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Nonprofit · EIN 47-1952212

EAST ASIAN OBSERVATORY

Tax-exempt · HILO, HI 96720

Financials

$3M$4M2023$3M$4M2024
Revenue Expenses · by fiscal year end
Financials of EAST ASIAN OBSERVATORY by year, from its e-filed returns
Year endedFormRevenueExpensesNet incomeTotal assetsLiabilitiesNet assets
December 31, 2024990$3,014,426$3,967,146-$952,720$6,187,161$831,774$5,355,387
December 31, 2023990$3,040,924$3,991,060-$950,136$7,669,653$1,361,546$6,308,107
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024

Revenue

Contributions, gifts and grants
$3,014,426
of which government grants
$2,629,853
Program service revenue
$0
Investment income
$0
Other revenue
$0

Expenses

Grants and similar amounts paid
$275,000
Other salaries and wages
$1,001,551
Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
$1,355,633
Professional fundraising fees
$0
Legal fees
$16,684
Occupancy
$446,087
Travel
$80,110
Depreciation
$1,033,934
Program services (functional)
$3,634,357
Management and general (functional)
$332,789

Balance sheet and other

Total assets, start of year
$7,669,653
Total assets, end of year
$6,187,161
Total liabilities, end of year
$831,774
Net assets, end of year
$5,355,387
Land, buildings and equipment
$5,328,536
Gross receipts
$3,014,426
Employees
26
Volunteers
0
Year formed
2014
State of legal domicile
HI

From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.

Officers, directors and key employees

As listed on the 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024, highest compensation first.

NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
DANIEL BINTLEYEAO/JCMT DEPUTY DIRECTOR
Highest-paid employee
40$119,780
PAUL T P HODIRECTOR GENERAL, PRESIDEN
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0
UE-LI PENVICE PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0
GONGBO ZHAODIRECTOR
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0
WIPHU RUJOPAKARNVICE PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0
YOUNG-DEUK PARKDIRECTOR
Officer
1$0
JUNICHI NOUMARUSECRETARY
Officer
1$0
KENTARO MOTOHARACHAIR
Officer
1$0
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 8 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
DANIEL BINTLEYEAO/JCMT DEPUTY DIR
Highest-paid employee
40$110,383
PAUL T P HODIRECTOR GENERAL, PRESIDEN
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0
UE-LI PENVICE PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0
GONGBO ZHAOVICE PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0
WIPHU RUJOPAKARNVICE PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0
YOUNG-DEUK PARKCHAIR/VICE PRESIDENT
Officer
1$0
JUNICHI NOUMARUSECRETARY
Officer
1$0
KENTARO MOTOHARAVICE PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR
Officer
1$0

Address and contacts

Address (IRS master file)
660 N AOHOKU PL, HILO, HI 96720-2700
Principal officer (990 for 2024)
GEOFF BOWER, 660 N AOHOKU PLACE, HILO, HI 96720
Signed the 990
GEOFF BOWER, PRESIDENT
Phone
(808) 961-3756
Return prepared by
TAKETA IWATA HARA & ASSOCIATES LLC

Mission

THE EAST ASIAN OBSERVATORY (EAO) MISSION IS TO CONSTRUCT, OWN, OPERATE,MAINTAIN AND IMPROVE ASTRONOMICAL FACILITIES FOR THE EAST ASIAN REGIONS, AND TO ENGAGE IN ALL OTHER ACTIONS THAT ARE NECESSARY CONDUCIVE AND CONVENIENT TO THE ATTAINMENT OF THE FOREGOING PURPOSES.

