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Nonprofiteer
← UNITED STATES SPACE FOUNDATION

Form 990 for tax year 2023

Filed by UNITED STATES SPACE FOUNDATION.

Totals

Total revenue
$28,337,413
Total expenses
$23,502,225
Contributions and grants received
$9,297,023
Grants paid
$0
Program service revenue
$17,882,360
Investment income
$536,101
Other revenue
$621,929
Total assets, end of year
$39,726,115
Total liabilities, end of year
$4,917,716
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$34,808,399
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$16,444,825
Management and general expenses
$6,317,590
Fundraising expenses
$739,810
Program service expenses (Part III)
$16,444,825

Program services were 70.0% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

Line items

Every line the filer filed in Parts VIII, IX and X, as filed and in filed order. Blank columns are left out, and the lines are not forced to add up to the totals above.

Revenue

Part VIII, the statement of revenue.

  • 1e · Government grants (contributions)

    $688,699

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $8,608,324

  • 1g · Noncash contributions included above

    $18,879

  • 2a · Program service revenue: Exhibit

    total $5,134,750 · related or exempt $5,134,750

  • 2b · Program service revenue: Registration

    total $7,467,401 · related or exempt $7,467,401

  • 2c · Program service revenue: Sponsorship

    total $5,017,080 · related or exempt $5,017,080

  • 2d · Program service revenue: Space Certification

    total $157,197 · related or exempt $157,197

  • 2e · Program service revenue: General Admission

    total $101,980 · related or exempt $101,980

  • 2f · All other program service revenue

    total $3,952 · related or exempt $3,952 · unrelated business $0 · excluded $0

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $608,761 · excluded $608,761

  • 6a · Gross rents

    real property $34,020

  • 6c · Rental income or loss

    real property $34,020 · personal property $0

  • 6d · Net rental income or loss

    total $34,020 · excluded $34,020

  • 7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory

    securities $3,668,446

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

    securities $3,630,947 · other assets $110,159

  • 7c · Gain or loss

    securities $37,499 · other assets -$110,159

  • 7d · Net gain or loss

    total -$72,660 · excluded -$72,660

  • 8a · Fundraising events: gross income

    $119,905

  • 8b · Fundraising events: direct expenses

    $94,317

  • 8c · Net income from fundraising events

    total $25,588 · excluded $25,588

  • 10a · Gross sales of inventory

    $216,947

  • 10b · Cost of goods sold

    $56,523

  • 10c · Net income from sales of inventory

    total $160,424 · related or exempt $160,424

  • 11a · Other revenue: Rebate Revenue

    total $401,897 · related or exempt $401,897

  • 11d · All other revenue

    total $0 · related or exempt $0 · unrelated business $0 · excluded $0

  • 11e · Other revenue, total

    $401,897

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 4 · Benefits paid to or for members

    total $0 · program services $0

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $1,877,486 · program services $1,228,556 · management and general $580,045 · fundraising $68,885

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $10,279,022 · program services $6,726,206 · management and general $3,175,681 · fundraising $377,135

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $95,587 · program services $63,164 · management and general $28,868 · fundraising $3,555

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $851,941 · program services $562,958 · management and general $257,294 · fundraising $31,689

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $923,646 · program services $602,925 · management and general $285,325 · fundraising $35,396

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $20,940 · program services $6,771 · management and general $14,169

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $63,082 · management and general $63,082

  • 11f · Fees: investment management

    total $145,215 · management and general $145,215

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $1,572,251 · program services $1,116,298 · management and general $408,786 · fundraising $47,167

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $1,099,905 · program services $1,032,342 · management and general $53,962 · fundraising $13,601

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $959,824 · program services $712,119 · management and general $197,093 · fundraising $50,612

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $622,874 · program services $534,763 · management and general $78,957 · fundraising $9,154

  • 17 · Travel

    total $673,558 · program services $506,705 · management and general $146,149 · fundraising $20,704

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $297,989 · program services $109,345 · management and general $180,588 · fundraising $8,056

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $552,182 · program services $423,663 · management and general $128,519

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $123,013 · program services $75,514 · management and general $47,499

  • 24a · Other expenses: Luncheons & Banquets

    total $1,355,994 · program services $1,254,147 · management and general $57,972 · fundraising $43,875

  • 24b · Other expenses: Audio Visual

    total $606,015 · program services $591,331 · management and general $4,099 · fundraising $10,585

  • 24c · Other expenses: Exhibit

    total $511,077 · program services $509,270 · management and general $1,807

  • 24d · Other expenses: License & Fees

    total $401,042 · program services $230,695 · management and general $163,463 · fundraising $6,884

  • 24e · All other expenses

    total $469,582 · program services $158,053 · management and general $299,017 · fundraising $12,512

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $1,236,568 · end of year $867,160

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $5,364,762 · end of year $5,362,380

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $500,000 · end of year $0

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $2,797,938 · end of year $2,135,604

  • 5 · Loans and receivables from officers and key people

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 6 · Loans and receivables from disqualified persons

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 8 · Inventories for sale or use

    beginning of year $39,187 · end of year $58,834

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $165,365 · end of year $218,729

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

    $16,100,779

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

    $3,585,438

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $9,074,500 · end of year $12,515,341

  • 11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

    beginning of year $12,174,746 · end of year $17,401,918

  • 12 · Investments: other securities

    beginning of year $0

  • 13 · Investments: program-related

    beginning of year $0

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $41,906 · end of year $1,166,149

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $2,577,577 · end of year $3,387,508

  • 19 · Deferred revenue

    beginning of year $240,432 · end of year $319,098

  • 22 · Loans and payables to officers and key people

    end of year $0

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $1,211,110

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $26,667,968 · end of year $33,067,588

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $1,908,995 · end of year $1,740,811

Mission and programs · 2023

Mission

THE FOUNDATION DELIVERS EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION, COLLABORATION, AND INFORMATION TO ADVANCE THE GLOBAL SPACE COMMUNITY.

