Passes our checks

Tmt Observatory Corporation

EIN 20-0988966 · Monrovia, CA

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

What it says it does

SEE SCHEDULE O

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 84% of charities in its peer group (science, under $250k).

Reserves
35 of 35
Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.
Debt
20 of 20
It owes 6% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15
Income exceeded spending by 54% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15
Income rose 40% on the year before.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Strong: 94 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (science, under $250k).

Independent board
25 of 25
6 of 6 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
0 of 5
Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
No reported misuse
10 of 10
Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

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

Programs described in its return (1)

ORGANIZATION'S MISSION AND PROGRAM SERVICE ACTIVITY TMT OBSERVATORY CORPORATION (TMT) IS A NONPROFIT PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPORATION FOUNDED BY THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA (UC) AND CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (CALTECH), HEREINAFTER COLLECTIVELY "FOUNDING MEMBERSWAS ORIGINALLY INCORPORATED AS THE "CELT DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION" ON OCTOBER 30, 2003. THE FOUNDING MEMBERS ESTABLISHED TMT FOR THE INITIAL PURPOSE OF DEVELOPING THE DESIGN OF A GIANT SEGMENTED MIRROR TELESCOPE, THE THIRTY METER TELESCOPE, WITH THE POTENTIAL OF CONSTRUCTING, COMMISSIONING AND OPERATING AN OBSERVATORY. IN ADDITION TO THE GOALS AND MISSIONS AS DESCRIBED ABOVE, TMT WILL FOSTER SCIENTIFIC INTERACTION BETWEEN EDUCATIONAL AND RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS TO FURTHER COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH IN ASTRONOMY.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

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 September 7, 2026.
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 September 30, 2026.
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 September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since August 2004.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
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 7, 2026.

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