California Association for Research in Astronomy
California Association for Research in Astronomy at a glance
In short: California Association for Research in Astronomy gave $1.7M across 7 grants in 2025 (avg $237K), mostly in California. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,661,829
- -50.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 7
- -12.5% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $237,404
- -43.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $99,881
- Total assets
- $59,444,554
- -4.2% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- California (88% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who California Association for Research in Astronomy funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 7 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was University of California Santa Cruz ($611K). Together the top 7 received $1.7M.
Grant Size Distribution
55 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 18 grants of 55 (33%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 7 itemized grants.
Cities
How California Association for Research in Astronomy gives
- Giving fell 52% from 2022 to 2025. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1.7M (2025) to $5.0M (2020). In 2025 it made 7 grants totaling $1.7M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University of California Santa Cruz Santa Cruz, CA | Award for astrophysics enabled by high order advanced keck adaptive optics (HAKA); award for the development of the slicer combined with an array of lenslets for exoplanet spectroscopy scales | $611,067 |
| California Institute of Technology Pasadena, CA | Subaward for kcwi mechanical cooling retrofit; award for the upgrade of the deimos detector | $526,813 |
| University of California Berkeley Berkeley, CA | Subaward for Keck Planet Finder Mechanical Cooling Upgrade | $300,280 |
| University of Hawaii Honolulu, HI | Sub-award under the federally funded ast-1836016 for the development of astrophysics enabled by keck all sky precision adaptive optics kapa; assistance for new instrument design studies, instrument upgrade proposals, and other proposals to improve the observatorys scientific productivity. | $99,881 |
| University of Notre Dame Notre Dame, IN | Award for the Upgrade of the Deimos Detector | $98,748 |
| Uc Santa Cruz Foundation Santa Cruz, CA | Assistance for new instrument design studies, instrument upgrade proposals, and other proposals to improve the observatorys scientific productivity. | $15,900 |
| Uc Observatoriesuc Santa Cruz Santa Cruz, CA | Award for upgrade software deimos to support add'l scope to control two new detectors | $9,140 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $59,444,554 | $30,106,569 | $33,961,961 | $1,661,829 | 7 | $2,037,210 |
| 2024 | $62,041,473 | $30,370,507 | $32,945,269 | $3,375,315 | 8 | $3,430,527 |
| 2023 | $63,697,264 | $29,589,145 | $44,659,977 | $4,723,499 | 9 | $717,656 |
| 2022 | $76,552,850 | $28,518,344 | $29,041,238 | $3,456,048 | 19 | $486,175 |
| 2021 | $81,069,087 | $25,670,237 | $27,057,390 | $4,128,623 | 12 | $334,298 |
| 2020 | $78,030,998 | $30,112,680 | $28,105,059 | $4,977,103 | 13 | $-280,012 |
| 2019 | $74,222,300 | $26,312,535 | $28,830,960 | $3,608,076 | 15 | $705,995 |
About California Association for Research in Astronomy
Based on IRS filings
California Association for Research in Astronomy is a public charity focused on Science & Technology, based in Kamuela, HI. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $59.4M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 7 grants totaling $1.7M. Net investment income was $2.0M.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
California Association for Research in Astronomy is led by George Blumenthal, Chairman since 2023 (on filings since 2019); 6 of 14 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
George Blumenthal
Chairman
Vice Chair → Vice Chairman, 2021
Vice Chairman → Chairman, 2023
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Richard Matsuda
Interim Obs. Director & Ass
Associate Director External Relations → Interim Obs. Director & Associate Director External Re, 2023
Interim Obs. Director & Associate Director External Re → Interim Obs. Director & Ass, 2025
On filings since 2019
55 hrs/week
$215K (2019) → $349K (2025)
Ed Harris
Chief Development Officer
On filings since 2019
45 hrs/week
$204K (2019) → $241K (2025)
Margarita Scheffel
Observatory CFO
On filings since 2019
50 hrs/week
$203K (2019) → $274K (2025)
Peter Wizinowich
Chief of Technical Development
On filings since 2019
50 hrs/week
$206K (2019) → $244K (2025)
Carol Schuil
Secretary
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
$10K (2020) → $0 (2025)
John O'Meara
Chief Scientist
On filings since 2020
45 hrs/week
$208K (2020) → $296K (2025)
Jeffrey Huber
Chief Operations Officer
On filings since 2024
45 hrs/week
$248K (2024) → $242K (2025)
B. Thomas Soifer
Vice Chair
Chair → Chairman, 2021
Chairman → Vice Chair, 2023
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Fiona Harrison
Board Member
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nathan Brostrom
Treasurer
Treasurer → Chief Financial Officer, 2024
Chief Financial Officer → Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Bruce Macintosh
Board Member
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Chris Martin
Board Member
Board Member - Since May → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Katherine Newman
Board Member
Board Member - Since Jan → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (14)
- Former: Hilton Lewis (2019–2024) — Former Observatory Director
- Former: Dennis McBride (2019–2023) — Principal Engineer
- Former: Jason Chin (2019–2023) — Engineering Manager
- Former: Jonas Zmuidzinas (2019–2023) — Board Member - Departed
- Former: Michael Brown (2019–2023) — Board Member - Departed
- Former: Joel Payne (2021–2023) — Mechanical Engineering Manager
- Former: Andrew Odell (2023) — Chief of Operations
- Former: Marc Kassis (2023) — Instrument Programs Manager
- Former: Claire Max (2019–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Kevin McCann (2019–2022) — Sustainability Advisor
- Former: Randy Campbell (2022) — Manager & Observing Support
- Former: Samuel Park (2020–2021) — Senior Engineer
- Former: Elaine Stamman (2019) — Secretary
- Former: Kelleen Casey (2019) — Senior Systems Engineer
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $349K, to Mr Richard Matsuda (Interim OBS. Director/ Ass). 6 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about California Association for Research in Astronomy
How much does California Association for Research in Astronomy give each year?
California Association for Research in Astronomy gave $1.7M across 7 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $3.4M across 8 grants.
What is California Association for Research in Astronomy's typical grant size?
California Association for Research in Astronomy's median grant in 2025 was $99,881, and its average grant was $237,404, across 7 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does California Association for Research in Astronomy give grants?
California Association for Research in Astronomy gives mostly in California: 88% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest states were Hawaii (6%) and Indiana (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Santa Cruz, CA (3 grants).
Does California Association for Research in Astronomy give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 7 grants with a stated purpose on California Association for Research in Astronomy's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support.
Who are California Association for Research in Astronomy's largest grantees?
California Association for Research in Astronomy's largest 2025 grantees include University of California Santa Cruz ($611,067), California Institute of Technology ($526,813) and University of California Berkeley ($300,280), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 87% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is California Association for Research in Astronomy?
California Association for Research in Astronomy reported $59.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $30.1M.
What is California Association for Research in Astronomy?
California Association for Research in Astronomy is a public charity focused on Science & Technology, based in Kamuela, HI. It holds $59.4M in total assets as of 2025.
What is California Association for Research in Astronomy's EIN?
California Association for Research in Astronomy's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 95-3972799. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS August 6, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS August 11, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS August 8, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS August 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS August 14, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS August 11, 2020)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 13, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work California Association for Research in Astronomy funds
Science & Technology Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in California Association for Research in Astronomy's focus areas in our free grants database
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