2025-08-13T17:41:49-05:00 2024-12-31 860683059 BEACHFLEISCHMAN PLLC 1985 E RIVER ROAD SUITE 201 TUCSON AZ 85718 990 2024-01-01 860098918 LOWELL OBSERVATORY LOWE 9287743358 1400 W MARS HILL ROAD FLAGSTAFF AZ 860014470 ANNE LABRUZZO CFO 9287743358 2025-08-13 1 1 MONICA A VERA CPA P01456278 5203214600 2025-08-13 2024 2025-03-06 01:10:19Z AMANDA BOSH 1400 W MARS HILL ROAD FLAGSTAFF AZ 860014470 12333310 0 X WWW.LOWELL.EDU X 1946 AZ LOWELL'S MISSION IS TO PURSUE THE STUDY OF ASTRONOMY AND SHARE THE RESULTS WITH THE PUBLIC. 1 0 183 94 0 0 18265662 7331293 4915593 3967818 -3613217 86613 595952 560644 20163990 11946368 434519 175151 0 0 10838183 11647319 0 0 1757523 7372459 7660436 18645161 19482906 1518829 -7536538 85437670 102618903 29024549 53834242 56413121 48784661 X THE MISSION OF LOWELL OBSERVATORY IS TO PURSUE THE STUDY OF ASTRONOMY, ESPECIALLY THE STUDY OF OUR SOLAR SYSTEM AND ITS EVOLUTION; TO CONDUCT PURE RESEARCH IN ASTRONOMICAL PHENOMENA; AND TO MAINTAIN QUALITY PUBLIC EDUCATION AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS TO BRING THE RESULTS OF ASTRONOMICAL RESEARCH TO THE PUBLIC. 0 0 10283002 175151 1728749 CONTINUING A 130+-YEAR-LONG LEGACY OF ASTRONOMICAL DISCOVERY, LOWELL OBSERVATORY ASTRONOMERS, PLANETARY SCIENTISTS, AND OTHER RESEARCHERS CONDUCTED FOREFRONT RESEARCH IN MANY AREAS OF ASTRONOMY FROM THE SUN AND OUR SOLAR SYSTEM TO EXOPLANETS, STARS, GALAXIES, AND COSMOLOGY. IN 2024, LOWELL SCIENTISTS PUBLISHED OVER 120 PEER-REVIEWED PAPERS IN LEADING SCIENTIFIC JOURNALS, ALONG WITH ANOTHER 69 PAPERS IN OTHER VENUES. LOWELL SCIENTISTS ALSO GAVE NUMEROUS PRESENTATIONS AT SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCES AND PUBLIC OUTREACH EVENTS AND PARTICIPATED IN MAJOR SCIENTIFIC MISSIONS USING WORLD-LEADING TELESCOPES ACROSS THE GLOBE AND IN SPACE. LOWELL SCIENTIFIC STAFF CONTINUE TO BE VERY SUCCESSFUL AT OBTAINING GRANTS IN SUPPORT OF THEIR RESEARCH FROM NASA, THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION, AND OTHER AGENCIES.THE 4.3-METER LOWELL DISCOVERY TELESCOPE (LDT) DELIVERED APPROXIMATELY 257 SCIENCE NIGHTS USED BY ASTRONOMERS ON THE STAFF AT LOWELL, AND OUR PARTNER INSTITUTIONS: BOSTON UNIVERSITY, NORTHERN ARIZONA UNIVERSITY, THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, THE UNIVERSITY OF TOLEDO, AND YALE UNIVERSITY. IN TOTAL, THE LDT FEATURED PROMINENTLY IN MORE THAN 45 SCIENTIFIC OR TECHNICAL PUBLICATIONS. THE LDT'S GROWING SUITE OF STATE-OF-THE-ART INSTRUMENTS, SUCH AS THE HIGH-PRECISION SPECTROGRAPH EXPRES, ENABLE CUTTING EDGE RESEARCH ACROSS MULTIPLE FIELDS, INCLUDING THE SEARCH FOR EXOPLANETS. LOWELL OBSERVATORY ALSO CONTINUED TO OPERATE OTHER SMALLER RESEARCH TELESCOPES AT ITS ANDERSON MESA AND MARS HILL SITES; AT THE MESA THEY ARE OPERATING A