East Asian Observatory
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE EAST ASIAN OBSERVATORY (EAO) MISSION IS TO CONSTRUCT, OWN, OPERATE,MAINTAIN AND IMPROVE ASTRONOMICAL FACILITIES FOR THE EAST ASIAN REGIONS, AND TO ENGAGE IN ALL OTHER ACTIONS THAT ARE NECESSARY CONDUCIVE AND CONVENIENT TO THE ATTAINMENT OF THE FOREGOING PURPOSES.
- Income
- $3.0 million
- Spending
- $4.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 92%
- Reserves
- 0.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 87%
- Employees
- 26
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $119,780, eao/jcmt deputy 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
Weak: 49 out of 100. Higher than 18% of charities in its peer group (science, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.1 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 13% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 32% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 1% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1592% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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
Good: 73 out of 100. Higher than 24% of charities in its peer group (science, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 255 of 5 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
0 of 7Reports no 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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)
- $3.6 million spent. OPERATION OF THE JAMES CLERK MAXWELL TELESCOPE (JCMT) FOR SCIENTIFIC ENDEAVOR. JCMT, WITH A DIAMETER OF 15 METERS, IS THE LARGEST ASTRONOMICAL TELESCOPE IN THE WORLD DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY TO OPERATE IN THE SUBMILLIMETER WAVELENGTH REGION OF THE SPECTRUM. THE JCMT IS USED TO STUDY OUR SOLAR SYSTEM, INTERSTELLAR AND CIRCUMSTELLAR DUST AND GAS, AND DISTANT GALAXIES. OBSERVING TIME EACH YEAR IS DIVIDED UP AMONG THE FOUNDING INSTITUTIONS, AND THE BROADER OBSERVING COMMUNITY HAS ACCESS THROUGH SPECIFIC SCIENTIFIC PARTNERSHIPS. TYPICALLY ABOUT 600 SCIENTISTS ALL OVER THE WORLD MAKE USE OF THE JCMT EVERY YEAR, AND THEY PUBLISH ON THE ORDER OF 200 PAPERS EVERY YEAR IN SCIENTIFIC JOURNALS. JCMT ALSO CONTINUES TO MAINTAIN AND IMPROVE A SUITE OF ADVANCED INSTRUMENTS FOR RESEARCH ON THE TELESCOPE.
- PROVIDE TECHNICAL SUPPORT FOR THE EVENT HORIZON TELESCOPE PROJECT FROM THE VERY LONG BASELINE INTERFEROMETRY GROUPS AT JCMT. THIS PROJECT PARTICIPATES ANNUALLY IN A GLOBAL EXPERIMENT INVOLVING MANY OTHER TELESCOPES TO IMAGE THE SHADOW OF THE SUPERMASSIVE BLACK HOLES IN THE CENTERS OF GALAXIES.
- PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR ASTRONOMERS AND STUDENTS TO ENGAGE IN RESEARCH AT THE JCMT, TO CALIBRATE THEIR DATA FROM THE TELESCOPE, AND TO PRODUCE SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS. JCMT STAFF ALSO HOSTED AND PARTICIPATED IN INTERNATIONAL EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS AND CONFERENCES. THE JCMT ALSO HAS A PUBLIC OUTREACH PROGRAM WHICH AIMS TO FOSTER A GREATER APPRECIATION OF SCIENCE, AND OF ASTRONOMY IN PARTICULAR, AND ALSO TO PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES TO HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN HAWAII.
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 May 2015.
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.