Seti Institute
Seti Institute reported $27.4 million in revenue and $30.9 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $69.60 went to program services, $27.41 to management and general costs and $2.99 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 98.5% of the total. Government grants made up 71.6%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $494,048 (SECRETARY, PRESIDENT & CEO). 54 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 21% 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 $31MFor 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 $27M- Contributions & grants (non-government)$26.70 $7.4M
- Government grants$71.08 $20M
- Investment income$2.22 $611K
Other revenue was negative: −$194K. The bar shows the positive sources only.
The 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 69.6% | 83.2% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 27.4% | 15.5% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 3.0% | 0.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.03 | $0.00 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 98.5% | 51.6% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 71.6% | 3.2% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 19.2% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $494,048 | $513,729 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.60% | 1.72% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 54 | 27 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 92.8 | 14.7 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 16 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 expenseThe 100+ scientists in the carl sagan center for research conduct groundbreaking work pertaining to fundamental questions about the origin and proliferation of life right here on earth and beyond. From the early universe and the formation of galaxies, stars, planets, moons and other small bodies, to the prevalence of environments that can support life, intelligence and technology, we work to answer the question, "are we alone?" we partner with nasa, the national science foundation and other institutions in areas of basic research, and support science missions, including as contractors to…
The center for education has impacted more than a half million students and develops STEM resources that teach, excite, and inspire the next generation of scientists and a science literate public. These programs foster future leaders and include: astronomy activation ambassadors, providing training and inspiration to high school science teachers; the nasa community college network, bringing nasa science and subject matter expertise into the nation's community college classrooms, and research experience for undergraduates, an 8-week summer internship that pairs students with scientist mentors
The Seti Institute believes that understanding our work helps place humanity in a broader cosmic context, and that sharing this work with the world is central to its mission. The center for outreach advances this goal by engaging the public through digital, in-person, broadcast, and media activities. These include seti live, a weekly livestreamed conversation with Seti Institute researchers and colleagues; seti air, which fosters creative exchange between artists and scientists; and big picture science, a radio show and podcast carried by more than 150 stations. The center for outreach also…
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SECRETARY, PRESIDENT & CEO Director/trustee, officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $421,694 | $0 | $72,354 | $494,048 |
| SENIOR SCIENTIST Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $246,314 | $0 | $76,143 | $322,457 |
| CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $230,886 | $0 | $51,223 | $282,109 |
| SENIOR PIPELINE ARCHITECT Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $208,974 | $0 | $55,074 | $264,048 |
| DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION AND PUBLIC OUTREACH Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $198,019 | $0 | $54,192 | $252,211 |
| DEPUTY DIRECTOR, OPERATIONS Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $183,369 | $0 | $49,834 | $233,203 |
| SENIOR DATA SCIENTIST Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $215,112 | $0 | $17,618 | $232,730 |
| DIRECTOR CARL SAGAN CENTER Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $210,000 | $0 | $17,338 | $227,338 |
54 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Seti Institute (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $1.2M (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 · 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 2Yes
- 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 5177
- Volunteers Part I, line 617
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| TECHTINIUM TECHNOLOGIES PRIVATE LIMITED Website development, it, and accounting | $236,988 |
| GOODWIN PROCTER LLP Professional legal services. | $187,329 |
| BAYPORT NETWORKS INC It network and infrastructure support se | $186,923 |
| ALLEN & CO Report design and creation. | $112,500 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 6 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
7 private foundations reported grants to Seti Institute totaling $2.3M 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 Seti 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 Seti Institute, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Seti Institute spent in FY2025, $69.60 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Lab CentralCambridge, MA · revenue $27M · programs 77.5% · 2024
- Anita Borg Institute for TechnologySacramento, CA · revenue $28M · programs 75.4% · 2024
- Griffiss InstituteRome, NY · revenue $27M · programs 87.8% · 2025
- Noblereach FoundationMcLean, VA · revenue $28M · programs 68.9% · 2025
- The Academy of Natural Sciences of PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia, PA · revenue $26M · programs 69.9% · FY2025
All science & technology charities · Largest charities in California
Questions people ask
How much of Seti Institute's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, Seti Institute reported that 69.6% of its $30.9 million in expenses went to program services, 27.4% to management and general and 3.0% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Seti Institute pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Seti Institute reported for one person in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 was $494,048, for the role of SECRETARY, PRESIDENT & CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Seti Institute get its money?
Of $27.4 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, 98.5% came from contributions and grants (including 71.6% from government grants) and 0.0% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Seti Institute a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 94-2951356 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 202601479349301140 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, object 202531329349301633 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2023, object 202441219349302814 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022, object 202300949349301600 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2021, object 202241439349300744 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2020, object 202101409349301555 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 94-2951356: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.