Nonprofit · EIN 95-3423566
THE PLANETARY SOCIETY
Tax-exempt · PASADENA, CA 91101
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 30, 2025 | 990 | $7,526,105 | $7,622,888 | -$96,783 | $7,780,673 | $1,723,958 | $6,056,715 |
| September 30, 2024 | 990 | $5,198,586 | $7,225,780 | -$2,027,194 | $8,038,153 | $1,975,090 | $6,063,063 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $7,489,281
- Membership dues
- $2,769,646
- Program service revenue
- $0
- Investment income
- $117,966
- Net income from fundraising events
- -$108,398
- Other revenue
- -$81,142
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $114,962
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $1,343,185
- Other salaries and wages
- $2,096,082
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $4,183,583
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Legal fees
- $11,058
- Accounting fees
- $21,950
- Occupancy
- $238,687
- Travel
- $77,038
- Depreciation
- $300,000
- Program services (functional)
- $5,069,218
- Management and general (functional)
- $973,598
- Fundraising (functional)
- $1,580,072
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $8,038,153
- Total assets, end of year
- $7,780,673
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $1,723,958
- Net assets, end of year
- $6,056,715
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $1,489,810
- Publicly traded securities
- $1,285,669
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $1,294,630
- Net assets with donor restrictions
- $4,762,085
- Gross receipts
- $7,700,392
- Employees
- 28
- Volunteers
- 35
- Year formed
- 1979
- State of legal domicile
- CA
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 September 30, 2025, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WILLIAM NYE | DIRECTOR AND CEO Officer | 20 | $233,565 | $17,060 |
| JENNIFER VAUGHN | COO Highest-paid employee | 40 | $212,834 | $28,932 |
| JIM SUH | CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Highest-paid employee | 40 | $180,080 | $24,454 |
| RICHARD CHUTE | CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER Highest-paid employee | 40 | $173,765 | $28,536 |
| BRUCE BETTS | CHIEF SCIENTIST Highest-paid employee | 40 | $155,679 | $26,338 |
| DANIELLE GUNN | CHIEF COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER Highest-paid employee | 40 | $157,800 | $21,686 |
| CASEY DREIER | CHIEF OF SPACE POLICY Highest-paid employee | 40 | $157,721 | $20,665 |
| LORNE TROTTIER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| BIJAL HAYES-THAKORE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| JOHN LOGSDON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| ROBERT PICARDO | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| BRITNEY SCHMIDT | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| DIPAK SRINIVASAN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| JOHN GRUNSFELD | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| NEWTON CAMPBELL | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
5 more people on this return
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DAN GERACI | CHAIRMAN Officer | 5 | $0 |
| JAMES BELL | SECRETARY Officer | 2 | $0 |
| HEIDI HAMMEL | VICE PRESIDENT Officer | 2 | $0 |
| BETHANY EHLMANN | PRESIDENT Officer | 5 | $0 |
| LON LEVIN | TREASURER Officer | 2 | $0 |
990 for the year ended September 30, 2024: 18 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WILLIAM NYE | DIRECTOR AND CEO Officer | 20 | $234,360 | $16,405 |
| JENNIFER VAUGHN | COO Highest-paid employee | 40 | $213,560 | $26,821 |
| JIM SUH | CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Highest-paid employee | 40 | $180,696 | $22,676 |
| RICHARD CHUTE | CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER Highest-paid employee | 40 | $174,862 | $26,684 |
| CASEY DREIER | CHIEF OF SPACE POLICY Highest-paid employee | 40 | $164,784 | $19,451 |
| BRUCE BETTS | CHIEF SCIENTIST Highest-paid employee | 40 | $158,444 | $23,462 |
| LORNE TROTTIER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| BIJAL HAYES-THAKORE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| JOHN LOGSDON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| ROBERT PICARDO | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| BRITNEY SCHMIDT | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| DIPAK SRINIVASAN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| JOHN GRUNSFELD | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| DAN GERACI | CHAIRMAN Officer | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| JAMES BELL | SECRETARY Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| HEIDI HAMMEL | VICE PRESIDENT Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| BETHANY EHLMANN | PRESIDENT Officer | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| LON LEVIN | TREASURER Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 60 S LOS ROBLES AVE, PASADENA, CA 91101-2016
- Principal officer (990 for 2024)
- LARRY BROGAN, 60 SOUTH LOS ROBLES AVENUE, PASADENA, CA 91101
- Signed the 990
- LARRY BROGAN, CFO
- Phone
- (626) 793-5100
- Website
- PLANETARY.ORG
- Return prepared by
- HENSIEK & CARON CPA'S
California records
California keeps its own records of charities and corporations. Search them by EIN 95-3423566 or by the name THE PLANETARY SOCIETY.
- 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
THE PLANETARY SOCIETY EMPOWERS THE WORLD'S CITIZENS TO ADVANCE SPACE SCIENCE AND EXPLORATION. TOGETHER WITH OUR MEMBERS, THE PLANETARY SOCIETY DEVELOPS SPACE TECHNOLOGY, GUIDES FUTURE SPACE POLICY, AND INSPIRES PEOPLE OF ALL AGES TO VALUE THE ADVENTURE OF EXPLORATION AND THE JOY OF DISCOVERY.
