Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Yerkes Future Foundation Inc

EIN 83-0802129 · Williams Bay, WI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

YERKES OBSERVATORY ADVANCES HUMANKIND'S UNDERSTANDING OF THE UNIVERSE AND OUR PLACE WITHIN IT, IGNITING CURIOSITY, FACILITATING EXPLORATION AND NURTURING A DEEP SENSE OF CONNECTION WITH OUR PLANET AND EACH OTHER.

Income
$4.4 million
Spending
$2.9 million
Spent on programs
69%
Reserves
7.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 84%
Employees
31
Volunteers
160
Highest pay
$243,870, executive 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

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 83% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 34% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 149% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    69% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 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

    10 of 10

    Gave 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 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)
  1. $1.0 million spent. YERKES OBSERVATORY ADVANCES HUMANKIND'S UNDERSTANDING OF THE UNIVERSE AND OUR PLACE WITHIN IT, IGNITING CURIOSITY, FACILITATING EXPLORATION AND NURTURING A DEEP SENSE OF CONNECTION WITH OUR PLANET AND EACH OTHER. WE DOUBLED THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR K-12 CLASSROOMS TO VISIT THE OBSERVATORY & HELD OUR FIRST EDUCATOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SESSIONS. WE STARTED THE EXPLORING THE NIGHT SKY TOURS WHICH ALLOWS MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO OBSERVE THROUGH THE WORLD'S LARGEST REFRACTING TELESCOPE AND WE HELD FOUR OPEN HOUSE EVENTS THAT ALL SOLD OUT, WITH OUR LARGEST ONE DURING THE APRIL 2024 SOLAR ECLIPSE.
  2. $611,670 spent. SCIENCE - IN 2024, WE HOSTED OUR SECOND UNDERGRADUATE SUMMER RESEARCH PROGRAM WHICH WELCOMED 3 STUDENTS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY. WE ALSO WELCOMED ONE HIGH SCHOOL AND ONE MIDDLE SCHOOL INTERN TO WORK ON VARIOUS SCIENCE PROJECTS WITH STAFF. WE HIRED AN OBSERVING ASSISTANT AND A PROJECT SCIENTIST WHO HAS BEGUN MODIFICATIONS AND RESTORATION FOR THE 24 AND 41" REFLECTING TELESCOPES. WE ALSO HOSTED SEVERAL SUCCESSFUL AND PRODUCTIVE RESEARCH AND PROFESSIONAL WORKSHOPS AT YERKES OBSERVATORY, INCLUDING THE GALACTIC SCIENCE WITH THE NANCY GRACE ROMAN SPACE TELESCOPE WORKSHOP IN JUNE 2024.
  3. $381,204 spent. TOURS - YERKES FUTURE FOUNDATION OFFERS TOURS AND EVENTS, ASTRONOMY PROGRAMS FOR ALL AGES, AND CULTURAL AND SCIENCE PROGRAMMING TO PROVIDE ENRICHMENT THAT CONNECTS SCIENCE, LANDSCAPE AND CULTURE IN ORDER TO PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE PUBLIC.

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

  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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. 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.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since April 2019.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.