The Aerospace Corporation
The Aerospace Corporation reported $1.62 billion in revenue and $1.56 billion in expenses for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $95.15 went to program services, $4.85 to management and general costs and $0.00 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 99.7% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $2,257,756 (President & CEO). 4,118 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 40% 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 $1.56BFor 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 $1.62BThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 95.1% | 83.2% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 4.9% | 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 | Not reported | $0.00 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 51.6% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 3.2% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 99.7% | 19.2% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $2,257,756 | $513,729 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.14% | 1.72% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 4,118 | 27 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 4.1 | 14.7 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 19 of 21 | 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 corporation's primary customer is the Space Systems Command(SSC) which is under the Space Force. The corporation fulfills the functions of an architect-engineer for space systems. It assists with engineering tasks required to develop space systems, from initial concept and design to deployment and operation. Progress is monitored, alternatives and tests are analyzed, and problems are resolved in cooperation with industrial contractors and government laboratories.Aerospace laboratory research is directed toward advancements in military space systems, engineering feasibility studies of new…
Aerospace Civil Systems Group supports customers in four primary areas: NASA programs, NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) programs, NNSA (National Nuclear Security Administration) programs, and commercial, international and Homeland Security programs. The Civil Systems Group work enhances our mission assurance capabilities for our national security space customer, Space Systems Command
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| President & CEO Director/trustee, officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $1,918,234 | $0 | $339,522 | $2,257,756 |
| Vice President Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $602,349 | $0 | $425,062 | $1,027,411 |
| Vice President Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $803,217 | $0 | $169,256 | $972,473 |
| Vice President Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $835,121 | $0 | $133,679 | $968,800 |
| Vice President Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $534,456 | $0 | $407,048 | $941,504 |
| Vice President Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $772,763 | $0 | $167,668 | $940,431 |
| Vice President Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $589,779 | $0 | $338,763 | $928,542 |
| Vice President Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $699,225 | $0 | $168,010 | $867,235 |
4,118 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from The Aerospace Corporation (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $16M (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–1b21 · 19 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 55,448
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from The Aerospace Corporation'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 Aerospace Corporation, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 The Aerospace Corporation spent in FY2025, $95.15 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
Questions people ask
How much of The Aerospace Corporation's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, The Aerospace Corporation reported that 95.1% of its $1.56 billion in expenses went to program services, 4.9% to management and general and 0.0% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does The Aerospace Corporation pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation The Aerospace Corporation reported for one person in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 was $2,257,756, for the role of President & CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does The Aerospace Corporation get its money?
Of $1.62 billion in revenue in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, 0.0% came from contributions and grants and 99.7% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is The Aerospace Corporation a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 95-2102389 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 202632189349300933 · read the filing
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, object 202522069349301027 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2023, object 202412189349300216 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022, object 202332009349300313 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2021, object 202212209349301201 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2020, object 202142229349301404 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 95-2102389: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.