Planets Telescope Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE PLANETS FOUNDATION'S PURPOSE IS TO ADVANCE THE KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF EXOPLANETS AND SOLAR-PLANETARY BODIES IN THE UNIVERSE. WE ACCOMPLISH THIS BY CONDUCTING RESEARCH, DEVELOPING SOFTWARE ALGORITHMS AND CREATING NEW SCIENTIFIC TOOLS AND INSTRUMENTS TO STUDY THESE CELESTIAL BODIES. IN ADDITION TO OUR RESEARCH EFFORTS, WE HAVE DEVELOPED AN EDUCATION AND OUTREACH PROGRAM DESIGNED FOR CHILDREN, STUDENTS AND GENERAL PUBLIC. THIS CREATES AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE YOUNG GENERATION GETS EXCITED TO PURSUE CAREERS IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATH (STEM).
- Spending
- $68,103
- Reserves
- 61.5 months of spending
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
We do not score finances when yearly spending is very small or the return has too little detail. The ratios stop meaning much at that size.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.
Source: Form 990EZ 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 (2)
- $26,856 spent. RESEARCH AND EDUCATION - THE PLANETS FOUNDATION CONDUCTS RESEARCH ON KEY TECHNOLOGIES FOR DESIGNING AND IMPROVING ASTROPHYSICAL TELESCOPES AND REMOTE SENSING INSTRUMENTS. THE PLANETS FOUNDATION ALSO DEVELOPS OBSERVATIONS AND DETAILED MODELS OF EXO-ATMOSPHERE AND EXOPLANET SYSTEMS BY USING TECHNIQUES LIKE POLARIMETRY, SPECTROSCOPY AND SPECTROPOLARIMETRY. TO FURTHER OUR COMMITMENT TO EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE, WE HAVE ESTABLISHED A COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIPS WITH ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY (ASU) AND THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF HAWAII TO CO-DISPERSE STARLIGHTS AND OUR EDUCATIONAL MEDIA. THESE COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIPS HELP US TAP INTO THE INTELLECTUAL RESOURCES OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS WHO ACTIVELY CONTRIBUTE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR SPACE-FOCUSED MEDIA AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTIES. THESE PARTNERSHIPS UNDERSCORE OUR DEDICATION TO INNOVATION AND THE CREATION OF CUTTING-EDGE EDUCATIONAL CONTENT.
- $40,285 spent. OUTREACH/EDUCATION - WE ARE DEVELOPING A RETAIL PRODUCT CALLED "STARLIGHTS." THESE NIGHTLIGHTS ARE MORE THAN JUST ILLUMINATING DEVICES; THEY SERVE AS A UNIQUE TOOL FOR EDUCATING INDIVIDUALS OF ALL AGES ABOUT ASTRONOMY. BY INCORPORATING ASTRONOMY-THEMED DESIGNS AND FEATURES, STARLIGHTS CREATE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A COMMUNITY OF SPACE ENTHUSIASTS TO COME TOGETHER, ENCOURAGING SHARED INTERESTS IN STARGAZING AND CELESTIAL EXPLORATION. WE ARE HELPING DEVELOP AND CREATE EDUCATIONAL VIDEO GAMES. THESE IMMERSIVE AND INTERACTIVE EXPERIENCES ARE DESIGNED TO MAKE ASTRONOMY AND ASTROSCIENCE ENGAGING AND INFORMATIVE, ESPECIALLY FOR CHILDREN. UNLIKE TRADITIONAL EDUCATIONAL GAMES, OUR APPROACH ALLOWS YOUNG LEARNERS TO DIRECTLY INTERACT WITH REAL-LIFE SCIENTISTS, PROVIDING AN INNOVATIVE AND EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE THAT PUSHES THE BOUNDARIES OF CONVENTIONAL TEACHING METHODS.
Source: Form 990EZ 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 October 13, 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 August 2017.
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 October 21, 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.