Planetary Science Institute
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The Planetary Science Institute studies the origin, characteristics, and evolution of planetary systems, including our solar system, Earth itself, and planetary systems around other stars. We convey the resulting knowledge to the scientific community, and to the public at large to promote science education and science literacy. We further use this knowledge to advance human activity in space and shape the future of robotic exploration of the solar system.
- Income
- $17.9 million
- Spending
- $17.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 90%
- Reserves
- 1.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 99%
- Employees
- 162
- Volunteers
- 3
- Highest pay
- $307,198, ceo / trustee
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 57 out of 100.
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.5 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 39% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 0% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 0% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1590% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 256 of 6 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a 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 September 30, 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 (1)
- $16.0 million spent. The Planetary Science Institute (PSI) is a nonprofit science research and educational organization with an established record of excellence in solar system exploration, comparative planetology, science education and public outreach. PSI has scientists in 34 states, the District of Columbia, and other locations around the world. In the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, PSI scientists operated instruments on NASA's Mars Science Laboratory and Juno missions and provided science team support for these and NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, Mars Perseverance Rover, Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, Psyche, New Horizons, and Europa Clipper missions and ESA's Mars Express. They are developing insights into the origin of life, discovered widespread sources of water and hydroxyl on the Moon, and found a new population of impact craters on Venus. They have explained the existence of a young underground ocean on an icy satellite of Saturn, improved our understanding of Earth's ionosphere, and discovered potential ice-rich deposits in the equatorial region of Mars.The PSI Observatory continues to be used in the study of Jupiter's Io torus, the observation of comets, exoplanets and other bodies. PSI scientists support an instrument on the International Space Station to study the climate effects of dust (particularly from North Africa).PSI scientists were awarded research grants and contracts to conduct diverse research and laboratory studies covering the Moon, Mars, asteroids, comets, meteorites, outer planet satellites, solar system dynamics, solar system origins, planets around other stars, and other areas.PSI is responsible, as part of NASA's Planetary Data System, for archiving all mission data involving asteroids, comets and interplanetary dust and making it available to the general science community and public. PSI scientists engaged in public outreach through art, writing children's books, popular science books, and public lectures and broadcast events such as Discovery Channel and BBC specials.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 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 July 1986.
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.
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.