Nonprofit · EIN 81-4312310
SKYS THE LIMIT OBSERVATORY & NATURE CENTER
Tax-exempt · TWENTYNIN PLM, CA 92277
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2025 | 990-EZ | $65,230 | $34,822 | $30,408 | $415,246 | $16,096 | $399,150 |
| December 31, 2024 | 990-EZ | $53,631 | $25,795 | $27,836 | $396,131 | $0 | $396,131 |
| December 31, 2023 | 990-EZ | $26,882 | $29,664 | -$2,782 | $340,620 | – | $340,620 |
Financial details: 990-EZ for the year ended December 31, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $57,187
- Investment income
- $1,328
- Net income from fundraising events
- $5,675
- Net income from sales of inventory
- $1,040
Expenses
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $0
- Other expenses
- $34,822
- Program services (functional)
- $31,629
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $396,131
- Total assets, end of year
- $415,246
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $16,096
- Net assets, end of year
- $399,150
- Cash, savings and investments
- $110,506
- Land and buildings
- $180,180
- Gross receipts
- $85,287
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-EZ for the year ended December 31, 2025, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ANN CONGDON | President | 7 | $0 |
| DARRELL SHADE | Vice President | 7 | $0 |
| MIKE SCHMITT | Treasurer | 7 | $0 |
| JERRY MATTOS | Secretary | 4 | $0 |
990-EZ for the year ended December 31, 2024: 11 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ann Congdon | President-volunteer | 7 | $0 |
| Jerold Garber | Vice President - volunteer | 0.5 | $0 |
| Mike Schmitt | Treasurer -orrery lectures- solar maint-campus care | 7 | $0 |
| Jerry Mattos | Secretary-volunteer | 4 | $0 |
| Ray Yeager | Director - volunteer | 0.5 | $0 |
| Brandall Suyenobu | Volunteer Astronomer | 2 | $0 |
| Darrell Shade | Director volunteer-astronomer | 6 | $0 |
| John Watkins | director- lectures -astronomer | 4.5 | $0 |
| Cleo Oladimu | volunteer-greeting-tours Orrery | 2 | $0 |
| Ruth Libby | Bookkeeper | 2 | $0 |
| 6 Various Volunteer Astronomers | Amateur Astronomer | 6 | $0 |
990-EZ for the year ended December 31, 2023: 11 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ann Congdon | President-volunteer | 6 | $0 |
| Jerold Garber | Vice President - volunteer | 0.5 | $0 |
| Mike Schmitt | Treasurer -orrery lectures- solar maint-campus care | 6 | $0 |
| Jerry Mattos | Secretary-volunteer | 4 | $0 |
| Ray Yeager | Director - volunteer | 0.5 | $0 |
| Brandall Suyenobu | Volunteer Astronomer | 2 | $0 |
| Darrell Shade | Director volunteer-astronomer | 6 | $0 |
| Caley Hands | campus maintenace | 3 | $0 |
| John Watkins | director- lectures -astronomer | 3.5 | $0 |
| Cleo Oladimu | volunteer-greeting-tours Orrery | 2 | $0 |
| Ruth Libby | Bookkeeper | 2 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- PO BOX 1, TWENTYNIN PLM, CA 92277-0001
- In care of
- % ANN CONGDON
- Mailing address (990-N for 2021)
- PO Box 1, Twentynine Palms CA 92277
- Principal officer (990-N for 2021)
- Ann Congdon, PO Box 1, Twentynine Palms CA 92277
- Signed the 990-EZ
- JERRY MATTOS, Secretary
- Phone
- (760) 285-5311
- Website
- skysthelimit29.org
- Return prepared by
- Abbott & Company
California records
California keeps its own records of charities and corporations. Search them by EIN 81-4312310 or by the name SKYS THE LIMIT OBSERVATORY & NATURE CENTER.
- Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers
- Registration status and filed reports (CT-TR-1, RRF-1)
- Secretary of State, bizfile Online
- Corporation status, entity number, agent for service
- Franchise Tax Board
- Entity status letter (state tax exemption, good standing)
Mission
EDUCATION OF THE PUBLIC, YOUNGEST TO OLDEST, FROM THE SMALLEST ON EARTH TO THE LARGEST IN THE COSMOS. EDUCATION OF THE COSMOS VIA TELESCOPE OBSERVATION AND LECTURES. EDUCATION OF THE MOJAVE DESERT VIA THE NATURE TRAILS AND THE SURROUNDING GEOLOGY.
Program accomplishments
- SKYS THE LIMIT HOSTS NIGHT SKY PROGRAMS ONCE A MONTH FEATURING AN ASTRONOMY LECTURE AS WELL AS THE OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK THROUGH THE 14 CELESTRON SCHMIDT-CASSEGRAIN TELESCOPE INSIDE THE DOME. ADDITIONAL SCOPES OF VARIOUS SIZES AND TYPES ARE ARRAYED OUTSIDE THE DOME AS WELL. GUESTS TALK WITH THE ASTRONOMER-DOCENTS AS THEY OBSERVE THE NIGHTS CELESTIAL OBJECTS AND ONE ASTRONOMER GIVES A TOUR OF THE NIGHTS CONSTELLATIONS. SOME MONTHS INCLUDE ADDITIONAL TELESCOPE-ONLY EVENTS, WITH NO LECTURE BUT GUESTS INTERACTING INFORMALLY WITH ASTRONOMERS. PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS WELCOME TO BRING THEIR OWN SCOPE TO SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCE AND ENTHUSIAM WITH GUESTS. THE CAMPUS IS ALWAYS OPEN EXCEPT DURING SCHEDULED EVENTS, BUT THE DOME AND RESTROOMS ARE ONLY OPEN WHEN DOCENTS ARE PRESENT.Expenses $7,783
- NIGHT SKY FESTIVAL IS AN ANNUAL FAMILY-FRIENDLY EVENT. THE EVENT IS ACCOMPLISHED IN COOPERATION WITH THE JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE AND MANY VOLUNTEER ASTRONOMERS. 500 ATTENDEES BY ADVANCE RESERVATION. OVER 20 ASTRONOMERS WITH THEIR OWN SCOPES DESCRIBE CELESTRIAL OBJECTS. TWO ASTRONOMERS GIVE CONSTELLATION TOURS. MORNING ACTIVITIES INCLUDE BOTANIST-LED NATURE TRAIL TOURS, SOLAR SCOPES, WALKABLE SOLAR SYSTEM LECTURES. AFTERNOON LECTURES BY NASA AND JPL ASTRONOMERS.Expenses $7,405
- STL CAMPUS - 15 ACRES, OPEN TO THE PUBLIC 24 - 7 WITH SELF-GUIDED TOURS VIA POSTED QR CODES. DOME WITH 14" CELESTRON TELESCOPE; ACCESSIBLE STAR WALKWAY WITH TELESCOPE STATIONS WITH TABLES & POWER ALWAYS AVAILABLE TO AMATURE ASTRONOMERS; A SOLAR SCOPE; ORRERY: A MODEL OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM TRUE TO POSITION AT 1:20 BILLION SCALE, CONTAINING FOUR INNER PLANETS (OUTER PLANES ARE TRACKED); NATURE TRAIL WITH QR CODES PROVIDING PLANT INFO AND PHOTOS IN BLOOM; MEDITATION GARDEN BASED ON ZEN DESIGN PRINCIPLES; STEEL SCULPTURES ABSTRACTLY REPRESENTING ASTRONOMICAL EVENTS & OBJECTS; SOLAR CALENDAR/DUNDIAL MARKING HOURS, SOLSTICES, AND EQUINOXES; ACCESSIBLE RESTROOMS; A WORKSHOP, WELCOME CENTER, AND STORAGE CONTAINERS THAT PROVIDE A BACKDROP TO A STAGE. STL HAS AGREED TO ALLOW THE LOCAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE, COPPER MOUNTAIN COLLEGE, TO USE THE CAMPUS. THE STL CAMPUS HAS BEEN DESIGNATED AS A SATELLITE CAMPUS FOR WEEKLY CALSSES. STL HAS PURCHASED A CONTAINER TO STORE CMC TELESCOPES AND EQUIPMENT.Expenses $12,353
- TELESCOPE UPDATE AND MAINTENANCE, SINKING FUND NEW DOME FUND, DONATION TO NON-PROFIT ASSOCIATION VOLUNTEERS FOR ASSISTANCE IN REGULARLY SCHEDULE PROGRAMS.Expenses $4,088
