Form 990 for tax year 2023
Filed by CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION FOR RESEARCH IN ASTRONOMY.
Totals
- Total revenue
- $30,370,507
- Total expenses
- $32,945,269
- Contributions and grants received
- $1,878,717
- Grants paid
- $3,375,548
- Program service revenue
- $25,061,121
- Investment income
- $3,430,527
- Other revenue
- $142
- Total assets, end of year
- $62,041,473
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $7,224,711
- Net assets or fund balances, end of year
- $54,816,762
- Program services expenses (Part IX)
- $27,717,351
- Management and general expenses
- $4,592,785
- Fundraising expenses
- $635,133
- Program service expenses (Part III)
- $27,717,351
Program services were 84.1% 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)
$941,330
-
1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants
$937,387
-
1g · Noncash contributions included above
$152,812
-
2a · Program service revenue: OBSERVATORY OPERATIONS
total $20,191,529 · related or exempt $20,191,529
-
2b · Program service revenue: NASA COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT
total $4,775,000 · related or exempt $4,775,000
-
2c · Program service revenue: VISITING SCIENCE QUARTERS
total $88,431 · related or exempt $88,431
-
2d · Program service revenue: KECK LOGO MERCHANDISE
total $4,921 · excluded $4,921
-
2e · Program service revenue: SUMMIT TOURS OFFSET
total $1,240 · excluded $1,240
-
3 · Investment income
total $495,700 · excluded $495,700
-
5 · Royalties
total $142 · excluded $142
-
7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory
securities $3,087,639
-
7b · Less cost or other basis and sales expenses
securities $152,812
-
7c · Gain or loss
securities $2,934,827
-
7d · Net gain or loss
total $2,934,827 · excluded $2,934,827
Functional expenses
Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.
-
1 · Grants to domestic organizations and governments
total $3,375,548 · program services $3,375,548
-
5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
total $2,368,993 · program services $1,233,701 · management and general $1,093,445 · fundraising $41,847
-
7 · Other salaries and wages
total $13,794,335 · program services $10,138,065 · management and general $3,321,245 · fundraising $335,025
-
8 · Pension plan contributions
total $1,061,866 · program services $780,412 · management and general $255,664 · fundraising $25,790
-
9 · Other employee benefits
total $2,383,359 · program services $1,733,688 · management and general $586,726 · fundraising $62,945
-
10 · Payroll taxes
total $1,074,152 · program services $789,442 · management and general $258,622 · fundraising $26,088
-
11b · Fees: legal
total $47,758 · management and general $47,758
-
11c · Fees: accounting
total $68,377 · management and general $68,377
-
11d · Fees: lobbying
total $6,619 · management and general $6,619
-
11g · Fees: other
total $698,532 · program services $310,825 · management and general $379,292 · fundraising $8,415
-
12 · Advertising and promotion
total $11,662 · program services $6,606 · management and general $3,638 · fundraising $1,418
-
13 · Office expenses
total $173,490 · program services $54,638 · management and general $108,203 · fundraising $10,649
-
14 · Information technology
total $415,750 · program services $314,217 · management and general $82,299 · fundraising $19,234
-
16 · Occupancy
total $1,887,462 · program services $1,848,208 · management and general $35,757 · fundraising $3,497
-
17 · Travel
total $668,285 · program services $489,246 · management and general $101,243 · fundraising $77,796
-
19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings
total $254,166 · program services $52,473 · management and general $186,115 · fundraising $15,578
-
20 · Interest
total $50,137 · program services $50,137
-
22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization
total $4,341,301 · program services $4,307,407 · management and general $29,107 · fundraising $4,787
-
23 · Insurance
total $94,324 · program services $58,169 · management and general $35,525 · fundraising $630
-
24a · Other expenses: EQUIP RENTAL AND MAINTE
total $1,123,036 · program services $1,106,763 · management and general $15,020 · fundraising $1,253
-
24b · Other expenses: EQUIPMENT AND TOOLS
total $477,336 · program services $475,362 · management and general $1,793 · fundraising $181
-
24c · Other expenses: INDIRECT COST RECOVERY
total -$73,789 · program services $1,949,874 · management and general -$2,023,663
-
24d · Other expenses: CAPITAL SUBCONTRACTS
total -$1,357,430 · program services -$1,357,430
Balance sheet
Part X, book values.
