Lowell Observatory Foundation

Analysis

Lowell Observatory Foundation is a registered charity in United States, based in Flagstaff, AZ. It received its IRS tax-exemption ruling in April 2015, 11 years ago. Its declared purposes cover science and technology, which this site groups under arts, culture, heritage and science. The IRS classifies it as a supporting organisation (type i) under section 501(c)(3), and contributions to it are listed as tax-deductible.

In the financial year ending December 2023, Lowell Observatory Foundation reported income of $3.8m and spending of $432k, leaving 88% of income unspent that year. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2019 to December 2023, income grew from $780k to $3.8m (+381%), an average of +48% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2023, when income rose by 539%. Over the whole period it spent 33% of the income it received.

Among 45,478 United States charities whose main cause is arts, culture, heritage and science and that reported income, Lowell Observatory Foundation sits at the 95th percentile: it is larger than about 95% of them. Against every charity in United States with reported income it ranks in the 90th percentile, and in the 88th percentile within AZ. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Friends of the Dayton Arcade ($3.8m), Society of the Cincinnati ($3.8m) and Daily Caller News Foundation ($3.8m).

On its Form 990 for the period ending December 2023, revenue came from contributions and grants 94% of the total. At year end it held assets of $14.0m against liabilities of $0, net assets of $14.0m.