MODERN 1-METER TELESCOPE EQUIPPED WITH BOTH IMAGING AND SPECTROSCOPIC CAPABILITIES. ACCESS TO LOCAL TELESCOPES EQUIPPED WITH WORLD-CLASS INSTRUMENTS HAS ENABLED SCIENCE THAT COULD NOT BE DONE ELSEWHERE. IN 2024, LOWELL OBSERVATORY LAUNCHED ITS SCIENCE VISION, A LONG-TERM PLAN TO ADVANCE OBSERVATIONAL AND TECHNICAL EXCELLENCE. THIS STRATEGIC INITIATIVE OUTLINES MAJOR NEW GOALS, INCLUDING SIGNIFICANT UPGRADES TO THE LDT, THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEXT-GENERATION INSTRUMENTATION, NEW PATHWAYS FOR PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT WITH SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY, AND EXPANDED OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF ASTRONOMERS AND ENGINEERS. EARLY IMPLEMENTATION EFFORTS BEGAN IN 2024, INCLUDING PLANNING FOR AN UPGRADED ADAPTIVE OPTICS SYSTEM AND FEASIBILITY STUDIES FOR FUTURE LARGE-APERTURE FACILITIES.LOWELL OBSERVATORY REMAINS COMMITTED TO PIONEERING RESEARCH, TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION, AND SHARING DISCOVERY WITH THE BROADER COMMUNITY. 4888858 2795663 LOWELL OBSERVATORY'S PUBLIC PROGRAMS WERE IN FULL OPERATION THROUGHOUT 2024. THE BIG CHANGE IN 2024 WAS THAT AFTER FOUR YEARS OF CONSTRUCTION AND RAISING $53.6 MILLION DOLLARS FOR THE NEW FACILITY, LOWELL OBSERVATORY CELEBRATED THE GRAND OPENING OF THE MARLEY FOUNDATION ASTRONOMY DISCOVERY CENTER (ADC) IN NOVEMBER 2024. THE ADC IS A PLACE THAT SPARKS CURIOSITY AND DISCOVERY FOR VISITORS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE. THE THREE-STORY, 40,200-SQUARE-FOOT ADC FEATURES A STATE-OF-THE-ART THEATER, EXHIBIT GALLERIES, AND A ROOFTOP AMPHITHEATER FOR EXPLORING FLAGSTAFF'S FAMOUSLY DARK SKIES. THE COST OF THE FACILITY WAS FUNDED BY PHILANTHROPIC DONATIONS AND STATE GRANTS A TESTAMENT TO THE INCREDIBLE SUPPORT FROM OUR COMMUNITIES AND A SHOW OF HOW MUCH SUCH A SCIENCE CENTER IS NEEDED IN NORTHERN ARIZONA. GENERAL ADMISSION OFFERINGS FOR OVER 90,000 VISITORS DURING 2024 INCLUDED REGULARLY SCHEDULED DAYTIME GUIDED TOURS OF THE MARS HILL CAMPUS AND NIGHTTIME DARK SKY TOURS. STAFF HOSTED OPEN HOUSES OF THE HISTORIC CLARK AND PLUTO TELESCOPES, AND PROVIDED REGULARLY SCHEDULED TALKS, DESCRIBING THE HISTORY AND IMPORTANCE OF THE DISCOVERY OF PLUTO, CURRENT ASTRONOMICAL RESEARCH, THE LIFE CYCLE OF STARS AND OUTDOOR CONSTELLATION TALKS. SPECIAL TOURS AND PROGRAMS PROVIDED SMALL GROUP ACCESS TO THE 24-INCH DYER TELESCOPE AND INSTRUCTION IN ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY.PROGRAMS FOCUSED ON ELEMENTARY EDUCATION ALSO GREW IN 2024. ROUGHLY 9,000 SCHOOL CHILDREN VISITED LOWELL AS PART OF SCHOOL FIELD TRIPS. THE LOWELL OBSERVATORY ORBITS CURIOSITY CAMP PROGRAMS CONTINUED A DECADE-LONG GROWTH TREND IN THE SUMMER AND SERVED MORE THAN 