-
1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing
beginning of year $1,052 · end of year $4,089
-
2 · Savings and temporary cash investments
beginning of year $2,591,378 · end of year $950,221
-
3 · Pledges and grants receivable
beginning of year $855,524 · end of year $449,542
-
4 · Accounts receivable
beginning of year $113,431 · end of year $97,303
-
9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges
beginning of year $1,230,093 · end of year $1,361,488
-
10a · Land, buildings and equipment: cost or other basis
$151,852,994
-
10b · Land, buildings and equipment: accumulated depreciation
$116,811,396
-
10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net
beginning of year $36,343,581 · end of year $35,041,598
-
12 · Investments: other securities
beginning of year $22,562,205 · end of year $24,137,232
-
17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses
beginning of year $4,880,743 · end of year $4,724,711
-
24 · Unsecured notes and loans payable
beginning of year $2,500,000 · end of year $2,500,000
-
27 · Net assets without donor restrictions
beginning of year $52,956,947 · end of year $52,861,115
-
28 · Net assets with donor restrictions
beginning of year $3,359,574 · end of year $1,955,647
Mission and programs · 2023
Mission
SEE SCHEDULE O
-
SEE SCHEDULE O
Expenses $27,194,650 · Grants $3,375,548 · Revenue $25,054,960
-
PUBLIC INFORMATION:EACH YEAR, KECK OBSERVATORY SPONSORS DOZENS OF EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND PUBLIC LECTURES FOR HAWAII ISLAND FAMILIES, EDUCATORS, AND STUDENTS TO FOSTER A GREATER APPRECIATION OF SCIENCE AND ITS MANY CONTRIBUTIONS TO SOCIETY. ON A GLOBAL LEVEL, THE OBSERVATORY HAS A SUPPORT BASE OF MORE THAN 1,500 DONORS AND A SOCIAL MEDIA SUBSCRIBER FOLLOWING OF OVER 35,000 ASTRONOMY PROFESSIONALS AND ENTHUSIASTS.
Expenses $196,073
-
RESEARCH:KECK OBSERVATORY'S ACTIVITIES INCLUDE SUBMITTING GRANT PROPOSALS TO CARRY OUT SPECIFIC RESEARCH PROJECTS.
Expenses $326,628
As filed on the 2023 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.
Listed in Part VII
-
Dr George BlumenthalDR GEORGE BLUMENTHAL
CHAIRMAN
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 2
-
Dr B Thomas SoiferDR B THOMAS SOIFER
VICE-CHAIR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 2
-
Dr Katherine NewmanDR KATHERINE NEWMAN
BOARD MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 2
-
Dr Fiona HarrisonDR FIONA HARRISON
BOARD MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 2
-
Dr Chris MartinDR CHRIS MARTIN
BOARD MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 2
-
Dr Bruce MacIntoshDR BRUCE MACINTOSH
BOARD MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 2
-
Mr Richard MatsudaMR RICHARD MATSUDA
INTERIM OBS. DIRECTOR/ ASSOC. DIRECTOR EXTERNAL RE
- Total calculated
- $376,540
- From this org
- $302,684
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $73,856
- Hours/week
- 55
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $246,434
- Bonus
- $0
- Other
- $56,250
- Deferred
- $38,267
- Nontaxable benefits
- $35,589
- Filer's total
- $376,540
-
Ms Carol SchuilMS CAROL SCHUIL
SECRETARY
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 4
-
Mr Nathan BrostromMR NATHAN BROSTROM
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Dr John O'MearaDR JOHN O'MEARA
CHIEF SCIENTIST
- Total calculated
- $347,542
- From this org
- $282,725
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $64,817
- Hours/week
- 45
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $253,474
- Bonus
- $0
- Other
- $29,251
- Deferred
- $25,740
- Nontaxable benefits
- $39,077
- Filer's total
- $347,542
-
Ms Margarita ScheffelMS MARGARITA SCHEFFEL
OBSERVATORY CFO
- Total calculated
- $350,855
- From this org
- $270,865
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $79,990
- Hours/week
- 50
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $264,879
- Bonus
- $5,986
- Other
- $0
- Deferred
- $38,298
- Nontaxable benefits
- $41,692
- Filer's total
- $350,855
-
Dr Peter WizinowichDR PETER WIZINOWICH
CHIEF OF TECHNICAL DEVELOPMENT
- Total calculated
- $323,664
- From this org
- $253,303
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $70,361
- Hours/week
- 50
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $253,303
- Bonus
- $0
- Other
- $0
- Deferred
- $35,692
- Nontaxable benefits
- $34,669
- Filer's total
- $323,664
-
Mr Jeffrey HuberMR JEFFREY HUBER
CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER
- Total calculated
- $305,266
- From this org
- $248,023
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $57,243
- Hours/week
- 45
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $225,523
- Bonus
- $0
- Other
- $22,500
- Deferred
- $25,846
- Nontaxable benefits
- $31,397
- Filer's total
- $305,266
-
Mr Ed HarrisMR ED HARRIS
CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER
- Total calculated
- $297,105
- From this org
- $238,144
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $58,961
- Hours/week
- 45
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $234,315
- Bonus
- $3,829
- Other
- $0
- Deferred
- $18,962
- Nontaxable benefits
- $39,999
- Filer's total
- $297,105
-
Mr Hilton LewisMR HILTON LEWIS
FORMER OBSERVATORY DIRECTOR (TILL 6/11/23)
- Total calculated
- $642,919
- From this org
- $591,195
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $51,724
- Hours/week
- 45
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $153,471
- Bonus
- $0
- Other
- $437,724
- Deferred
- $24,736
- Nontaxable benefits
- $26,988
- Filer's total
- $642,919
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
- 1a · Housing allowance or residence for personal use
- 1b · Written policy on the line-1a expenses
- 2 · Substantiation required before reimbursing expenses
- 3 · Form 990 of other organizations
- 3 · Compensation survey or study
- 3 · Approval by the board or compensation committee
- 4a · Severance or change-of-control payment
- 7 · Other non-fixed payments
Answered no
- 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
- 8 · Paid under the initial-contract exception
The filer's explanations (Part III)
- PART I, LINE 1A
- DURING CALENDAR YEAR 2023, CARA PAID MR. HILTON LEWIS, FORMER DIRECTOR, HOUSING ALLOWANCE TOTALLING $5,000. THE HOUSING ALLOWANCE WAS INCLUDED IN PAYROLL AS TAXABLE WAGES.
