AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF VARIABLE S… - Form 990 Financial Data

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Financial Vulnerability Assessment (Tuckman-Chang)

4 risk indicators measuring financial stability and operational resilience

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Financial Trends

Organization Details

Formation Year

1911

Legal Domicile

Principal Officer

BRIAN KLOPPENBORG

Phone

6173540484

Tax Period

2023-10-01 to 2024-09-30

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF VARIABLE STAR OB, founded in 1911, is a community nonprofit in the Science & Technology sector that reported $1.1M in total revenue in fiscal year 2023. Revenue surged 55% from the prior year, signaling strong growth momentum. Expenses of $1.2M exceeded revenue, resulting in a 13% operating deficit.

Mission

THE AAVSO PROVIDES AMATEUR ASTRONOMERS AND STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE REAL AND DIRECT CONTRIBUTIONS TO ASTRONOMY. IN PROGRAMS THEY COMPLETE AT THEIR OWN PACE, WE TEACH THEM HOW TO MAKE OBSERVATIONS AND HOW TO ANALYZE ASTRONOMICAL DATA, AND WE OFFER THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN OBSERVING CAMPAIGNS DESIGNED TO PRODUCE PEER-REVIEWED PUBLISHED PAPERS.

Program Service Accomplishments

Program 1

Expenses: $552,477 Revenue: $102,472

THE AAVSO, THROUGH ITS MEMBERS AND THE BROADER ASTRONOMICAL COMMUNITY, CONDUCTS ASTRONOMICAL RESEARCH, DOES DATA COLLECTION, MAINTAINS A DATABASE OF KNOWN VARIABLE STARS, A DATABASE OF INDIVIDUAL...

THE AAVSO, THROUGH ITS MEMBERS AND THE BROADER ASTRONOMICAL COMMUNITY, CONDUCTS ASTRONOMICAL RESEARCH, DOES DATA COLLECTION, MAINTAINS A DATABASE OF KNOWN VARIABLE STARS, A DATABASE OF INDIVIDUAL OBSERVATIONS MEASURING BRIGHT OF STARS IN VARIOUS COLORS, A DATABASE OF EXOPLANET OBSERVATIONS, A DATABASE OF SUNSPOT COUNTS, AND A DATABASE OF SPECTROGRAPHS. THE AAVSO HAS ABOUT 1,400 MEMBERS, THE MAJORITY OF WHICH CONTRIBUTE ASTRONOMICAL OBSERVATIONS. THE VARIABLE STAR DATABASE HAS 2 MILLION KNOWN VARIABLE STARS. THERE ARE ABOUT 65 MILLION BRIGHTNESS OBSERVATIONS, 8 THOUSAND EXO-PLANET TRANSITS, 15 THOUSAND SPECTRA, AND 181 THOUSAND SOLAR OBSERVATIONS. THE AAVSO ORGANIZES OBSERVING CAMPAIGNS OR PROVIDES A PLATFORM FOR PROFESSIONAL ASTRONOMERS TO REQUEST MONITORING OF STARS FOR SPACECRAFT MISSIONS.

Program 2

Expenses: $119,800 Revenue: $40,111

THE AAVSO HOLDS AN ANNUAL SCIENCE AND MEMBERSHIP MEETING EACH FALL. THE MEETING ROTATES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY TO GIVE MEMBERS A BETTER CHANCE TO PARTICIPATE. EACH MEETING HAS ABOUT 75 IN-PERSON...

