Form 990 for tax year 2024

Revenue

Part VIII, the statement of revenue.

• 1e · Government grants (contributions)

  $245,050,051

• 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

  $1,609,654

• 2a · Program service revenue: CONTRACT REVENUE

  total $219,493,454 · related or exempt $219,493,454

• 2b · Program service revenue: OBSERVATORY & RESEARCH

  total $1,785,340 · related or exempt $1,785,340

• 3 · Investment income

  total $393,737 · excluded $393,737

• 6a · Gross rents

  real property $188,270 · personal property $30,597

• 6b · Less rental expenses

  real property $0 · personal property $0

• 6c · Rental income or loss

  real property $188,270 · personal property $30,597

• 6d · Net rental income or loss

  total $218,867 · related or exempt $30,597 · excluded $188,270

• 7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory

  securities $49,800,000 · other assets $75,420

• 7b · Less cost or other basis and sales expenses

  securities $49,467,931 · other assets $63,703

• 7c · Gain or loss

  securities $332,069 · other assets $11,717

• 7d · Net gain or loss

  total $343,786 · excluded $343,786

• 11a · Other revenue: FOREIGN CURRENCY LOSS

  total -$85,062 · related or exempt -$85,062

• 11e · Other revenue, total

  -$85,062

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

• 1 · Grants to domestic organizations and governments

  total $67,764,530 · program services $67,764,530

• 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

  total $6,268,126 · program services $2,850,942 · management and general $3,417,184

• 7 · Other salaries and wages

  total $160,825,304 · program services $146,405,264 · management and general $14,420,040

• 8 · Pension plan contributions

  total $17,175,748 · program services $15,600,973 · management and general $1,574,775

• 9 · Other employee benefits

  total $63,174,102 · program services $57,832,072 · management and general $5,342,030

• 10 · Payroll taxes

  total $13,059,092 · program services $11,922,282 · management and general $1,136,810

• 11b · Fees: legal

  total $887,157 · program services $278,920 · management and general $608,237

• 11c · Fees: accounting

  total $893,342 · management and general $893,342

• 11d · Fees: lobbying

  total $219,658 · management and general $219,658

• 11f · Fees: investment management

  total $62,834 · management and general $62,834

• 11g · Fees: other

  total $77,667,297 · program services $74,160,154 · management and general $3,507,143

• 13 · Office expenses

  total $9,305,516 · program services $7,593,264 · management and general $1,712,252

• 14 · Information technology

  total $2,799,683 · program services $2,486,936 · management and general $312,747

• 16 · Occupancy

  total $12,483,605 · program services $7,916,934 · management and general $4,566,671

• 17 · Travel

  total $7,059,032 · program services $6,295,597 · management and general $763,435

• 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

  total $2,933,067 · program services $2,253,945 · management and general $679,122

• 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

  total $285,376 · program services $40,257 · management and general $245,119

• 23 · Insurance

  total $1,082,246 · program services $285,794 · management and general $796,452

• 24a · Other expenses: NON-CAPITALIZED EQUIP

  total $14,549,358 · program services $13,772,127 · management and general $777,231

• 24b · Other expenses: OTHER REPAIR & MAINT

  total $6,519,671 · program services $5,585,141 · management and general $934,530

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

• 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

  beginning of year $13,231,779 · end of year $24,209,236

• 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

  beginning of year $15,238,414 · end of year $24,683,590

• 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

  beginning of year $11,256,592 · end of year $5,825,328

• 4 · Accounts receivable

  beginning of year $25,490,126 · end of year $16,109,637

• 8 · Inventories for sale or use

  beginning of year $197,717 · end of year $60,684

• 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

  beginning of year $4,231,765 · end of year $5,536,159

• 10a · Land, buildings and equipment: cost or other basis

  $13,843,224

• 10b · Land, buildings and equipment: accumulated depreciation

  $11,773,004

• 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

  beginning of year $1,482,399 · end of year $2,070,220

• 11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

  beginning of year $19,095,581 · end of year $15,058,221

• 12 · Investments: other securities

  beginning of year $10,000 · end of year $10,000

• 15 · Other assets

  beginning of year $35,689,671 · end of year $53,004,797

• 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

  beginning of year $61,184,318 · end of year $65,367,136

• 19 · Deferred revenue

  beginning of year $22,686,275 · end of year $18,062,019

• 21 · Escrow or custodial account liability

  beginning of year $30,261,337 · end of year $30,524,511

• 25 · Other liabilities

  beginning of year $6,556,787 · end of year $7,141,250

• 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

  beginning of year $5,132,223 · end of year $24,168,035

• 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

  beginning of year $103,104 · end of year $1,304,921

The filer's explanations (Part III)

PART I, LINE 1A

FIRST CLASS TRAVEL IS AVAILABLE TO CHARLES MOUNTAIN FOR CERTAIN FLIGHT ROUTES AS PROVIDED FOR IN HIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT. THE INCREMENTAL COST BETWEEN FIRST AND ECONOMY CLASS OF TRAVEL IS PAID FROM AURA UNENCUMBERED FUNDS. OTHER EMPLOYEES MAY UTILIZE FIRST CLASS TRAVEL IN ACCORDANCE WITH AURA POLICY, IN INSTANCES SUCH AS A MEDICAL ACCOMMODATION (NONE IN 2024). THESE BENEFITS ARE NOT CONSIDERED TAXABLE.

PART I, LINES 4A-B

THE ORGANIZATION MAINTAINED A SUPPLEMENTAL NONQUALIFIED RETIREMENT PLAN FOR CHARLES MOUNTAIN. THERE WERE NO CONTRIBUTIONS, DISTRIBUTIONS, OR AMOUNTS VESTED INTO THE PLAN IN 2024. DAVE LISKA RECEIVED $137,773 OF SEVERENCE IN 2024.

PART I, LINE 7

AURA PROVIDED BONUSES BASED ON INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE, RETENTION, MERIT, AND ADDITIONAL DUTIES.