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California Association for Research in Astronomy

EIN 95-3972799 · Kamuela, HI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood77 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SEE SCHEDULE O

Income
$30.1 million
Spending
$34.0 million
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
6 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 86%
Employees
154
Volunteers
15
Highest pay
$435,004, interim obs. director/ ass

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

Good: 77 out of 100. Higher than 52% of charities in its peer group (science, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 13% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 13% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 30 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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 18% of charities in its peer group (science, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 6 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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 (3)
  1. $28.1 million spent. HIGHER EDUCATION: THE W. M. KECK OBSERVATORY OPERATES TWO 10-METER OPTICAL AND INFRARED TELESCOPES DEDICATED TO ASTRONOMICAL RESEARCH YEAR-ROUND. THE OBSERVATORY PROVIDES APPROXIMATELY 700 NIGHTS OF OBSERVING TIME ANNUALLY (ESTIMATED) AND MAINTAINS A SUITE OF ADVANCED SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS AND ADAPTIVE OPTICS SYSTEMS THAT ENABLE SOME OF THE HIGHEST-RESOLUTION GROUND-BASED ASTRONOMICAL OBSERVATIONS IN THE WORLD. OBSERVING TIME IS ALLOCATED AMONG THE CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, NASA-SUPPORTED PROGRAMS, THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAI'I, AND OTHER SCIENTIFIC PARTNERSHIPS, PROVIDING BROAD ACCESS TO THE INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH COMMUNITY. DURING FISCAL YEAR 2025, THE OBSERVATORY SUPPORTED ASTRONOMICAL AND PLANETARY SCIENCE INVESTIGATIONS SPANNING EXOPLANETS, THE SOLAR SYSTEM, STELLAR EVOLUTION, THE MILKY WAY, DISTANT GALAXIES, BLACK HOLES, AND COSMOLOGY. THE OBSERVATORY ALSO CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT AND ENHANCEMENT OF ADVANCED INSTRUMENTATION AND ADAPTIVE OPTICS TECHNOLOGIES DESIGNED TO IMPROVE SCIENTIFIC CAPABILITY AND EXPAND FUTURE DISCOVERY OPPORTUNITIES. RESEARCH PROGRAMS AND TECHNICAL DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES WERE FURTHER SUPPORTED THROUGH GRANTS AND SCIENTIFIC PARTNERSHIPS THAT ADVANCE BOTH ASTRONOMICAL RESEARCH AND INSTRUMENT INNOVATION. OBSERVATORY FACILITIES SUPPORTED PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS WHO CONTRIBUTED TO 371 PEER-REVIEWED SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS DURING THE YEAR. THE OBSERVATORY'S LONG-TERM OBJECTIVE IS TO ADVANCE HUMANITY'S UNDERSTANDING OF THE UNIVERSE BY PROVIDING WORLD-LEADING ASTRONOMICAL RESEARCH CAPABILITIES, DEVELOPING NEXT-GENERATION OBSERVING TECHNOLOGIES, AND ENABLING DISCOVERIES THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THE SCIENTIFIC LITERATURE, EDUCATE FUTURE SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS, AND EXPAND KNOWLEDGE OF OUR SOLAR SYSTEM, GALAXY, AND THE BROADER COSMOS.
  2. $351,696 spent. PUBLIC INFORMATION:KECK OBSERVATORY'S EDUCATION AND COMMUNICATION PROGRAMS TELL OUR STORY OF SCIENCE, STEWARDSHIP, AND COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTIONS TO AFFIRM THE OBSERVATORY'S ROLE AS A GLOBAL SCIENCE LEADER ROOTED IN HAWAII. ACTIVITIES INCLUDE PUBLIC ASTRONOMY TALKS, SCIENCE ENGAGEMENT IN CLASSROOMS AND COMMUNITY EVENTS, FACILITY TOURS, AND SHARING DISCOVERIES OVER DIGITAL PLATFORMS. OUR AUDIENCE IS GLOBAL WITH OVER 86,000 ASTRONOMY PROFESSIONALS AND ENTHUSIASTS ACROSS OUR DIGITAL PLATFORMS, AND WE EMPHASIZE ENGAGEMENT WITH THE LOCAL HAWAII COMMUNITY.
  3. $256,389 spent. RESEARCH:KECK OBSERVATORY'S ACTIVITIES INCLUDE SUBMITTING GRANT PROPOSALS TO CARRY OUT SPECIFIC RESEARCH PROJECTS.

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 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 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 August 1992.

    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.