275 CHILDREN, WITH A WAITING LIST OF OVER 50. THE NATIVE AMERICAN ASTRONOMY OUTREACH PROGRAM TEAM CONDUCTED CLASSROOM VISITS THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR AND HOSTED CAMPS FOR STUDENTS.WORKING IN COLLABORATION WITH THE MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT, THE OUTREACH TEAM CONTINUED TO PROVIDE ON-LINE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING. REGULAR OFFERINGS INCLUDED OPERATING TELESCOPES FOR THE "INTERACTIVE STARGAZING" SEGMENTS ON YOUTUBE AND PROVIDING CONTENT FOR SOCIAL MEDIA UPDATES REGARDING PHENOMENA IN THE NIGHT SKY. SPECIAL PROGRAMMING IN 2024 INCLUDED THE ANNUAL I HEART PLUTO FESTIVAL, THE APRIL TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE (HOSTED JOINTLY WITH DISCOVERY CHANNEL, BAYLOR UNIVERSITY, AND THE CITY OF WACO, TX) AND LIVESTREAMS HIGHLIGHTING LUNAR ECLIPSES, METEOR SHOWERS, AND NATIONAL ASTRONOMY DAY.PRIVATE EVENTS AND FACILITY RENTALS WERE HOSTED AT LOWELL, WITH STRONG INTEREST IN THE SPACES IN THE NEW ASTRONOMY DISCOVERY CENTER. 15171860 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 56 0 1 183 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 X 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 X X ANNE LABRUZZO 9282333239 1400 W MARS HILL ROAD FLAGSTAFF AZ 860014470 HALL JEFFREY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 40.00 X 201538 0 35293 BOSH AMANDA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/COO 40.00 X 182918 0 33387 CURRIE LESLIE CHIEF PHILANTHROPY OFFICER 38.00 2.00 X 188531 0 15640 HUNTER DEIDRE ASTRONOMER 40.00 X 179553 0 23537 MASSEY PHILIP ASTRONOMER 40.00 X 184820 0 16977 LEVINE STEPHEN DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION 40.00 X 180027 0 20979 LABRUZZO ANNE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER 36.00 4.00 X 176555 0 22166 VAN BELLE GERARD T DIRECTOR OF SCIENCE 40.00 X 163586 0 32469 WEST MICHAEL ASTRONOMER 40.00 X 180726 0 11941 KUEHN KYLER DIRECTOR OF TECHNOLOGY 40.00 X 156865 0 30182 GRUNDY WILLIAM ASTRONOMER 40.00 X 153632 0 32282 PRATO LISA A ASTRONOMER 40.00 X 158354 0 20819 PUTNAM LOWELL TRUSTEE 30.00 4.00 X X 6 0 18678 2107111 0 314350 31 0 1 0 BUILDING & ENGINEERING CONTRACTORS SOUTH PO BOX 30458 FLAGSTAFF AZ 86003 CONSTRUCTION 13120059 KIDZIBITS INC 795 VIDALLA STREET SAINT PAUL MN 55114 EXHIBIT DESIGN & FABRICATION 940218 UNIVERSAL SERVICES ASSOCIATES 5 HORNE DRIVE FOLCROFT PA 19032 EXHIBIT DESIGN & FABRICATION 777828 DILLON WORKS INC 11775 HARBOUR REACH DRIVE MUKILTEO WA 98275 EXHIBIT DESIGN & FABRICATION 678200 BBI ENGINEERING INC 241 QUINT STREET SAN FRANCISCO CA 94124 EXHIBIT DESIGN & FABRICATION 545649 18 197904 667386 2189822 4276181 169702 7331293 EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS 611600 2337003 