University Corporation for Atmospheric Research
University Corporation for Atmospheric Research reported $288.7 million in revenue and $306.1 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $87.05 went to program services, $12.79 to management and general costs and $0.16 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 90.3% of the total. Government grants made up 90.2%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $867,848 (TRUSTEE/UCAR PRESIDENT). 707 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 12% 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 $306MFor 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 $289MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 87.0% | 83.2% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 12.8% | 15.5% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 0.2% | 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 | 90.3% | 51.6% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 90.2% | 3.2% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 5.2% | 19.2% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $867,848 | $513,729 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.28% | 1.72% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 707 | 27 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 10.4 | 14.7 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 17 of 18 | 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 expenseComputational and information systems lab - to support and advance the geo-sciences with world class computing, data management, mathematics and computational science
Earth observing lab - to develop and employ new advanced optical spectroscopic technologies, instruments and advanced algorithms for the next generation of ground based and airborne measurements of various atmospheric trace gases
Research application lab - conducts directed research that contributes to the fundamental understanding of the atmosphere and related physical, biological, and social systems; to support, enhance, and extend the capabilities of the scientific community, to develop and transfer knowledge and technology for the betterment of life on earth, and to support technology transfer that expands the reach of atmospheric science
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TRUSTEE/UCAR PRESIDENT Director/trustee, officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $818,786 | $0 | $49,062 | $867,848 |
| NCAR DIRECTOR Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $413,591 | $0 | $63,164 | $476,755 |
| UCAR COO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $328,746 | $0 | $40,418 | $369,164 |
| NCAR ASSOC DIRECTOR Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $288,218 | $0 | $47,650 | $335,868 |
| UCP DIRECTOR Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $282,441 | $0 | $47,299 | $329,740 |
| CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $286,134 | $0 | $35,830 | $321,964 |
| SENIOR SCIENTIFIC ADVISOR Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $258,925 | $0 | $51,032 | $309,957 |
| INTERIM NCAR DEPUTY DIRECTOR Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $263,654 | $0 | $39,845 | $303,499 |
707 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $5.5M (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–1b18 · 17 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 51,637
- Volunteers Part I, line 618
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| IDEAL SYSTEM SOLUTIONS INC It storage services | $1,913,712 |
| SBM MANAGEMENT SERVICES LP Janitorial services | $930,515 |
| UNIVERSAL PROTECTION SERVICE LP Security services | $755,217 |
| BLUESKY RESOURCE SOLUTIONS LLC Temp staffing | $729,652 |
| ONDEMAND RESOURCES LLC Temp staffing | $345,600 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 26 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
2 private foundations reported grants to University Corporation for Atmospheric Research totaling $169K 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 University Corporation for Atmospheric Research's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 University Corporation for Atmospheric Research spent in FY2025, $87.05 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- The Alfred E Mann Foundation for Scientific ResearchSanta Clarita, CA · revenue $258M · programs 91.1% · FY2026
- Woods Hole Oceanographic InstitutionWoods Hole, MA · revenue $344M · programs 87.0% · 2024
- Southeastern Universities Research AssociationWashington, DC · revenue $252M · programs 71.2% · FY2025
- Institute for Defense AnalysesAlexandria, VA · revenue $345M · programs 90.6% · FY2025
- Medical Technology Enterprise ConsortiumSummerville, SC · revenue $234M · programs 99.2% · 2024
All science & technology charities · Largest charities in Colorado
Questions people ask
How much of University Corporation for Atmospheric Research's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, University Corporation for Atmospheric Research reported that 87.0% of its $306.1 million in expenses went to program services, 12.8% to management and general and 0.2% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does University Corporation for Atmospheric Research pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation University Corporation for Atmospheric Research reported for one person in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 was $867,848, for the role of TRUSTEE/UCAR PRESIDENT (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does University Corporation for Atmospheric Research get its money?
Of $288.7 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, 90.3% came from contributions and grants (including 90.2% from government grants) and 5.2% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is University Corporation for Atmospheric Research a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 84-0412668 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 202642299349302414 · read the filing
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, object 202502279349302525 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2023, object 202402279349303905 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022, object 202332169349300133 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2021, object 202232239349301528 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2020, object 202132189349301158 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 84-0412668: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.