Scientific Committee on Solar-Terrestrial Physics Scostep
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO STRENGTHEN INTERNATIONAL SCIENCE FOR THE BENEFIT OF SOCIETY. SCOSTEP RUNS INTERNATIONAL INTERDISCIPLINARY SCIENTIFIC PROGRAMS AND PROMOTES SOLAR-TERRESTRIAL PHYSICS RESEARCH BY PROVIDING THE NECESSARY SCIENTIFIC FRAMEWORK FOR INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION AND DISSEMINATION OF THE DERIVED SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE IN COLLABORATION WITH OTHER INTERNATIONAL SCIENCE COUNCIL BODIES. SCOSTEP IS A PERMANENT OBSERVER AT THE UNITED NATIONS COMMITTEE ON THE PEACEFUL USES OF OUTER SPACE (UNCOPUOS).
- Income
- $98,308
- Spending
- $154,237
- Reserves
- 24.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- other income, 95%
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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, 2025, 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, 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 (1)
- $115,808 spent. CAPACITY BUILDING - UNDER CAPACITY BUILDING, SCOSTEP DISSEMINATES KNOWLEDGE GAINED FROM SOLAR TERRESTRIAL RESEARCH TO THE PUBLIC AND STUDENTS USING SPACE SCIENCE COMIC BOOKS, SCOSTEP NEWSLETTERS, AND OTHER MEDIA. SCOSTEP HAS PARTNERED WITH OTHER INTERNATIONAL BODIES SUCH AS THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE WEATHER INITIATIVE (ISWI) AND COSPAR TO TRAIN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS TO BECOME NEXT GENERATION SCIENTISTS VIA INTERNATIONAL SPACE SCIENCE SCHOOLS AND WORKSHOPS CONSISTING OF LECTURES AND HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES. SCOSTEP PROVIDES SUPPORT FOR ORGANIZING SCHOOLS FOR CAPACITY BUILDING OF STUDENTS AND YOUNG SCIENTISTS IN SOLAR-TERRESTRIAL PHYSICS VIA CAPACITY BUILDING GRANTS. SCOSTEP ALSO CONDUCTS TIMELY INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIA IN VARIOUS PARTS OF THE WORLD, INCLUDING THE QUADRENNIAL SOLAR TERRESTRIAL PHYSICS (STP) SYMPOSIA SINCE 1966. SCOSTEP IS FURTHER HOLDING ONLINE LECTURES FOR CAPACITY BUILDING OF STUDENTS AND YOUNG SCIENTISTS. THESE ONLINE LECTURES WILL PROVIDE BOTH BASIC BACKGROUND AND AN INTRODUCTION TO THE LATEST SCIENTIFIC TOPICS OF SOLAR-TERRESTRIAL PHYSICS TO STUDENTS AND YOUNG SCIENTISTS OF ALL COUNTRIES. SEE THE LINK CAPACITY BUILDING LECTURES FOR MORE INFORMATION. SCIENTIFIC PROGRAMS - SCOSTEP HAS BEEN RUNNING LONG-TERM INTERNATIONAL INTERDISCIPLINARY SCIENTIFIC PROGRAMS IN SOLAR-TERRESTRIAL PHYSICS SINCE 1966. THE CURRENT PROGRAM IS COURSE (CROSS-SCALE COUPLING PROCESSES IN THE SOLAR-TERRESTRIAL SYSTEM) IS THE 2026-2030 SCIENCE PROGRAM FOR SCOSTEP. THE PREVIOUS PROGRAM, PRESTO (PREDICTABILITY OF THE VARIABLE SOLAR-TERRESTRIAL COUPLING) RAN FROM 2021 TO 2025 AND DESIGNED TO IMPROVE THE PREDICTABILITY OF ENERGY FLOW IN THE INTEGRATED SUN-EARTH SYSTEM ON TIMES SCALES FROM A FEW HOURS TO CENTURIES THROUGH PROMOTING INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS. SCOSTEP VISITING SCHOLAR (SVS) - TO PROVIDE TRAINING TO GRADUATE STUDENTS FROM ALL COUNTRIES IN ESTABLISHED LABORATORIES OF SOLAR-TERRESTRIAL PHYSICS FOR PERIODS OF 1 TO 3 MONTHS. SCOSTEP WILL PROVIDE THE AIRFARE, WHILE THE HOSTING LAB WILL PROVIDE LIVING EXPENSES (LODGING, MEALS, GROUND TRANSPORTATION, VISA FEES AND OTHER INCIDENTALS). IN 2025, SCOSTEP AWARDED 21 SVS GRANTS. WHILE THE MAJORITY OF THE SVS TRAVEL OCCURRED IN 2025, A HANDFUL ARE E JUST BEING SCHEDULED NOW IN SPRING 2026.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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 November 6, 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 2025.
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 June 2020.
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 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.