Cincinnati Observatory Center
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF THE CINCINNATI OBSERVATORY IS TO MAINTAIN THE INTEGRITY AND HERITAGE OF AN HISTORIC 19TH CENTURY OBSERVATORY AND TO EDUCATE, ENGAGE, AND INSPIRE OUR COMMUNITY ABOUT ASTRONOMY AND SCIENCE.
- Income
- $1.1 million
- Spending
- $964,974
- Spent on programs
- 74%
- Reserves
- 0.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 80%
- Employees
- 15
- Volunteers
- 70
- Highest pay
- $103,721, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 59 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.3 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 32% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 43% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1574% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 92 out of 100. Higher than 54% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2516 of 16 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 (3)
- $263,300 spent. EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH - THE OBSERVATORY PROVIDES HANDS-ON LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES IN THE STEM (SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, MATHEMATICS) DISCIPLINES ALIGNED WITH OH, KY & IN K-12 CURRICULUM STANDARDS. WE OFFER A VARIETY OF STANDARD AND CUSTOMIZED PROGRAMS WHICH CENTER AROUND THE DEFINITION OF SCIENCE, INQUIRY, THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD, CRITICAL THINKING AND PROBLEM SOLVING. OUR NUMBERS SERVED IN OUR PROGRAMMING CONTINUE TO GROW, AND WE SERVED 13,000+ STUDENTS IN 2024 AND OVER 25,000 PEOPLE THROUGH OUR OTHER PROGRAMMING.
- $249,867 spent. GENERAL PUBLIC - THE OBSERVATORY WORKED WITH OVER 37,000 PEOPLE TOTAL IN 2024 THROUGH PROGRAMMING INCLUDING SIGNIFICANT OUTREACH FOR THE TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE IN APRIL. WE ADDED NEW PROGRAMMING INCLUDING FAMILY ASTRONOMY NIGHTS, ATTIC TO BASEMENT TOURS AND NEW CLASS TOPICS. WE ALSO CONTINUED OUR WORK EDUCATING THE PUBLIC THROUGH OUR SOCIAL MEDIA AND TRADITIONAL MEDIA WORK AS WELL. WE ALSO WORKED IN THE COMMUNITY THROUGH COLLABORATIONS AND PARTNERSHIPS THAT HELPED US REACH NEW AUDIENCES.
- $196,389 spent. HISTORIC FACILITY - WE CONTINUED TO BE INTENTIONAL OF OUR ROLE AS STEWARDS OF OUR NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK BUILDINGS. WE BEGAN WORK TO UPDATE OUR BASEMENT TO DISPLAY AND PRESERVE OUR COLLECTION ITEMS. WE ALSO CONDUCTED IMPORTANT WORK TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN OUR HISTORIC TELESCOPES. WE CREATED A FACILITY PLAN IN PLACE TO NOT ONLY ADDRESS REPAIRS BUT ALSO CURRENT AND FUTURE MAINTENANCE NEEDS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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.
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 November 6, 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 October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since December 1999.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 November 4, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.