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Colorado Consortium for Earth and Space Science Education

EIN 84-1497653 · Colorado Spgs, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood82 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

COLORADO CONSORTIUM FOR EARTH AND SPACE SCIENCE EDUCATION IS THE PREMIER PROVIDER OF INFORMATIONAL STEM EDUCATION FOR K-8 IN SOUTHERN COLORADO. PROGRAMS ARE PROVIDED IN THEIR FACILITY, AT CLIENT'S FACILITIES, AND SUPPORT NUMEROUS OTHER STEM AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT OUTREACH PROGRAMS, WITH THE GOAL OF INCREASING STEM-INTERESTED STUDENTS TO COLLEGE AND EMPLOYEES TO INDUSTRY.

Income
$847,521
Spending
$931,872
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
8.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 52%
Employees
25
Volunteers
40
Highest pay
$124,354, president an

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 82 out of 100. Higher than 56% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 16% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 95% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 9 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 August 31, 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 (5)
  1. $274,097 spent. ON-SITE MISSIONS AND PROGRAMS - SIMULATOR MISSIONS EMPLOY THREE SPACE SIMULATORS TO ENCOURAGE STUDENTS TO PURSUE STEM CAREER FIELDS AS THEY APPLY LESSONS THEY HAVE LEARNED IN THEIR CLASS TO REAL-LIFE, TIME-CRITICAL PROBLEMS IN AN ENGAGING, EXCITING ENVIRONMENT. EDUCATORS DELIVER A CO- CURRICULAR UNIT OF STUDY TO THEIR STUDENTS IN PREPARATION FOR THE FIELD TRIP TO THE ON-SITE MISSION. STUDENTS EXPERIENCE THE EXCITEMENT OF A HUMAN SPACE MISSION AS THEY WORK TOGETHER TO SOLVE PROBLEMS AND FIND SUCCESS AS A TEAM. IN THE SECOND HALF DAY OF THEIR FIELD TRIP, STUDENTS LEARN ABOUT THE PLANETS AND STARS IN THE MIKKELSON PLANETARIUM, AND WORK AS TEAMS TO SOLVE DESIGN/BUILD OR CODING CHALLENGES IN THE MAKER SPACE.
  2. $167,632 spent. OFF-SITE MISSIONS - DISTANCE-DELIVERED "E-MISSIONS" ARE INTENDED AS A LOWER-COST OPTION FOR SCHOOLS OUTSIDE REASONABLE DRIVING DISTANCES, PROVIDING THE EXCITEMENT OF A CHALLENGER MISSION AT ABOUT HALF THE COST PER PUPIL. DELIVERED VIA BROADBAND, E-MISSIONS ALLOW STUDENTS TO ENGAGE IN "TEAM STEM" ACTIVITIES RELATED TO SPACE FLIGHT, EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, WEATHER, OR ENERGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT. OUR FLIGHT DIRECTORS CONNECT TO HUNDREDS OF DISTANT CLASSROOMS EACH YEAR.
  3. $61,253 spent. OFF-SITE PROGRAMS AND TEACHER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT - THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES MORE THAN 50 DAYS OF PORTABLE PLANETARIUM SHOWS AT ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AND PUBLIC SCIENCE EVENTS. THIS LOW COST-PER-STUDENT ACTIVITY GIVES SCHOOLS A "FIELD TRIP" FOR THE ENTIRE SCHOOL WITHOUT INCURRING THE COST AND ADMINISTRATIVE WORK REQUIRED FOR BUS TRIPS. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO FOCUSES ON PROVIDING WORLD-CLASS STEM TEACHER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. A DECADE-LONG SUMMER PROGRAM KNOWN AS STEM BOOTCAMP ENGAGES 100+ PRIMARY TEACHERS PER YEAR IN HANDS-ON METHODS FOR STEM AND PROJECT-BASED LEARNING.
  4. $281,400 spent. OTHER PROGRAMS INCLUDING BOOTCAMP, GIRLS IN STEM, MAKER SPACE, PUBLIC WEEKEND, SUMMER CAMP, AND OTHER SMALL PROGRAMS.
  5. OTHER PROGRAMS INCLUDING BOOTCAMP, GIRLS IN STEM, MAKER SPACE, PUBLIC WEEKEND, SUMMER CAMP, AND OTHER SMALL PROGRAMS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 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 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 August 2025.

    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 July 1999.

    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.