Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

The Planetary Society

EIN 95-3423566 · Pasadena, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair54 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE PLANETARY SOCIETY EMPOWERS THE WORLD'S CITIZENS TO ADVANCE SPACE SCIENCE AND EXPLORATION. TOGETHER WITH OUR MEMBERS, THE PLANETARY SOCIETY DEVELOPS SPACE TECHNOLOGY, GUIDES FUTURE SPACE POLICY, AND INSPIRES PEOPLE OF ALL AGES TO VALUE THE ADVENTURE OF EXPLORATION AND THE JOY OF DISCOVERY.

Income
$7.5 million
Spending
$7.6 million
Spent on programs
67%
Reserves
-0.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
28
Volunteers
35
Highest pay
$250,625, director and ceo

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

Financial health

Fair: 54 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 22% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 45% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    66% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 21 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 14 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 September 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 (4)
  1. $289,167 spent. SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY:THE PLANETARY SOCIETY INVESTS IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY PROJECTS TO ADVANCE INNOVATIVE SPACE EXPLORATION SOLUTIONS AND RESEARCH. WE PROVIDE SEED FUNDING TO SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY PROJECTS THAT ADVANCE PLANETARY EXPLORATION, THE SEARCH FOR LIFE, AND PLANETARY DEFENSE.
  2. $3.1 million spent. COMMUNICATION AND EDUCATION:THROUGH EDUCATION AND COMMUNICATIONS, THE PLANETARY SOCIETY EXPANDS THE HORIZONS OF PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE ABOUT SPACE EXPLORATION AND HELPS CITIZENS EDUCATE OTHERS ABOUT SPACE. OUR PUBLIC INFORMATION PROJECTS INCLUDE THE PLANETARY REPORT, OUR QUARTERLY MAGAZINE FOR OUR MEMBERS AND SUPPORTERS; PLANETARY RADIO, OUR WEEKLY RADIO SHOW; OUR WEBSITE - PLANETARY.ORG; AND OUR SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS. THE SOCIETY ACHIEVES SOME OF ITS PROGRAMMATIC GOALS THROUGH PUBLIC EDUCATION MAILINGS THAT INCLUDE REQUESTS FOR CONTRIBUTIONS. AS A RESULT, AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING STANDARDS BOARD (FASB) GUIDELINES, WE ALLOCATE A PORTION OF OUR DIRECT MAIL COSTS TO PROGRAM SERVICES AND TO FUNDRAISING.
  3. $1.2 million spent. MEMBERSHIP:OUR MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM CONNECTS SPACE-INTERESTED CITIZENS WORLDWIDE AND PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEM TO PARTICIPATE IN SPACE ACTIVITIES. OUR MEMBERSHIP ACTIVITIES INCLUDE MAINTAINING DETAILED RECORDS TO SUPPORT OUR MEMBERS AND NON-MEMBERS WHO HAVE CHOSEN TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR PROGRAMS. OUR MEMBERSHIP TEAM INTERACTS WITH MEMBERS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC TO ANSWER QUESTIONS AND MANAGE BENEFITS AND SERVICES. THE PLANETARY SOCIETY HAS MORE THAN 36,000 MEMBERS. THE SOCIETY ACHIEVES SOME OF ITS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PROGRAMMATIC GOALS THROUGH MEMBERSHIP SERVICES SOFTWARE THAT INCLUDES THE FUNDRAISING MODULE. AS A RESULT, AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING STANDARDS BOARD (FASB) GUIDELINES, WE ALLOCATE A PORTION OF OUR SOFTWARE COSTS TO PROGRAM SERVICES AND TO FUNDRAISING.
  4. $548,687 spent. SPACE POLICY:THE PLANETARY SOCIETY HELPS SHAPE PUBLIC POLICY TO ENSURE NASA HAS THE SUPPORT AND RESOURCES TO EXPLORE PLANETS, SEARCH FOR LIFE, AND DEFEND THE EARTH FROM ASTEROIDS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 October 13, 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 September 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 March 1980.

    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 October 21, 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.