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Mount Washington Observatory

EIN 02-0225135 · North Conway, NH

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong96 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO ADVANCE UNDERSTANDING OF THE NATURAL SYSTEMS THAT CREATE EARTH'S WEATHER AND CLIMATE. IT SERVES THIS MISSION BY MAINTAINING A WEATHER STATION ON THE SUMMIT OF MOUNT WASHINGTON, PERFORMING WEATHER AND CLIMATE RESEARCH, CONDUCTING INNOVATIVE SCIENCE EDUCATION PROGRAMS, AND INTERPRETING THE HERITAGE OF THE MOUNT WASHINGTON REGION.

Income
$2.7 million
Spending
$2.4 million
Spent on programs
71%
Reserves
35.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 58%
Employees
39
Volunteers
50
Highest pay
$135,555, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 96 out of 100. Higher than 85% of charities in its peer group (science, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 35.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 19% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 12% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    71% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 23 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 68% of charities in its peer group (science, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    18 of 18 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (2)
  1. $1.3 million spent. OBSERVATORY AND RESEARCH:OBSERVATIONS TRACKED AND SUBMITTED TO NWS- OVER THE COURSE OF A YEAR, WE DID 8,760 HOURLY OBSERVATIONS- WE PERFORM TWO DAILY QC CHECKS, A WEEKLY QC, AND A MONTHLY QC- NCON3 COOPERATIVE WEATHER STATION CONTINUED AS A JOINT MWOBS STAFF/VOLUNTEER EFFORT OBSERVING AND REPORTING THE CLIMATE OF NORTH CONWAY.- CONTINUE TO SEND DATA TO NWS HOURLY AND NATIONAL CENTERS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION (NCEI) MONTHLY
  2. $418,895 spent. SCHOOL PROGRAMS- 1,800 K-12 STUDENTS JOINED ACROSS 46 VIRTUAL PROGRAMS DELIVERED BY WEATHER OBSERVER/EDUCATION SPECIALISTS.- MORE THEN 3,480 STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN 174 IN PERSON SCHOOL-DAY PROGRAMS DELIVERED BY MWOBS EDUCATORS, PLUS 53 AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS FOR 500+ YOUTH.- 12 K-12 TEACHERS PARTICIPATED IN THE ARCTIC WEDNESDAYS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM- MORE THEN 830 STUDENTS VISITED OUR SUMMIT WEATHER STATION THROUGH OUR SECOND FULL YEAR OF FIELD TRIPS.ADULT AND GENERAL PROGRAMS- 9 PROGRAMS FEATURING SPEAKERS FROM SPEAKERS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE, NASA SCIENTISTS, OBSERVATORY RESEARCH STAFF AND MORE WITH 2,600 ZOOM ATTENDEES, 2,900 YOUTUBE VIEWS - 41 CLIMBERS AND GUIDES PARTICIPAPTED IN GUIDE-LED OVERNIGHT CLIMBING TRIPS- 56 GUESTS PARTICIPATED IN THE OVERNIGHT EDUTRIP PROGRAM IN THE WINTER OF 2024-2025WEATHER FORECASTS:- PRODUCED 704 48-HOUR FORECASTS FOR THE HIGHER SUMMIT- APPROXIMATELY 18 SPECIALIZED FORECASTS FOR EVENTSLEARNING ECOSYSTEMS NORTHEAST-MWOBS EDUCATION STAFF CONTINUED INTO A SECOND YEAR PARTICIPATING IN A NASA-FUNDED STEM LEARNING ECOSYSTEMS PROJECT LED BY GULF OF MAINE RESEARCH INSTITUTE. MWOBS COORDINATES A CONNECTED LEARNING ECOSYSTEM IN NORTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE, WHEREBY EDUCATORS REGULARLY MEET, LEARN TOGETHER, SHARE RESOURCES, AND DEVELOPED COLLABORATIVE LEARNING EXPERIENCES FOR YOUTH RELATED TO STEM, CLIMATE, AND DATA LITERACY.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending March 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since October 1951.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.

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