2337003 TELESCOPE ACCESS FEES 541700 1630815 1630815 3967818 16425 16425 4050 0 4050 4050 4050 121010 4978 4794 51006 116216 -46028 70188 70188 789802 331142 458660 458660 MISCELLANEOUS INCOME 900099 97934 97934 97934 11946368 4524412 0 90663 175151 175151 1392929 575169 584500 233260 8443893 7211416 438834 793643 387080 330965 17175 38940 683268 559751 56547 66970 740149 590784 73926 75439 169661 14443 155218 79050 79050 53 53 455359 302804 142879 9676 423792 129737 263687 30368 740633 542367 27468 170798 359742 131767 130003 97972 789929 628343 97669 63917 332597 265498 35604 31495 134748 38292 35544 60912 110579 110579 2183557 2085343 48189 50025 923820 909643 10776 3401 TRAINING AND DEVELOPMEN 475567 332420 138283 4864 REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE 254709 244661 8631 1417 EE RECRUITMENT AND RELO 119411 33609 76166 9636 DUES AND SUBSCRIPTIONS 87991 65957 21369 665 19238 3740 1373 14125 19482906 15171860 2553523 1757523 557767 844868 294575 132940 16184399 11034634 95506 159395 105908 128622 320331 580418 120912656 31787626 67256449 89125030 0 20539 622735 592457 85437670 102618903 1517114 3909128 6316461 6981215 1953513 12004059 19237461 30939840 29024549 53834242 X 38488526 46101630 17924595 2683031 56413121 48784661 85437670 102618903 X -7536538 -11922 -80000 X 0 1 X 1 1 1 X 12195142 16708119 12847808 18265662 7331293 67348024 123000 124000 125000 126000 127000 625000 12318142 16832119 12972808 18391662 7458293 67973024 14500336 53472688 12208 14004 43412 176873 20475 266972 68239996 27159535 0.78360 0.66360 X RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 518303 X 0 47097896 671148 3389759 282184 407487 584424 49884708 40059052 3708769 4154482 496851 327554 47097896 44179628 1024292 -4704207 294403 146259 40059052 36315509 4366064 3881793 259809 123929 44179628 30997339 2278596 3333162 175186 118402 36315509 0.68363 0.25765 0.05872 0 1 1 445917 445917 63531576 8910637 54620939 13222112 3134551 10087561 42797374 19257283 23540091 915677 485155 430522 89125030 DUE TO PERCIVAL LOWELL TRUST UW 25940940 DUE TO/FROM OTHER FUNDS 4998900 30939840 X PART V, LINE 4: THE ENDOWMENT FUNDS ARE USED FOR SUPPORT OF LOWELL OBSERVATORY AND FOR REINVESTMENT. PART X, LINE 2: THE FOLLOWING DISCLOSURE IS RELATED TO THE COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF THE LOWELL OBSERVATORY, TRUST U/W OF PERCIVAL LOWELL, AND THE LOWELL OBSERVATORY FOUNDATION: THE OBSERVATORY, THE FOUNDATION, AND THE TRUST ARE EXEMPT FROM INCOME TAXES UNDER BOTH INTERNAL REVENUE CODE (IRC) SECTION 501(C)(3) AND ARIZONA INCOME TAX LAWS. THE OBSERVATORY IS CLASSIFIED AS OTHER THAN A PRIVATE FOUNDATION UNDER IRC SECTION 509(A)(1). THE FOUNDATION AND THE TRUST ARE EACH CLASSIFIED AS OTHER THAN A PRIVATE FOUNDATION