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 year | Year ended | Due | IRS public records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | December 31, 2025 | May 15, 2026 | 990-EZ on file |
| 2024 | December 31, 2024 | May 15, 2025 | 990-EZ on file |
| 2023 | December 31, 2023 | May 15, 2024 | 990-EZ on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 81-4312310
- Tax-exempt status
- 501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
- Foundation status
- Publicly supported organization (509(a)(2))
- Donations deductible (Pub 78)
- Public charity, 50% deduction limit
- Exempt since
- 2017
- Accounting year ends
- December
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Science and technology (U31)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $415,246
- Income (IRS master file)
- $85,287
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990-EZ | December 2025 | $65,230 | $34,822 | $415,246 | XML |
| 990-EZ | December 2024 | $53,631 | $25,795 | $396,131 | XML |
| 990-EZ | December 2023 | $26,882 | $29,664 | $340,620 | XML |
| 990-EZ | December 2022 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990-N for 2021 Officer: Ann Congdon | December 31, 2021 | ≤ $50,000 receipts | – | – | e-Postcard |
| 990-N for 2020 Officer: Ann Congdon | December 31, 2020 | ≤ $50,000 receipts | – | – | e-Postcard |
| 990-N for 2019 Officer: Ann Congdon | December 31, 2019 | ≤ $50,000 receipts | – | – | e-Postcard |
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 81-4312310).
Questions about SKYS THE LIMIT OBSERVATORY & NATURE CENTER
- What is the EIN of SKYS THE LIMIT OBSERVATORY & NATURE CENTER?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of SKYS THE LIMIT OBSERVATORY & NATURE CENTER is 81-4312310.
- Is SKYS THE LIMIT OBSERVATORY & NATURE CENTER tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2017.
- Are donations to SKYS THE LIMIT OBSERVATORY & NATURE CENTER tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does SKYS THE LIMIT OBSERVATORY & NATURE CENTER 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 SKYS THE LIMIT OBSERVATORY & NATURE CENTER due?
- The return for tax year 2026 (the year ending December 31, 2026) is due May 17, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did SKYS THE LIMIT OBSERVATORY & NATURE CENTER last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990-EZ for the year ended December 2025.
- Who is the principal officer of SKYS THE LIMIT OBSERVATORY & NATURE CENTER?
- The 990-N for 2021 names Ann Congdon.
- Who are the officers and directors of SKYS THE LIMIT OBSERVATORY & NATURE CENTER?
- The 990-EZ for the year ended December 31, 2025 lists 4 people; 0 received compensation from the organization.
- How much revenue does SKYS THE LIMIT OBSERVATORY & NATURE CENTER have?
- On its 990-EZ for the year ended December 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $65,230, expenses of $34,822 and total assets of $415,246 at year end.
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- REACH OUT MORONGO BASIN EIN 91-1934417 · last filed 990 for 2025
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- CALIFORNIA TEACHERS ASSOCIATION EIN 33-0034134 · last filed 990-EZ for 2025
- TWENTYNINE PALMS ARTISTS GUILD EIN 33-0204792 · last filed 990-N for 2025
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All nonprofits in TWENTYNIN PLM · California · Science and technology