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The Astronauts Memorial Foundation Inc

EIN 59-2637266 · Kennedy Space Center, FL

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE ASTRONAUTS MEMORIAL FOUNDATION HONORS AND MEMORIALIZES THOSE ASTRONAUTS WHO HAVE SACRIFICED THEIR LIVES FOR THE NATION AND THE SPACE PROGRAM BY SPONSORING THE NATIONAL SPACE MIRROR MEMORIAL, AND BY IMPLEMENTING INNOVATIVE EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY PROGRAMS.

Income
$1.5 million
Spending
$2.1 million
Spent on programs
68%
Reserves
12 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 40%
Employees
9
Volunteers
30
Highest pay
$181,500, president &

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 12.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 40% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 13% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    68% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 23 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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)
  1. $330,592 spent. UPKEEP AND MAINTENANCE OF THE PERMANENT ASTRONAUT MEMORIAL LOCATED AT KENNEDY SPACE CENTER. THE ASTRONAUTS MEMORIAL FOUNDATION'S SPACE MIRROR MEMORIAL IS A UNIQUE BLEND OF ART AND SCIENCE AND A FITTING TRIBUTE TO THE ASTRONAUTS BEING HONORED. THE SPACE MIRROR IS 42.5 FEET HIGH AND 50 FEET WIDE AND IS CONSTRUCTED OF MIRROR-FINISHED GRANITE. IT CONSISTS OF 90 GRANITE PANELS THAT ARE 80 5-FOOT X 5-FOOT AND 10 HALF SIZED PANELS. EACH FULL PANEL IS TWO INCHES THICK AND WEIGHS 500 POUNDS. THE SUN'S RAYS ARE PROJECTED THROUGH THE NAMES OF THE ASTRONAUTS, WHICH ARE ENGRAVED THROUGH THE GRANITE. THE LATTER SPACES ARE FILLED WITH CRYSTAL CLEAR ACRYLIC, MINUTELY JAGGED ON THE FRONT SIDE TO DIFFUSE THE LIGHT. POWERFUL LIGHTS ILLUMINATE THE ASTRONAUTS' NAMES 24 HOURS A DAY, 365 DAYS A YEAR.
  2. $464,627 spent. THE ASTRONAUTS MEMORIAL FOUNDATION CAPTURES THE TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPED IN THE UNITED STATES' SPACE PROGRAM AND APPLIES IT TO THE FIELD OF EDUCATION. WE PARTNER WITH THE NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION TO PROVIDE TECHNOLOGY TRAINING TO EDUCATORS THROUGHOUT THE NATION WITH A PARTICULAR EMPHASIS ON SPACE-RELATED TECHNOLOGY. IN ADDITION, AT THE CENTER FOR SPACE EDUCATION WE OFFER SPACE-RELATED EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS, AND, IN DOING SO, WE IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF THE WORK-FORCE IN THE SPACE INDUSTRY.
  3. $657,685 spent. OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE OF THE CENTER FOR SPACE EDUCATION. THIS "LIVING MEMORIAL" TO THE ASTRONAUTS HAS A TWOFOLD MISSION. TO FOSTER AN UNDERSTANDING OF SPACE EXPLORATION AMONG PEOPLE, TEACHERS, AND KENNEDY SPACE CENTER VISITORS. TO IMPROVE AMERICAN EDUCATION THROUGH THE ACCELERATED AND EFFECTIVE APPLICATION OF TECHNOLOGY IN OUR SCHOOLS. THIS 47,000 SQUARE-FOOT FACILITY IS LOCATED ON SIX ACRES AT THE KENNEDY SPACE CENTER VISITOR COMPLEX, WHICH DRAWS NEARLY THREE-MILLION VISITORS EACH YEAR TO SPACE EDUCATION AT THE CENTER. NASA CONDUCTS MANY SPACE EDUCATION PROGRAMS IN THE CENTER. ITS POPULAR EXPLORATION STATION HOSTS MORE THAN 1,000 SCHOOL FIELD TRIPS EACH YEAR AND HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF OTHER VISITORS. SCHOOL GROUPS TAKE PART IN A LECTURE/DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM AS WELL AS HANDS ON SCIENCE ACTIVITIES USING ACTUAL SPACE HARDWARE AND ARTIFACTS. VISITORS ENJOY THE HANDS ON PORTION OF THE PROGRAM NASA'S EDUCATOR RESOURCE CENTER. AS AN EDUCATOR, YOU ARE INVITED TO VISIT NASA'S EDUCATOR RESOURCE CENTER, ALSO LOCATED IN THE CENTER FOR SPACE EDUCATION. YOU WILL RECEIVE A PACKET OF NASA PRINTED MATERIAL AND HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COPY A VARIETY OF VIDEOTAPES, SLIDES AND SOFTWARE ONTO YOUR OWN BLANK TAPES, FILM AND DISKS. THE CENTER HOUSES THE AMF EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE, A NATIONAL ORGANIZATION WHICH PROVIDES TRAINING, DEMONSTRATION AND DEVELOPMENTAL PROGRAMS FOR EDUCATORS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CORPORATIONS, GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTES AND NATIONAL ASSOCIATIONS FLORIDA SPACE INSTITUTE. OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE OF THE CENTER FOR SPACE EDUCATION. THIS "LIVING MEMORIAL" TO THE ASTRONAUTS HAS A TWOFOLD MISSION. TO FOSTER AN UNDERSTANDING OF SPACE EXPLORATION AMONG PEOPLE, TEACHERS, AND KENNEDY SPACE CENTER VISITORS. TO IMPROVE AMERICAN EDUCATION THROUGH THE ACCELERATED AND EFFECTIVE APPLICATION OF TECHNOLOGY IN OUR SCHOOLS. THIS 47,000 SQUARE-FOOT FACILITY IS LOCATED ON SIX ACRES AT THE KENNEDY SPACE CENTER VISITOR COMPLEX, WHICH DRAWS NEARLY THREE-MILLION VISITORS EACH YEAR TO SPACE EDUCATION AT THE CENTER. NASA CONDUCTS MANY SPACE EDUCATION PROGRAMS IN THE CENTER. ITS POPULAR EXPLORATION STATION HOSTS MORE THAN 1,000 SCHOOL FIELD TRIPS EACH YEAR AND HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF OTHER VISITORS. SCHOOL GROUPS TAKE PART IN A LECTURE/DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM AS WELL AS HANDS ON SCIENCE ACTIVITIES USING ACTUAL SPACE HARDWARE AND ARTIFACTS. VISITORS ENJOY THE HANDS ON PORTION OF THE PROGRAM NASA'S EDUCATOR RESOURCE CENTER. AS AN EDUCATOR, YOU ARE INVITED TO VISIT NASA'S EDUCATOR RESOURCE CENTER, ALSO LOCATED IN THE CENTER FOR SPACE EDUCATION. YOU WILL RECEIVE A PACKET OF NASA PRINTED MATERIAL AND HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COPY A VARIETY OF VIDEOTAPES, SLIDES AND SOFTWARE ONTO YOUR OWN BLANK TAPES, FILM AND DISKS. THE CENTER HOUSES THE AMF EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE, A NATIONAL ORGANIZATION WHICH PROVIDES TRAINING, DEMONSTRATION AND DEVELOPMENTAL PROGRAMS FOR EDUCATORS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CORPORATIONS, GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTES AND NATIONAL ASSOCIATIONS FLORIDA SPACE INSTITUTE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since August 1986.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. 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.