Lsst Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO ENHANCE RUBIN LSST DISCOVERY THROUGH ADVANCED DATA TOOLS, TRAINING, AND INCLUSIVE COLLABORATIONS FOR LSST RESEARCHERS SO THAT ANY SCIENTIST WITH A GOOD QUESTION FOR THE LSST SURVEY CAN ENGAGE WITH THESE ADVANCED RESOURCES TO REVEAL THE MYSTERIES OF THE UNIVERSE.
- Income
- $642,971
- Spending
- $768,721
- Spent on programs
- 82%
- Reserves
- 22.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 96%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 11
- Highest pay
- $224,201, ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2023, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 18% of charities in its peer group (science, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 22.2 months of spending.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 67% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 20% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 78% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1582% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2023, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 76 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (science, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2511 of 11 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
0 of 10Did not give 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
6 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, 2023, 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 (5)
- $508,820 spent. THE TEMPLETON PROGRAM SUPPORTS OUTSTANDING EARLY-CAREER RESEARCHERS WHO ARE CONDUCTING CUTTING-EDGE SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATIONS AND ACTIVELY CONTRIBUTING TO THE LONG-TERM STRENGTH OF THE FIELD. THESE SCIENTISTS, KNOWN AS CATALYST FELLOWS, RECEIVE STRUCTURED SUPPORT TO BUILD RESEARCH NETWORKS, DEVELOP CROSS-DISCIPLINARY SKILLS, AND ADOPT PRACTICES THAT ADVANCE DATA-INTENSIVE SCIENCE. THE PROGRAM PROMOTES NEW DISCOVERIES AND PROFESSIONAL GROWTH IN BOTH ASTROPHYSICS AND SOCIAL SCIENCE THAT ADVANCE THE PROMISE OF THE RUBIN OBSERVATORY'S LEGACY SURVEY OF SPACE AND TIME (LSST).
- $38,300 spent. THE LSST INTERDISCIPLINARY NETWORK FOR COLLABORATION AND COMPUTING (LINCC) FRAMEWORKS PROGRAM, SUPPORTED BY SCHMIDT SCIENCES, IS AN AMBITIOUS PROGRAM TO DEVELOP STATE-OF-THE-ART DATA ANALYSIS TECHNIQUES CAPABLE OF MEETING THE SCALE AND COMPLEXITY OF THE DATA PRODUCED BY THE RUBIN OBSERVATORY LEGACY SURVEY OF SPACE AND TIME (RUBIN LSST) DATA.
- $67,076 spent. THE INCLUSIVE COLLABORATION PROGRAMS, SUPPORTED BY THE HEISING-SIMONS FOUNDATION, BUILD BEST PRACTICES FOR EQUITABLE SCIENTIFIC ENGAGEMENT IN THE LSST DISCOVERY ALLIANCE COMMUNITY. THESE PROGRAMS MODEL AND TEST POLICIES AND ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURES THAT PROMOTE BROAD INCLUSION AND ENGAGE SCIENTISTS PRACTICES AND STRUCTURES THAT FOSTER INCLUSION. PROGRAM ACTIVITIES INCLUDE TRAINING IN SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT AND IN MENTORING, KEY ACTIVITIES WHICH BUILD AND FOSTER BROAD ENGAGEMENT IN LSST SCIENCE AND BEYOND.
- $7,834 spent. HEISING-SIMONS CHILDCARE SUPPORT
- $5,331 spent. ALL OTHER PROGRAMS:NEGATIVE AMOUNT IN GRANTS REFLECTS FUNDS RETURNED BY GRANTEES DURING THE PERIOD.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2023, 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 December 2024.
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 April 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.
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.