Lowell Observatory
Lowell Observatory reported $19.6 million in revenue and $22.2 million in expenses for calendar year 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $82.33 went to program services, $10.13 to management and general costs and $7.54 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 65.4% of the total. Government grants made up 8.6%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $241,104 (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/COO). 30 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue fell 33% between 2019 and 2025. Source: Form 990, 2025.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $22MFor 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
Calendar year 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $20MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 82.3% | 83.2% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 10.1% | 15.5% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 7.5% | 0.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.13 | $0.00 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 65.4% | 51.6% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 8.6% | 3.2% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 29.8% | 19.2% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $241,104 | $513,729 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.08% | 1.72% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 30 | 27 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 24.8 | 14.7 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 0 of 1 | 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
2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseContinuing a more than 130-year-long legacy of astronomical discovery, Lowell Observatory astronomers, planetary scientists, and other researchers conducted forefront research in many areas of astronomy from the sun and our solar system to exoplanets, stars, galaxies, and cosmology. In 2025, lowell scientists published over 125 peer-reviewed scholarly articles in leading scientific journals, along with another 40+ articles in other venues. Lowell scientists also gave numerous presentations at scientific conferences and public outreach events and participated in major scientific missions using…
In 2025, Lowell Observatory's public programs successfully transitioned from a period of major capital construction to full-scale operation of the marley foundation astronomy discovery center (adc). The primary objective for this period was to leverage our expanded capacity to increase engagement in astronomy and to provide immersive, narrative-driven experiences that connect visitors with the observatory's ongoing research and their innate curiosity about the cosmos. The long-term goal remains to inspire curiosity and provide world-class STEM education to a global audience while preserving…
Highest reported compensation
2025 · 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/COO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $206,898 | $0 | $34,206 | $241,104 |
| CHIEF PHILANTHROPY OFFICER Key employee, 38.00 hrs/week | $190,704 | $0 | $25,367 | $216,071 |
| DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $184,546 | $0 | $22,017 | $206,563 |
| CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Officer, 36.00 hrs/week | $182,124 | $0 | $23,148 | $205,272 |
| ASTRONOMER Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $176,393 | $0 | $24,532 | $200,925 |
| DIRECTOR OF TECHNOLOGY + DIRECTOR OF SCIENCE Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $162,332 | $0 | $36,799 | $199,131 |
| ASTRONOMER Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $181,664 | $0 | $17,420 | $199,084 |
| ASTRONOMER Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $177,551 | $0 | $11,770 | $189,321 |
30 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Lowell Observatory (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $1.3M (Part IX, line 5).
7 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
2025 · 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–1b1 · 0 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 5183
- Volunteers Part I, line 691
Largest outside contractors
2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| BUILDING & ENGINEERING CONTRACTORS SOUTH Construction | $1,812,722 |
| BBI ENGINEERING INC Exhibit design & fabrication | $490,591 |
| ISEC INC Exhibit design & fabrication | $176,757 |
| ARIZONA RESTAURANT SUPPLY INC Exhibit design & fabrication | $109,341 |
| LAW OFFICE OF TONY S CULLUM PLLC Legal | $105,695 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 8 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
13 private foundations reported grants to Lowell Observatory totaling $1.8M 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 Lowell Observatory's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Lowell Observatory, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 Lowell Observatory spent in 2025, $82.33 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
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All science & technology charities · Largest charities in Arizona
Questions people ask
How much of Lowell Observatory's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2025, Lowell Observatory reported that 82.3% of its $22.2 million in expenses went to program services, 10.1% to management and general and 7.5% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Lowell Observatory pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Lowell Observatory reported for one person in calendar year 2025 was $241,104, for the role of EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/COO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Lowell Observatory get its money?
Of $19.6 million in revenue in calendar year 2025, 65.4% came from contributions and grants (including 8.6% from government grants) and 29.8% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Lowell Observatory a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 86-0098918 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, 2025. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- 2025: Form 990 for calendar year 2025, object 202642049349301294 · read the filing · XML
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202532259349302723 · read the filing
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202442299349301904 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202312299349301236 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202241679349300224 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202132029349300923 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202021789349301707 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 86-0098918: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.