  • CONDUCT SPACE PROFESSIONAL EVENTS AND ON-LINE PROGRAMMING. PRODUCE SPACE INDUSTRY INFORMATION PRODUCTS.

    Expenses $8,181,049 · Revenue $17,355,067

  • SPACE AND SCIENCE RELATED PRE-K-12 EDUCATION OUTREACH, TEACHER TRAINING AND INFORMAL EDUCATION PROGRAMMING.

    Expenses $6,220,844 · Revenue $489,023

  • SPACE RELATED PUBLIC AWARENESS PROGRAMS.

    Expenses $2,042,932 · Revenue $600,591

As filed on the 2023 return.

Listed in Part VII

  • Frank Culbertson Jr

    VICE CHAIRMAN

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Heather Pringle

    CEO

    Total calculated
    $175,195
    From this org
    $172,850
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $2,345
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $172,850
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $1,303
    Nontaxable benefits
    $1,042
    Filer's total
    $175,195
  • Jeffrey Grant

    CHAIRMAN

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Peter Trainer

    SECRETARY

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Thomas Feeney III

    TREASURER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Christopher Browne

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Dr Kam Ghaffarian

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Dr Michelle Parker

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Dr Robert Fleming

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Edward Zoiss

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Hoyt Davidson

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Jeff Ashby

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Lauren Smith

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Pascale Ehrenfreund

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Paul Engola

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Robert Lightfoot

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Samuel Greaves

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Wolfgang Duerr

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Holly Roberts

    CFO

    Total calculated
    $394,158
    From this org
    $379,455
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $14,703
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $304,319
    Bonus
    $75,136
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $4,664
    Nontaxable benefits
    $10,039
    Filer's total
    $394,158
  • Michelle Brunswick

    COO

    Total calculated
    $340,676
    From this org
    $329,626
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $11,050
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $265,389
    Bonus
    $64,237
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $3,988
    Nontaxable benefits
    $7,062
    Filer's total
    $340,676
  • Elizabeth Wagner

    SVP - STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS

    Total calculated
    $290,815
    From this org
    $276,547
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $14,268
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $220,048
    Bonus
    $56,499
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $14,268
    Filer's total
    $290,815
  • Steve Eisenhart

    SVP - STRATEGIC & INTL

    Total calculated
    $289,149
    From this org
    $280,356
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $8,793
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $225,085
    Bonus
    $55,271
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $3,425
    Nontaxable benefits
    $5,368
    Filer's total
    $289,149
  • Thomas Dorame

    SVP - SYMPOSIUM 365

    Total calculated
    $299,883
    From this org
    $295,380
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $4,503
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $237,356
    Bonus
    $58,024
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $4,503
    Filer's total
    $299,883
  • Frank Trevino

    SR. ADVISOR - 365 BUS DEV

    Total calculated
    $177,991
    From this org
    $174,389
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $3,602
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $151,889
    Bonus
    $22,500
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $2,239
    Nontaxable benefits
    $1,363
    Filer's total
    $177,991
  • John West

    VP - EDUCATION

    Total calculated
    $249,947
    From this org
    $246,734
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $3,213
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $196,734
    Bonus
    $50,000
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $3,213
    Filer's total
    $249,947
  • Kelli Ogborn

    VP - SPACE OMMERCE

    Total calculated
    $240,876
    From this org
    $226,076
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $14,800
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $187,781
    Bonus
    $38,295
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $2,969
    Nontaxable benefits
    $11,831
    Filer's total
    $240,876
  • Rich Cooper

    VP - STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS

    Total calculated
    $289,760
    From this org
    $270,933
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $18,827
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $227,320
    Bonus
    $43,613
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $1,950
    Nontaxable benefits
    $16,877
    Filer's total
    $289,760
  • Robert Henderson

    VP - OPERATIONS

    Total calculated
    $202,926
    From this org
    $199,733
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $3,193
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $167,733
    Bonus
    $32,000
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $1,679
    Nontaxable benefits
    $1,514
    Filer's total
    $202,926
  • Thomas Zelibor

    FORMER CEO

    Total calculated
    $422,633
    From this org
    $413,536
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $9,097
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $261,818
    Bonus
    $151,718
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $3,511
    Nontaxable benefits
    $5,586
    Filer's total
    $422,633

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us.

Schedule J

Answered yes

  • 3 · Compensation committee
  • 3 · Independent compensation consultant
  • 3 · Form 990 of other organizations
  • 3 · Compensation survey or study
  • 3 · Approval by the board or compensation committee

Answered no

  • 4a · Severance or change-of-control payment
  • 4b · Supplemental nonqualified retirement plan
  • 4c · Equity-based compensation arrangement
  • 5a · Pay contingent on this organization's revenues
  • 5b · Pay contingent on a related organization's revenues
  • 6a · Pay contingent on this organization's net earnings
  • 6b · Pay contingent on a related organization's net earnings
  • 7 · Other non-fixed payments
  • 8 · Paid under the initial-contract exception

Part I's answers as filed. A line not listed was left unanswered; on lines 1a and 3 that means the box was not checked.

Grants on this return

No itemized grants to organizations on this return.

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2023
Filed
9 May 2025
IRS schema version
2023v6.0
Source object
202511299349302711

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