THE AAVSO HOLDS AN ANNUAL SCIENCE AND MEMBERSHIP MEETING EACH FALL. THE MEETING ROTATES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY TO GIVE MEMBERS A BETTER CHANCE TO PARTICIPATE. EACH MEETING HAS ABOUT 75 IN-PERSON PARTICIPANTS AND AN ADDITIONAL 25-50 ONLINE MEMBERS. THE MEETINGS ARE OFTEN HELD IN CONJUNCTION WITH A SPECIAL INTEREST WORKSHOP BEFORE OR AFTER THE MEETING. THE MEETING WILL HAVE 1-1/2 DAYS OF SCIENCE TALKS, INCLUDING RESEARCH PRESENTATION BY MEMBERS. THERE IS ALSO A RECEPTION, FINAL DINNER, AND A HALF DAY MEMBERSHIP MEETING WHERE FINANCIAL AND OPERATIONAL RESULTS ARE PRESENTED, AWARDS PRESENTED. AND THE INCOMING BOARD OF DIRECTORS IS VOTED UPON.

Program 3

Expenses: $71,223 Revenue: $13,446

THE AAVSO PROVIDES A NUMBER OF EDUCATIONAL COURSES, WEBINARS, MENTORING, ARTICLES, BLOG POSTS, AND OTHER COMMUNICATIONS. WE OPERATE AN ONLINE FORUM ON A NUMBER OF OBSERVING AND EQUIPMENT TOPICS. WE OPERATE A MENTORING PROGRAM FOR NEW OBSERVERS WHERE AN EXPERIENCED OBSERVER COACHES THEM. WE RECEIVE ABOUT 30 MENTORING REQUESTS PER YEAR. WE ALSO PROVIDE CHOICE COURSES, A MULTI-DAY EDUCATIONAL COURSE WHICH HAS ABOUT 100 PARTICIPANTS PER YEAR. EACH MONTH WE PROVIDE ZOOM WEBINARS ON VARIOUS SUBJECTS WHICH HAS ABOUT 2,000 PARTICIPANTS EACH YEAR. WE ALSO POST WEBINARS TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL GETTING OVER 8,000 VIEWS. WE ALSO POST ARTICLES TO VARIOUS SOCIAL MEDIA SITES AND ARE A RESOURCE FOR THE NEWS MEDIA CONCERNING STAR RESEARCH.

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Trantor Score

Financial Health Score (300–850) · Liquidity · Solvency · Sustainability · Efficiency

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Liquidity (40%) • Solvency (30%) • Sustainability (20%) • Efficiency (10%)

Financial Overview (2023)

Revenue Breakdown

Contributions & Grants $188,109

Program Service Revenue $156,029

Investment Income $730,591

Other Revenue $0

TOTAL REVENUE $1,074,729

Expense Breakdown

Grants Paid $0

Salaries & Benefits $754,418

Fundraising Expenses $64,566

Program Expenses $743,500

Other Expenses $461,808

TOTAL EXPENSES $1,216,226

Year-over-Year Comparison

	2023	2022	Change
Revenue	$1,074,729	$691,694	+0.6%
Expenses	$1,216,226	$1,194,983	+0.0%
Net Income	$-141,497	$-503,289	-0.7%

Key Indicators

✗ Grants to Organizations ✗ Grants to Individuals ✗ Lobbying ✗ Political Activity ✗ Foreign Activities ✗ Donor Advised Fund ✓ Schedule B Required

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Financial Health Indicators

Comprehensive financial analysis: Altman Z-Score, liquidity, solvency, sustainability, efficiency, and growth metrics

Financial Distress Indicator

Liquidity & Cash Position

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Altman Z-Score • Liquidity Ratios • Solvency Analysis • Growth Indicators • Efficiency Metrics

Governance

Voting Members

Independent Members

Employees

Volunteers

800

Governance Policies

✓ Conflict of Interest Policy

✓ Whistleblower Policy

✓ Document Retention Policy

Special Practices & Reported Activities

✗ Operated a School

✗ Operated a Hospital

✗ Provided First Class Travel

✗ Reported Conflict of Interest

✗ Reported Asset Diversion

✗ Excess Benefit Transaction

✗ Made Political Expenditures

✗ Engaged in Lobbying

✗ Operated Donor Advised Fund

✗ Maintained Art Collections

✗ Filed Form 720

Compensation of Officers, Directors & Key Employees

Total Officers

$201,795

Total Directors