THE PLANETARY SOCIETY

EIN: 953423566 501(c)(3) Arts, Culture & Humanities

PASADENA, CA

Total Revenue
$7,526,105
Total Expenses
$7,622,888
Total Assets
$7,780,673
Net Assets
$6,056,715
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Financial Vulnerability Assessment (Tuckman-Chang)

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Financial Trends

Organization Details

Formation Year
1979
Legal Domicile
CA
Principal Officer
LARRY BROGAN
Phone
6267935100
Tax Period
2024-10-01 to 2025-09-30

THE PLANETARY SOCIETY, founded in 1979, is a community nonprofit in the Arts, Culture & Humanities sector that reported $7.5M in total revenue in fiscal year 2024. Revenue surged 45% from the prior year, signaling strong growth momentum.

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 Service Accomplishments

Program 1
Expenses: $289,167

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...

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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.

Program 2
Expenses: $3,050,239

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...

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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.

Program 3
Expenses: $1,181,125

MEMBERSHIP:OUR MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM CONNECTS SPACE-INTERESTED CITIZENS WORLDWIDE AND PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEM TO PARTICIPATE IN SPACE ACTIVITIES. OUR MEMBERSHIP ACTIVITIES INCLUDE MAINTAINING...

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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.

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Trantor Score

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

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Financial Overview (2024)

Revenue Breakdown

Contributions & Grants $7,489,281
Program Service Revenue $0
Investment Income $117,966
Other Revenue $-81,142
TOTAL REVENUE $7,526,105

Expense Breakdown

Grants Paid $114,962
Salaries & Benefits $4,183,583
Fundraising Expenses $1,580,072
Program Expenses $5,069,218
Other Expenses $3,324,343
TOTAL EXPENSES $7,622,888

Year-over-Year Comparison

2024 2023 Change
Revenue $7,526,105 $5,198,586 +0.4%
Expenses $7,622,888 $7,225,780 +0.1%
Net Income $-96,783 $-2,027,194 -1.0%
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

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Liquidity & Cash Position

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Governance

Voting Members
14
Independent Members
13
Employees
28
Volunteers
35

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
6
$250,625
Total Directors
8
$0
Key Employees
0
$0
Highest Compensated
6
reported
Name Title Hours/Week Role Reportable Comp Other Comp Total
LORNE TROTTIER DIRECTOR 2.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
BIJAL HAYES-THAKORE DIRECTOR 2.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
JOHN LOGSDON DIRECTOR 2.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
ROBERT PICARDO DIRECTOR 2.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
BRITNEY SCHMIDT DIRECTOR 2.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
DIPAK SRINIVASAN DIRECTOR 2.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
JOHN GRUNSFELD DIRECTOR 2.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
NEWTON CAMPBELL DIRECTOR 2.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
DAN GERACI CHAIRMAN 5.00
Officer
$0 $0 $0
JAMES BELL SECRETARY 2.00
Officer
$0 $0 $0
HEIDI HAMMEL VICE PRESIDENT 2.00
Officer
$0 $0 $0
WILLIAM NYE DIRECTOR AND CEO 20.00
Officer
$233,565 $17,060 $250,625
BETHANY EHLMANN PRESIDENT 5.00
Officer
$0 $0 $0
LON LEVIN TREASURER 2.00
Officer
$0 $0 $0
JENNIFER VAUGHN COO 40.00
Highest
$212,834 $28,932 $241,766
BRUCE BETTS CHIEF SCIENTIST 40.00
Highest
$155,679 $26,338 $182,017
RICHARD CHUTE CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER 40.00
Highest
$173,765 $28,536 $202,301
JIM SUH CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER 40.00
Highest
$180,080 $24,454 $204,534
CASEY DREIER CHIEF OF SPACE POLICY 40.00
Highest
$157,721 $20,665 $178,386
DANIELLE GUNN CHIEF COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER 40.00
Highest
$157,800 $21,686 $179,486
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 $7,526,105 $7,622,888 $7,780,673 $-96,783
2024 $5,198,586 $7,225,780 $8,038,153 $-2,027,194
2023 $6,313,313 $7,509,258 $10,311,558 $-1,195,945
2022 $4,905,895 $6,232,294 $9,508,979 $-1,326,399
2021 $6,115,995 $5,391,946 $10,992,615 $724,049
2020 $4,344,184 $4,755,443 $10,610,266 $-411,259
2019 $12,815,765 $4,927,577 $10,679,224 $7,888,188
2018 $4,945,266 $4,885,055 $2,830,239 $60,211
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