990 for the year ended December 31, 2024

Program accomplishments

  • OPERATION OF THE JAMES CLERK MAXWELL TELESCOPE (JCMT) FOR SCIENTIFIC ENDEAVOR. JCMT, WITH A DIAMETER OF 15 METERS, IS THE LARGEST ASTRONOMICAL TELESCOPE IN THE WORLD DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY TO OPERATE IN THE SUBMILLIMETER WAVELENGTH REGION OF THE SPECTRUM. THE JCMT IS USED TO STUDY OUR SOLAR SYSTEM, INTERSTELLAR AND CIRCUMSTELLAR DUST AND GAS, AND DISTANT GALAXIES. OBSERVING TIME EACH YEAR IS DIVIDED UP AMONG THE FOUNDING INSTITUTIONS, AND THE BROADER OBSERVING COMMUNITY HAS ACCESS THROUGH SPECIFIC SCIENTIFIC PARTNERSHIPS. TYPICALLY ABOUT 600 SCIENTISTS ALL OVER THE WORLD MAKE USE OF THE JCMT EVERY YEAR, AND THEY PUBLISH ON THE ORDER OF 200 PAPERS EVERY YEAR IN SCIENTIFIC JOURNALS. JCMT ALSO CONTINUES TO MAINTAIN AND IMPROVE A SUITE OF ADVANCED INSTRUMENTS FOR RESEARCH ON THE TELESCOPE.
    Expenses $3,634,357 · grants $275,000 · revenue $3,014,426
  • PROVIDE TECHNICAL SUPPORT FOR THE EVENT HORIZON TELESCOPE PROJECT FROM THE VERY LONG BASELINE INTERFEROMETRY GROUPS AT JCMT. THIS PROJECT PARTICIPATES ANNUALLY IN A GLOBAL EXPERIMENT INVOLVING MANY OTHER TELESCOPES TO IMAGE THE SHADOW OF THE SUPERMASSIVE BLACK HOLES IN THE CENTERS OF GALAXIES.
  • PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR ASTRONOMERS AND STUDENTS TO ENGAGE IN RESEARCH AT THE JCMT, TO CALIBRATE THEIR DATA FROM THE TELESCOPE, AND TO PRODUCE SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS. JCMT STAFF ALSO HOSTED AND PARTICIPATED IN INTERNATIONAL EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS AND CONFERENCES. THE JCMT ALSO HAS A PUBLIC OUTREACH PROGRAM WHICH AIMS TO FOSTER A GREATER APPRECIATION OF SCIENCE, AND OF ASTRONOMY IN PARTICULAR, AND ALSO TO PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES TO HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN HAWAII.

What it must file and when

IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in December, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.

Tax yearYear endedDueIRS public records
2025December 31, 2025May 15, 2026Not on file
2024December 31, 2024May 15, 2025990 on file
2023December 31, 2023May 15, 2024990 on file

IRS record

EIN
47-1952212
Tax-exempt status
501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
Foundation status
Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))
Donations deductible (Pub 78)
Public charity, 50% deduction limit
Exempt since
2015
Accounting year ends
December
Files
Form 990 or 990-EZ
Assets (IRS master file)
$6,187,161
Income (IRS master file)
$3,014,426

Filing history

FormYear endedRevenueExpensesAssetsReturn
990December 2024$3,014,426$3,967,146$6,187,161XML
990December 2023$3,040,924$3,991,060$7,669,653XML
990December 2022$3,475,532$4,102,250$8,947,701IRS
990December 2021–––IRS
990December 2020–––IRS
990December 2018–––IRS
990December 2017–––IRS

990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 47-1952212).

Questions about EAST ASIAN OBSERVATORY

What is the EIN of EAST ASIAN OBSERVATORY?
The employer identification number (EIN) of EAST ASIAN OBSERVATORY is 47-1952212.
Is EAST ASIAN OBSERVATORY tax-exempt?
Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2015.
Are donations to EAST ASIAN OBSERVATORY tax-deductible?
Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
Which annual return does EAST ASIAN OBSERVATORY file?
Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
When is the next return of EAST ASIAN OBSERVATORY due?
The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending December 31, 2025) is due May 15, 2026. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
When did EAST ASIAN OBSERVATORY last file with the IRS?
The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended December 2024.
Who is the principal officer of EAST ASIAN OBSERVATORY?
The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 names GEOFF BOWER.
Who are the officers and directors of EAST ASIAN OBSERVATORY?
The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 lists 8 people; 1 received compensation from the organization, the highest $119,780 (DANIEL BINTLEY, EAO/JCMT DEPUTY DIRECTOR).
How much revenue does EAST ASIAN OBSERVATORY have?
On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 it reported revenue of $3,014,426, expenses of $3,967,146 and total assets of $6,187,161 at year end.

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