UNDER IRC SECTION 509(A)(3) AS A SUPPORTING ORGANIZATION OF THE OBSERVATORY. INCOME FROM CERTAIN ACTIVITIES NOT DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE ORGANIZATION'S TAX-EXEMPT PURPOSE, HOWEVER, MAY BE SUBJECT TO TAXATION AS UNRELATED BUSINESS TAXABLE INCOME. FROM TIME TO TIME, THE ORGANIZATION MAY BE SUBJECT TO PENALTIES AND INTEREST ASSESSED BY VARIOUS TAXING AUTHORITIES, WHICH ARE CLASSIFIED AS GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES IF THEY OCCUR. 1 NORTHERN ARIZONA UNIVERSITY PO BOX 4070 FLAGSTAFF AZ 86011 742579628 STATE OF ARIZONA 94935 0 NASA GRANT - SUBAWARD COLLABORATION RESEARCH UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND - COLLEGE PARK 3112 LEE BUILDING 7809 REGENTS DRIVE COLLEGE PARK MD 20742 526002033 STATE OF MARYLAND 46723 0 NASA GRANT - SUBAWARD COLLABORATION RESEARCH NORTHERN ARIZONA UNIVERSITY PO BOX 4071 FLAGSTAFF AZ 86011 742579628 STATE OF ARIZONA 17752 0 NSF GRANT - SUBAWARD COLLABORATION RESEARCH PLANETARY SCIENCE INSTITUTE 1700 E FORT LOWELL SUITE 106 TUCSON AZ 85719 330175263 501(C)(3) 15741 0 NASA GRANT - SUBAWARD COLLABORATION RESEARCH 4 0 PART I, LINE 2: ALL GRANT RECIPIENTS ARE MAJOR UNIVERSITIES, WITH SOPHISTICATED SYSTEMS FOR ADMINISTERING GRANTS. OBSERVATORY GRANTS TO THE UNIVERSITIES ARE PAID ON A COST REIMBURSEMENT BASIS. THE OBSERVATORY PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR UNDER EACH AWARD CLOSELY COORDINATES RESEARCH EFFORTS WITH THE UNIVERSITY RECEIVING THE SUB AWARD AND REVIEWS EACH INVOICE SUBMITTED BY THE UNIVERSITY PRIOR TO PAYMENT. X X X 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 HALL JEFFREY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 201538 0 0 0 0 0 10593 0 24700 0 236831 0 0 0 BOSH AMANDA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/COO 182918 0 0 0 0 0 9679 0 23708 0 216305 0 0 0 CURRIE LESLIE CHIEF PHILANTHROPY OFFICER 171156 0 0 0 17375 0 4700 0 10940 0 204171 0 0 0 HUNTER DEIDRE ASTRONOMER 179553 0 0 0 0 0 8989 0 14548 0 203090 0 0 0 MASSEY PHILIP ASTRONOMER 184820 0 0 0 0 0 9096 0 7881 0 201797 0 0 0 LEVINE STEPHEN DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION 180027 0 0 0 0 0 9124 0 11855 0 201006 0 0 0 LABRUZZO ANNE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER 176555 0 0 0 0 0 8977 0 13189 0 198721 0 0 0 VAN BELLE GERARD T DIRECTOR OF SCIENCE 163586 0 0 0 0 0 4374 0 28095 0 196055 0 0 0 WEST MICHAEL ASTRONOMER 180726 0 0 0 0 0 8989 0 2952 0 192667 0 0 0 KUEHN KYLER DIRECTOR OF TECHNOLOGY 156865 0 0 0 0 0 8183 0 21999 0 187047 0 0 0 GRUNDY WILLIAM ASTRONOMER 153632 0 0 0 0 0 8255 0 24027 0 185914 0 0 0 PRATO LISA A ASTRONOMER 158354 0 0 0 0 0 8064 0 12755 0 179173 0 0 0 X 8 169702 TRANSACTION VALUE X SUPPLIES 7 27044 FMV 0 1 1 PART I, COLUMN (B): THE AMOUNT IN COLUMN B REPRESENTS THE NUMBER OF CONTRIBUTIONS MADE. PART I, LINE 32B: PUBLICLY TRADED SECURITIES ARE DEPOSITED INTO AN INVESTMENT ACCOUNT OWNED BY THE OBSERVATORY. THE SECURITIES ARE SOLD BY A BROKER SHORTLY AFTER. