univ Engage Highest compensated employee, 43.0 hrs/week | $329,633 | $0 | $14,299 | $343,932 |
| VP, Finance and Admin, CFO Officer, 43.0 hrs/week | $290,181 | $0 | $27,983 | $318,164 |
| VP, Human Resources, CHRO Highest compensated employee, 51.0 hrs/week | $279,681 | $0 | $28,177 | $307,858 |
| Director, LPI Key employee, 43.0 hrs/week | $233,244 | $0 | $26,451 | $259,695 |
| Director CSNR Highest compensated employee, 43.0 hrs/week | $229,394 | $0 | $26,037 | $255,431 |
138 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Universities Space Research Association (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $2.3M (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–1b17 · 16 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 4Yes
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bYes
- Employees Part I, line 5283
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| Williamson Law Group LLC Legal | $437,322 |
| DATABANK HOLDING LTD It services | $416,564 |
| Unizo Real Estate DC Six LLC Office Lease | $168,148 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 9 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
1 private foundation reported grants to Universities Space Research Association totaling $16 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 Universities Space Research Association's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Universities Space Research Association, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Universities Space Research Association spent in FY2025, $76.65 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Southern Research InstituteBirmingham, AL · revenue $50M · programs 70.0% · 2024
- American Society for MicrobiologyWashington, DC · revenue $51M · programs 72.3% · 2024
- Waterford InstituteTaylorsville, UT · revenue $48M · programs 88.0% · FY2025
- Santa Fe InstituteSanta Fe, NM · revenue $52M · programs 62.7% · 2024
- Gmto CorporationPasadena, CA · revenue $47M · programs 78.0% · FY2025
All science & technology charities · Largest charities in District of Columbia
Questions people ask
How much of Universities Space Research Association's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, Universities Space Research Association reported that 76.7% of its $53.1 million in expenses went to program services, 23.3% to management and general and 0.0% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Universities Space Research Association pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Universities Space Research Association reported for one person in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 was $806,311, for the role of Former President and CEO (end Jan 25) (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Universities Space Research Association get its money?
Of $50.5 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, 92.1% came from contributions and grants (including 92.0% from government grants) and 6.5% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Universities Space Research Association a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 52-0892064 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 202621529349301072 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, object 202542269349302764 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2023, object 202441559349300114 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022, object 202322269349300127 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2021, object 202241239349300919 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2020, object 202142259349301809 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 52-0892064: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.