- PART I, LINE 3
- ANNUALLY THE CARA BOARD EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE REVIEWS AND APPROVES THE COMPENSATION OF THE DIRECTOR USING MARKET COMPENSATION STUDIES WHICH MAY INCLUDE OTHER FORM 990 RETURNS.
- PART I, LINE 4A
- DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, CARA PAID SEVERANCE PAY OF $209,000 TO MR. HILTON LEWIS, FORMER DIRECTOR.
- PART I, LINE 7
- CARA HAS AN OBSERVATORY-WIDE BONUS PROGRAM FOR WHICH ALL CARA EMPLOYEES ARE ELIGIBLE TO BE NOMINATED BY OTHER CARA EMPLOYEES FOR ACHIEVEMENTS BASED ON NON-REVENUE CRITERIA.
- PART II (B)(I)(11)
- CAROL SCHULL IS A FULL-TIME EMPLOYEE OF CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (CALTECH). CARA PAID CALTECH $29,767 IN CALENDAR YEAR 2023 FOR CAROL'S SERVICES RENDERED AS SECRETARY FOR CARA.
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
-
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SANTA CRUZ
$1,335,164
AWARD FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SLICER COMBINED WITH AN ARRAY OF LENSLETS FOR EXOPLANET SPECTROSCOPY.
-
$690,374
AWARD FOR THE UPGRADE OF THE DEIMOS DETECTOR.
-
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA BERKELEY
$553,654
SUB-AWARD UNDER THE FEDERALLY FUNDED AST-1836016 FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF ASTROPHYSICS ENABLED BY KECK ALL SKY PRECISION ADAPTIVE OPTICS; SUBAWARD UNDER THE HEISING-SIMONS FOUNDATION FOR KECK PLANET FINDER PRECISIN IMPROVEMENTS; SUBAWARD FOR KECK PLANET FINDER MECHANICAL COOLING UPGRADE; AWARD FOR UPGRADE OF NIRC2 PRECISION CALIBRATION UNIT.
-
CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
$489,792
SUB-AWARD UNDER THE HEISING-SIMONS FOUNDATION FUNDED PRIME AWARD DEVELOPMENT AND FABRICATION OF A LASER FREQUENCY COMB; SUBAWARD FOR KCWI MECHANICAL COOLING RETROFIT; AWARD FOR THE UPGRADE OF THE DEIMOS DETECTOR; ASSISTANCE FOR NEW INSTRUMENT DESIGN STUDIES, INSTRUMENT UPGRADE PROPOSALS, AND OTHER PROPOSALS TO IMPROVE THE OBSERVATORYS SCIENTIFIC PRODUCTIVITY.
-
$140,000
ASSISTANCE FOR NEW INSTRUMENT DESIGN STUDIES, INSTRUMENT UPGRADE PROPOSALS, AND OTHER PROPOSALS TO IMPROVE THE OBSERVATORYS SCIENTIFIC PRODUCTIVITY.
-
SUB-AWARD UNDER THE HEISING-SIMONS FOUNDATION FUNDED PRIME AWARD DEVELOPMENT AND FABRICATION OF A LASER FREQUENCY COMB; SUB-AWARD UNDER THE FEDERALLY FUNDED AST-1836016 FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF ASTROPHYSICS ENABLED BY KECK ALL SKY PRECISION ADAPTIVE OPTICS.
-
UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII
$36,885
SUB-AWARD UNDER THE FEDERALLY FUNDED AST-1836016 FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF ASTROPHYSICS ENABLED BY KECK ALL SKY PRECISION ADAPTIVE OPTICS.
-
COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY
$33,315
CSU MECHANICAL ENGINEERING SENIOR DESIGN CAPSTONE PROJECT AY 2023-2024 AND PRACTICUM SPONSORSHIP 2025.
Provenance
- Return type
- form_990
- Tax year
- 2023
- Filed
- 6 August 2025
- IRS schema version
- 2023v6.0
- Source object
- 202542269349303099
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