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 11B THE FORM 990 DRAFT WILL BE FIRST REVIEWED BY THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER (CFO) FOR ACCURACY. ONCE IT HAS BEEN DEEMED ACCURATE BY THE CFO, IT WILL BE FORWARDED TO THE SOLE TRUSTEE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND AUDIT COMMITTEE FOR THEIR REVIEW AND COMMENTS. AFTER ANY QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED, THE 990 WILL BE APPROVED AND A FINAL COPY WILL BE SIGNED AND FILED BY THE CFO. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 12C THE ORGANIZATION CONDUCTS WEEKLY REVIEWS OF PAYABLES INCLUDING POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST AND FOLLOW-UP OCCURS TO ENFORCE COMPLIANCE WITH THE COMPANY POLICY. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 15A COMPENSATION OF THE DIRECTOR FOR LOWELL OBSERVATORY IS DETERMINED BY THE SOLE TRUSTEE OF THE CORPORATION AFTER REVIEW OF INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGER AND MEMBERS OF THE ADVISORY BOARD AND LOWELL OBSERVATORY FOUNDATION WHO HAVE EXPERIENCE IN THE RESEARCH INDUSTRY OR COMPENSATION AT NON-PROFITS. THE HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGER REVIEWS THE TOTAL COMPENSATION OF THE DIRECTOR IN ACCORDANCE WITH REGULATIONS/GUIDELINES ESTABLISHED BY THE IRS AND INDUSTRY BEST PRACTICES. DATA REGARDING SALARIES OF OTHER DIRECTORS (CEOS) AT ORGANIZATIONS OF SIMILAR SIZE, INCLUDING BOTH NON-PROFIT AND FOR-PROFIT COMPANIES IS ALSO REVIEWED. THE SOLE TRUSTEE, WITH ADVICE FROM THE ADVISORY BOARD, ALSO ESTABLISHES GOALS AND OBJECTIVES FOR THE DIRECTOR AND EVALUATES THE PERFORMANCE OF THE DIRECTOR BASED ON THE PRIOR YEAR'S GOALS AND OBJECTIVES. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 19 WHEN REQUESTED, DOCUMENTS REGARDING THE OBSERVATORY ARE PROVIDED BY THE BUSINESS OFFICE. THE 990 AND AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ARE AVAILABLE ON THE LOWELL OBSERVATORY WEBSITE. THE 990 IS ALSO AVAILABLE ON GUIDESTAR AND CHARITY NAVIGATOR. FORM 990, PART XI, LINE 9: BAD DEBT EXPENSE -80,000. PERCIVAL LOWELL TRUST UW 1400 W MARS HILL ROAD FLAGSTAFF AZ 86001 042007327 TRUST F/B/O LOWELL OBSERVATORY AZ 501(C)(3) LINE 12B, II LOWELL OBSERVATORY 1 LOWELL OBSERVATORY FOUNDATION 1400 W MARS HILL ROAD FLAGSTAFF AZ 86001 472052113 FOUNDATION F/B/O LOWELL OBSERVATORY AZ 501(C)(3) LINE 12B, II N/A 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 PERCIVAL LOWELL TRUST UW E 25940940 END OF YEAR BALANCE PERCIVAL LOWELL TRUST UW C 282185 CASH TRANSFERRED