Program accomplishments
- SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY:THE PLANETARY SOCIETY INVESTS IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY PROJECTS TO ADVANCE INNOVATIVE SPACE EXPLORATION SOLUTIONS AND RESEARCH. WE PROVIDE SEED FUNDING TO SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY PROJECTS THAT ADVANCE PLANETARY EXPLORATION, THE SEARCH FOR LIFE, AND PLANETARY DEFENSE.Expenses $289,167 · grants $89,962
- COMMUNICATION AND EDUCATION:THROUGH EDUCATION AND COMMUNICATIONS, THE PLANETARY SOCIETY EXPANDS THE HORIZONS OF PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE ABOUT SPACE EXPLORATION AND HELPS CITIZENS EDUCATE OTHERS ABOUT SPACE. OUR PUBLIC INFORMATION PROJECTS INCLUDE THE PLANETARY REPORT, OUR QUARTERLY MAGAZINE FOR OUR MEMBERS AND SUPPORTERS; PLANETARY RADIO, OUR WEEKLY RADIO SHOW; OUR WEBSITE - PLANETARY.ORG; AND OUR SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS. THE SOCIETY ACHIEVES SOME OF ITS PROGRAMMATIC GOALS THROUGH PUBLIC EDUCATION MAILINGS THAT INCLUDE REQUESTS FOR CONTRIBUTIONS. AS A RESULT, AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING STANDARDS BOARD (FASB) GUIDELINES, WE ALLOCATE A PORTION OF OUR DIRECT MAIL COSTS TO PROGRAM SERVICES AND TO FUNDRAISING.Expenses $3,050,239 · grants $25,000
- MEMBERSHIP:OUR MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM CONNECTS SPACE-INTERESTED CITIZENS WORLDWIDE AND PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEM TO PARTICIPATE IN SPACE ACTIVITIES. OUR MEMBERSHIP ACTIVITIES INCLUDE MAINTAINING DETAILED RECORDS TO SUPPORT OUR MEMBERS AND NON-MEMBERS WHO HAVE CHOSEN TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR PROGRAMS. OUR MEMBERSHIP TEAM INTERACTS WITH MEMBERS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC TO ANSWER QUESTIONS AND MANAGE BENEFITS AND SERVICES. THE PLANETARY SOCIETY HAS MORE THAN 36,000 MEMBERS. THE SOCIETY ACHIEVES SOME OF ITS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PROGRAMMATIC GOALS THROUGH MEMBERSHIP SERVICES SOFTWARE THAT INCLUDES THE FUNDRAISING MODULE. AS A RESULT, AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING STANDARDS BOARD (FASB) GUIDELINES, WE ALLOCATE A PORTION OF OUR SOFTWARE COSTS TO PROGRAM SERVICES AND TO FUNDRAISING.Expenses $1,181,125
- SPACE POLICY:THE PLANETARY SOCIETY HELPS SHAPE PUBLIC POLICY TO ENSURE NASA HAS THE SUPPORT AND RESOURCES TO EXPLORE PLANETS, SEARCH FOR LIFE, AND DEFEND THE EARTH FROM ASTEROIDS.Expenses $548,687 · revenue $27,256
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 September, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.
| Tax year | Year ended | Due | IRS public records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | September 30, 2026 | February 15, 2027 | Not due yet |
| 2024 | September 30, 2025 | February 16, 2026 | 990 on file |
| 2023 | September 30, 2024 | February 17, 2025 | 990 on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 95-3423566
- 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
- 1980
- Accounting year ends
- September
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Arts, culture and humanities (A33)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $7,780,673
- Income (IRS master file)
- $7,700,392
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | September 2025 | $7,526,105 | $7,622,888 | $7,780,673 | XML |
| 990 | September 2024 | $5,198,586 | $7,225,780 | $8,038,153 | XML |
| 990 | September 2023 | $6,313,313 | $7,509,258 | $10,311,558 | IRS |
| 990 | September 2022 | $4,905,895 | $6,232,294 | $9,508,979 | IRS |
| 990 | September 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | September 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | September 2019 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | September 2018 | – | – | – | 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 95-3423566).
Questions about THE PLANETARY SOCIETY
- What is the EIN of THE PLANETARY SOCIETY?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of THE PLANETARY SOCIETY is 95-3423566.
- Is THE PLANETARY SOCIETY tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1980.
- Are donations to THE PLANETARY SOCIETY tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does THE PLANETARY SOCIETY 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 THE PLANETARY SOCIETY due?
- The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending September 30, 2026) is due February 15, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did THE PLANETARY SOCIETY last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended September 2025.
- Who is the principal officer of THE PLANETARY SOCIETY?
- The 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025 names LARRY BROGAN.
- Who are the officers and directors of THE PLANETARY SOCIETY?
- The 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025 lists 20 people; 7 received compensation from the organization, the highest $233,565 (WILLIAM NYE, DIRECTOR AND CEO).
- How much revenue does THE PLANETARY SOCIETY have?
- On its 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025 it reported revenue of $7,526,105, expenses of $7,622,888 and total assets of $7,780,673 at year end.
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- PASADENA PLAYHOUSE STATE THEATRE OF CALIFORNIA INC EIN 95-3473192 · last filed 990 for 2025
- NORTON SIMON MUSEUM OF ART AT PASADENA EIN 95-1644606 · last filed 990 for 2025
- PLUSONEPLUSONEPLUSONE EIN 46-4556468 · last filed 990 for 2025
- ARMORY CENTER FOR THE ARTS EIN 95-2907884 · last filed 990 for 2025
- KIDSPACE A PARTICIPATORY MUSEUM EIN 95-3501213 · last filed 990 for 2024
- PASADENA SYMPHONY ASSOCIATION EIN 95-6002375 · last filed 990 for 2025
- HO MEI FOUNDATION EIN 92-1763857 · last filed 990-PF for 2025
All nonprofits in PASADENA · California · Arts, culture and humanities