California Association for Research in Astronomy
Also known as W M Keck Observatory
California Association for Research in Astronomy reported $30.1 million in revenue and $34.0 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $84.41 went to program services, $13.67 to management and general costs and $1.92 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 86.1% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $435,004 (INTERIM OBS. DIRECTOR/ ASS). 73 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue fell 0% 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 $34MFor 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 $30MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 84.4% | 83.2% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 13.7% | 15.5% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 1.9% | 0.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.30 | $0.00 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 7.1% | 51.6% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 3.9% | 3.2% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 86.1% | 19.2% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $435,004 | $513,729 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.28% | 1.72% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 73 | 27 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 18.2 | 14.7 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 6 of 6 | 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 expenseNo description in Part III; see the filing.
Public information:keck observatory's education and communication programs tell our story of science, stewardship, and community contributions to affirm the observatory's role as a global science leader rooted in hawaii. Activities include public astronomy talks, science engagement in classrooms and community events, facility tours, and sharing discoveries over digital platforms. Our audience is global with over 86,000 astronomy professionals and enthusiasts across our digital platforms, and we emphasize engagement with the local hawaii community
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| INTERIM OBS. DIRECTOR/ ASS Officer, 55.00 hrs/week | $348,607 | $0 | $86,397 | $435,004 |
| CHIEF SCIENTIST Highest compensated employee, 45.00 hrs/week | $295,951 | $0 | $70,047 | $365,998 |
| OBSERVATORY CFO Highest compensated employee, 50.00 hrs/week | $273,603 | $0 | $82,710 | $356,313 |
| CHIEF OF TECHNICAL DEVELOP Highest compensated employee, 50.00 hrs/week | $243,836 | $0 | $66,447 | $310,283 |
| CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER Highest compensated employee, 45.00 hrs/week | $241,302 | $0 | $63,277 | $304,579 |
| CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER Highest compensated employee, 45.00 hrs/week | $241,517 | $0 | $49,839 | $291,356 |
73 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from California Association for Research in Astronomy (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $1.6M (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–1b6 · 6 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13No
- Document retention policy Part VI 14No
- 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 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 5154
- Volunteers Part I, line 615
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| MAUNAKEA SHARED SERVICES Summit support services and lodging | $527,109 |
| PA'AKAI COMMUNICATIONS LLC External and government relations consul | $176,687 |
| WAKEA CONSULTING Software support and ao rtc support | $121,849 |
| MICROGATE SRL Software modifications of existing instr | $115,937 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 4 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
2 private foundations reported grants to California Association for Research in Astronomy totaling $1.9M 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 California Association for Research in Astronomy's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for California Association for Research in Astronomy, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 California Association for Research in Astronomy spent in FY2025, $84.41 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
Embed on your site
Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean SciencesEast Boothbay, ME · revenue $30M · programs 88.3% · FY2025
- Mind EducationIrvine, CA · revenue $31M · programs 92.5% · FY2025
- Puerto Rico Science Technology and Research TrustSan Juan, PR · revenue $30M · programs 79.4% · FY2025
- Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing InstitutePittsburgh, PA · revenue $32M · programs 84.1% · FY2025
- Education AnalyticsMadison, WI · revenue $29M · programs 70.7% · 2024
All science & technology charities · Largest charities in Hawaii
Questions people ask
How much of California Association for Research in Astronomy's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, California Association for Research in Astronomy reported that 84.4% of its $34.0 million in expenses went to program services, 13.7% to management and general and 1.9% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does California Association for Research in Astronomy pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation California Association for Research in Astronomy reported for one person in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 was $435,004, for the role of INTERIM OBS. DIRECTOR/ ASS (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does California Association for Research in Astronomy get its money?
Of $30.1 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, 7.1% came from contributions and grants (including 3.9% from government grants) and 86.1% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is California Association for Research in Astronomy a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 95-3972799 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 202632259349303018 · read the filing
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, object 202542269349303099 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2023, object 202422289349302607 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022, object 202312209349300546 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2021, object 202222239349300747 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2020, object 202102189349301465 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 95-3972799: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.