Monterey Institute for Research in… - 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

1972

Legal Domicile

Principal Officer

Craig Chester

Phone

8318831000

Tax Period

2025-01-01 to 2025-12-31

Monterey Institute for Research in Astronomy, founded in 1972, is a small nonprofit in the Science & Technology sector that reported $801K in total revenue in fiscal year 2025. Revenue surged 102% from the prior year, signaling strong growth momentum. The organization ran a surplus of $153K, a strong 19% operating margin.

Mission

1) Conduct astronomical research.(2) Encourage the advancement of knowledge concerning astronomy by educating the general public.

Program Service Accomplishments

Program 1

Expenses: $188,000 Revenue: $0

Upgraded MRA's research facilities, instrumentation, and software: (1) Developed and maintained MIRA's research observatory at a remote dark-sky site. (2) Upgraded the 36-inch telescope's major...

Upgraded MRA's research facilities, instrumentation, and software: (1) Developed and maintained MIRA's research observatory at a remote dark-sky site. (2) Upgraded the 36-inch telescope's major instrumentation components, including spectrograph, Guidance-Acquisition Package, polarimeters, off-axis guider, etc. (3) Developed computer programs to build and test theoretical models of the spectra of early-type stars.

Program 2

Expenses: $194,500 Revenue: $0

Performed and published significant astronomical research. MIRA astronomers authored or co-authored four research papers published in refereed journals and nine conference presentations, most of...

Performed and published significant astronomical research. MIRA astronomers authored or co-authored four research papers published in refereed journals and nine conference presentations, most of which were published in the conference proceedings. Highlights:(1) high-precision polarimetric studies of stars and planets, published in cooperation with other observatories; (2) high - resolution infra-red observations of hot stars; (3) analysis of stellar interior structures with asteroseismolgy data from MIRA and NASA data; (4)analysis of MIRA and Hubble Space Telescope observations of cometary ejecta from the NASA Deep Impact mission.

Program 3

Expenses: $4,910 Revenue: $7,341

Public Education in Astronomy: (1) Published a quarterly newsletter. (2) Provided educational research opportunities and guidance for ten high school and college summer interns. 3) Sponsored a local astronomy club. (4) Provided maintenance and access to the Student Observatory. (5) Supported Monterey County Free Libraries telescope borrowing program. (6) Maintained an astronomical education website. (7) Conducted star parties, classroom visits and tours, and adult education classes. (8) Sponsored public lectures by eminent visiting astronomers and MIRA astronomers on topics of interest to the public.

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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 (2025)

Revenue Breakdown

Contributions & Grants $691,695

Program Service Revenue $7,341

Investment Income $72,869

Other Revenue $29,171

TOTAL REVENUE $801,076

Expense Breakdown

Grants Paid $12,500

Salaries & Benefits $373,074

Fundraising Expenses $0

Program Expenses $387,410

Other Expenses $262,896

TOTAL EXPENSES $648,470

Year-over-Year Comparison

	2025	2024	Change
Revenue	$801,076	$397,080	+1.0%
Expenses	$648,470	$503,225	+0.3%
Net Income	$152,606	$-106,145	-2.4%

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

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

Total Directors

Key Employees

Highest Compensated

reported

Name	Title	Hours/Week	Role	Reportable Comp	Other Comp	Total
Gordon Jones	Chairman of the Board	N/A	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
Craig Chester	President	N/A	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
Dennis Mar	Secretary - Treasurer	N/A	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
Bruce Weaver	Observatory Director	N/A	Director	$0	$0	$0
Gary Love	Director	N/A	Director	$0	$0	$0
Richard Stedman	Director	N/A	Director	$0	$0	$0
Phyllis Cleveland	Director	N/A	Director	$0	$0	$0

Note: Compensation data is self-reported by the organization on their Form 990. "Reportable Comp" includes salary, bonuses, and other reportable compensation from the organization and related organizations. "Other Comp" includes benefits, deferred compensation, and non-taxable benefits.

Historical Data

Year	Revenue	Expenses	Assets	Net Income
2025	$801,076	$648,470	$5,384,000	$152,606
2024	No data	No data	No data	No data
2023	$430,903	$366,122	$4,653,331	$64,781
2022	$224,132	$586,844	$4,324,792	$-362,712
2021	$315,435	$472,574	$4,714,732	$-157,139
2020	$1,905,927	$255,518	$4,477,794	$1,650,409

Monterey Institute for Research in Astronomy